Microsoft is shifting to a new rhythm of "pushing out important fixes on a monthly basis", and one of the upcoming updates will bring back a compact taskbar similar to Windows 10 for Windows 11, with different size options instead of just making the taskbar removable. Currently, Windows 11 users can hardly customize the taskbar size. On smaller screen devices such as 14 inches, the default taskbar appears too large. If you want to reduce the height, you can only rely on third-party tools. This has been one of the sources of dissatisfaction for a large number of users.
Some users directly suggested to the person in charge of Microsoft Windows on social platform Pavan Davuluri, the Microsoft executive responsible for the Windows business, responded publicly on X, saying, "This is a feature we are considering implementing," sending a signal that Microsoft takes user feedback seriously. According to the author's knowledge of Microsoft, Microsoft's internal statement is that the new solution will be "similar to the taskbar of Windows 10", but there are currently no details to what extent it will be restored.
In Windows 10, users only need to go into "Settings - Taskbar" and switch to small taskbar buttons with a simple switch, thus visually significantly reducing the space occupied by the taskbar. In Windows 11, although the "Always show smaller taskbar buttons" option can also be found in the "Settings - Personalization - Taskbar" interface, this feature will actually only reduce the size of the icon (button) itself, but will not reduce the height of the entire taskbar, which is obviously inconsistent with the intuitive expectations of many users. Microsoft now plans to add a switch that actually controls the "overall taskbar size" to make it behave closer to Windows 10, allowing users to make the taskbar itself more compact after switching.
In addition, Windows 10 also provided a "Lock Taskbar" function. As long as it is unlocked, users can drag the taskbar and move it to the top of the screen or other edges, and can freely adjust the height of the taskbar by dragging the edges. It is unclear whether Microsoft will completely restore this highly free taskbar customization experience, but what is certain is that the personalized functions around the taskbar are being "unbundled" and the product strategy is beginning to move toward a more flexible and traditional desktop experience.
In addition to the compact taskbar, Microsoft has previously confirmed that it will introduce a movable taskbar to Windows 11, allowing users to move the taskbar to the top of the screen or to the vertical edge. This ability has long been listed as one of the most anticipated features in the Feedback Center. Many users believe that allowing the taskbar to support free movement again is not a technical problem, but more like an "attitude correction" made by Microsoft to improve reputation and user experience. Microsoft has also emphasized many times recently that it will pay more attention to the usability and controllability of Windows as a consumer desktop operating system in the future.
Tweaks around the taskbar are just part of Microsoft's 2026 Windows 11 system updates. Microsoft has promised to launch a series of improvements for Windows 11 in the coming months, including allowing users to "indefinitely pause" system updates, speed up the start menu response, reduce memory usage, improve file explorer performance, and reduce intrusive AI elements in the system. These updates will be pushed to users in the form of "monthly fixes", and members of the Windows Insider project will be the first to qualify for testing.