Microsoft confirmed that it has opened the taskbar colored battery icon feature to more devices in Windows 11, while continuing to expand the coverage of the new Start menu interface. Users who install the February 2026 optional update KB5077241 are more likely to see an updated battery icon on the taskbar as well as a redesigned Start menu.
Microsoft has been testing this colorful battery icon change on a small scale for the past two years, but the pace of advancement has always been slow and it has never been able to achieve the new features of all Windows 11 devices simultaneously. The colorful battery icon was developed as early as late 2024, and was subsequently rolled out to some users last year, but it was not until the KB5077241 update in February this year that the coverage was significantly expanded again. Microsoft said that this update will not only bring the new battery icon to more devices with Windows 11 installed, but will also allow more users to get the new Start menu.
To speed up the arrival of such feature updates, Microsoft recommends that users turn on the "Get the latest updates" switch in "Settings - Windows Update". However, this switch is not a "forced opening", and whether new features can ultimately arrive still depends on Microsoft's A/B testing strategy for different hardware and user groups. With this option turned on, the system will typically receive these early incremental push changes relatively quickly.
Judging from the specific experience, after installing KB5077241, the battery icon on the taskbar is no longer a single white power bar, but has been replaced by a thicker, longer, and more eye-catching form, and switches to different colors as the status changes. When the device is connected to the power source for charging, the battery icon will be displayed in green with a lightning logo, which visually indicates that it is currently charging; once the power is disconnected, the battery bar will automatically return to white. When the power drops to 30%, the system automatically enables energy-saving mode and the battery bar turns orange simultaneously. Users can also manually turn on energy-saving mode to trigger this color change. If the battery level drops below 6%, the battery icon will turn red to provide a stronger visual reminder to the user to charge as soon as possible.
This update also completes a detail that many users have long requested: displaying battery percentage on the taskbar. Users can enter the "Settings - System - Power & Battery" page and turn on the "Battery Percentage" option, allowing the taskbar battery icon to directly display the numerical percentage, making it easier to accurately grasp the remaining power.
The report also pointed out that in recent months, the taskbar experience of Windows 11 has been significantly improved, many of which have added back classic features that were removed when the original Windows 11 was released. For example, users regained the ability to drag and drop files onto taskbar icons, and the taskbar can be made smaller to save space when windows are crowded. In addition, there is more credible news that Microsoft is planning to allow users to move and adjust the taskbar position in future updates in response to long-term feedback from the community.
In addition to interface and interaction updates, Microsoft has also made important adjustments at the background security level: the old Secure Boot certificate that will expire in June 2026 is gradually being replaced by a new certificate issued in 2023, and the coverage has also been expanded to more ordinary consumer devices in the near future. For users who haven't received the new certificate yet, Microsoft says it's still rolling it out in phases and expects to have all supported devices covered by the June deadline. For users who want to confirm for themselves whether the new certificate has been applied to their system, this tutorial provides a way to check the current Secure Boot certificate status through Event Viewer and PowerShell scripts.
The author finally mentioned that he has received the new Start menu and colored battery icon on his current device, but has not yet obtained the updated Secure Boot certificate, and invited users to report whether they have seen the new Start menu, colored battery icon and updated Secure Boot settings on their devices.