Microsoft is rolling out Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.8493 with a resizable, movable taskbar and expanded Start menu controls, including options to hide recommended content and adjust Start sizing. The same preview cycle also brings improvements aime
A new Windows 11 preview build is bringing back the kind of flexibility many users asked for—only now it’s being wired into both the taskbar and the Start menu, in changes Microsoft says can be adjusted without forcing a restart.
In the latest preview rolling out to Insiders in the Experimental channel, Microsoft has returned resizable taskbar and Start menu options in Windows 11. The update starts with Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.8493.
For the taskbar. Microsoft says Insiders can now set smaller buttons and reposition it to the bottom. top. left. or right side of the screen.. Diego Baca. partner director of Microsoft Design. framed it as a long-requested capability: “The ability to move the taskbar to the top or sides of the screen has been one of the most requested features. and we are bringing it to Windows 11.”
Baca also points to what changes when the small taskbar is enabled: “With this update, when small taskbar is enabled, you get smaller icons, a shorter taskbar, and more vertical space for your apps (see video below). No restart or sign-out is required.”
Insiders can make those adjustments through Settings: Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors.. Microsoft says the new position option appears alongside the taskbar icon alignment option.. It also describes a second lever in the same area—checking “Show smaller taskbar buttons”—which reduces the height of both the icons and the taskbar.
The same preview also expands user control over the Start menu. letting people toggle off recommended content and customize its size.. Microsoft says the controls are meant to work together. depending on how minimal or full users want the Start layout to be.. “These controls are designed to work together.. If you want a Start menu with just your pinned apps, you can turn off Recommended and All,” Boca added.. “If you want a full Start that shows everything, you can leave it all on.. The goal is simple: it is your choice, and it should be easy to make.”
Still. Microsoft will keep a list of recently installed apps. describing it as a way to help users discover new applications alongside the Microsoft Store.. It’s also making changes tied to how content shows up in Start: Microsoft says it will improve file relevance by adjusting how files are displayed and ordered to prioritize the most relevant items.. It will also allow users to hide their name and profile picture from the Start menu.
Beneath the surface. the update connects into a broader effort Microsoft has been discussing for Windows 11—seeking more control and responsiveness by changing how different parts of the interface behave.. The thread runs from the taskbar adjustments (size and placement) to the Start menu toggles (recommended content and size) to additional improvements Microsoft says it’s working on elsewhere. including file relevance and search behavior across Start menu. taskbar. File Explorer. and Settings.
For Windows Run. Microsoft is also testing a modern dialog with dark mode support in a separate preview effort earlier announced this month.. Microsoft says it expects the modern Run to be faster than the legacy version. and it will remove the “Browse” button.. That button was used by only 0.0038% of users in a sample of 35 million who opened Windows Run.
Microsoft also stresses that this modern Run won’t be enabled automatically—users will need to turn it on manually in Settings > Advanced Settings.
Some of these efforts tie back to announcements from Microsoft leadership earlier this year.. Windows president Pavan Davuluri announced in March that Microsoft pledged to improve Windows 11 system performance and make it more responsive and consistent. and he has now also been associated with these broader changes.. Davuluri said. “As part of this effort. we are evolving how Windows is built behind the scenes to raise the quality bar and deliver innovation where it matters most. shaped by the feedback we are hearing from you.”
Looking beyond the immediate taskbar and Start menu updates. Microsoft says its Windows 11 plans also include reducing notifications. simplifying Windows settings. and ensuring that device setup on new Windows PCs requires fewer reboots.. The company is also working on improving Windows search. aiming for a more consistent experience across the Start menu. taskbar. File Explorer. and Settings.
Microsoft Windows 11 Insider Preview taskbar Start menu resizable taskbar recommended content file relevance Windows Run dark mode Experimental channel Build 26300.8493