Windows 11 finally gets an animated taskbar

It’s taken nearly five years, but Microsoft has finally brought back the ability to move the Windows taskbar to the top or sides of the screen. An animated taskbar is part of some of them Much bigger changes are coming to Windows 11 This year in response to Increasing criticism For operating system performance, reliability, and user experience.

“Changing the taskbar position is one of the top requests we’ve heard from you,” says Pavan Davuluri, President of Windows. “We offer the ability to reposition them to the top or sides of your screen, making it easier to customize your workspace.”

This taskbar change will be available to Windows Insiders in the coming weeks, before rolling out to all Windows 11 users later this year. Microsoft is also working on a smaller taskbar that will be available as an option later this year.

Windows has had an animated taskbar for decades, but Windows 11 removed that functionality when it launched in 2021. I initially hated the new Windows 11 taskbar Because it lacks functions such as displaying time and date on multiple screens, small icons, or the ability to move the taskbar. The taskbar was so bad because Microsoft rebuilt it for Windows 10X, which was originally going to do this Works on dual screen devices Before it was reworked into Windows 11 for laptops.

Microsoft has been steadily working to bring back most of the good parts of the Windows 10 taskbar, as it recently began Test the agenda calendar view In Windows 11 Notification Center. This has also been removed from Windows 11, despite being part of Windows 10.