Windows 11 movable taskbar edges closer to general release

Windows 11 has moved one step closer to matching Windows 10 after Microsoft slid a movable taskbar into the Release Preview Channel. The feature allows the Windows taskbar to be positioned at the top, left, or right of the screen, as well as at its default location along the bottom. Users have long requested its return after …

[xyz123]

Now they need to ad perma-blocking for copilot everywhere in windows that CANNOT be undone via a windows update

[Mostly Irrelevant]

If you're running pro, you can disable it using the group policy: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/3916884/enable-copilot-in-windows-11-after-disabling-via-g

Yes, its stupid that this is necessary. Have you considered Linux? That's what I use unless I have to (like at work).

[X5-332960073452]

Here's the .reg file I use

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot]

"TurnOffWindowsCopilot"=dword:00000001

[Fruit and Nutcase]

Hallelujah!

compact option with smaller icons

[blu3b3rry]

Progress I guess?

05 Oct 2021 was the release date for Windows 11. Fast forward almost six years and the UI is finally starting to look like it could be somewhat usable with enough tweaks....

The most recent update I got changed the start menu around again, effectively to the extent that if you remove all the pinned/recommended stuff it resembles a overly bloated version of the W10 start menu. Rest of the UI is still crap though.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Progress I guess?

The trick is to only ever use search. Then you don't need to pay attention to or remember where they've moved everything every time they change things.

[elsergiovolador]

Re: Progress I guess?

Search on Windows 10 would find anything but what you were looking for. Isn't that on Windows 11 it just throws random stuff?

[Sorry that handle is already taken.]

Re: Progress I guess?

Search on Windows 11 is noticeably worse

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Progress I guess?

W11 search?

"search for: accounts2.xlxs"

Ah I see you're searching for 'accounts', here are 15 shitty accounting and or budgeting apps from our store, many in Chinese.Or why not play Candy Crush our key sponsor.

We know you're on a coporate license and installing apps will likely put your machine out of compliance and stop you working for 3hr but we really don't care. BTW how about buying 365 again, I know you've just searched for an Excel file which clearly implies you have a spreasheet tool and it's probably Excel, and we'd know that you had Excel if we bothered to check but we'll push the ad anyway

And why not get 365 for Android while you're at it, we can see you're on a Mac but again we don't care we get more money for pushing our crap on Android

Oh you want to find a file, on your own machine, sniff, well ok if you must but they're waaaaaay down there at the end of the list of crap

[Sorry that handle is already taken.]

Re: Progress I guess?

My favourite is start menu search continuing to suggest the store app version of some software instead of the regular version I already have installed, but it's a corporate PC that's had the store disabled.

[localgeek]

Re: Progress I guess?

It's been said before, but I use everything.exe when I actually want to find files and not get random online suggestions. It's one of the first utilities I install on a new Windows build.

[Steve Foster]

Re: Progress I guess?

There is supposedly an option to switch the "new" reorganisation of the start menu off using ViveTool, and revert it to the previous Pinned/Recommended + "All>" functionality.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to work on the Intune-managed W11 I have to use at one site. The Intune stuff may be rendering it inoperative, but I have no obvious way to diagnose it (and I'm technically just a user there, although I do have local admin privileges, so I try to tread lightly).

[Hubert Cumberdale]

Re: Progress I guess?

This is good: https://github.com/Raphire/Win11Debloat

It's just about got to the point where MS + tools like this mean I can make 11 actually usable, and I might pick a slow day and finally "upgrade" my desktop from 10 to 11 just because I'll have to eventually.

[Nematode]

It was always there. The same registry keys as in W10. Search for the hack. Easy, though you need to get your binary location right! https://learn.microsoft.com/en-sg/answers/questions/1923160/how-do-i-move-my-taskbar-vertically-to-the-left-si

All they're re-adding is the UI to get at the key

[David 132]

Not quite. Change the registry key all you like; it's ignored.

Even the page you linked to says it:

Unfortunately, In windows 11, this feature is not supported.

But thanks for getting my hopes up and then dashing them quite expertly :)

[Nematode]

Oops. Thanks for that. I wouldn't know as I'm not on 11 :)

Checking that page again, it looks like M$ have tried to close down the discussion too. Typical.

[Swordfish1]

Err Microsoft need to sort out the current issues that have been reported since the updates this summer

[ComicalEngineer]

Back to the future

So W11 is now almost as good as W10?

After only 6 years from release to implement a simple modification sorry feature that was available in W95 IIRC.

Not only that, but a feature that many people used, I've had the taskbar on the left since 1995 as I mostly work in Portrait documents. I know many other people who have the taskbar on the left and some who prefer it at the top.

Now all we need to do is get rid of the advertising crapware and associated bloatware (Gamebar etc) and we *might* get a half decent operating system. Then, of course they could reduce the memory requirements...

Forget I said this. MS will find another way to inject adverts and add useless bloatware and spyware and we'll need the equivalent of a Cray to make it work at a decent speed.

[Hubert Cumberdale]

Re: Back to the future

See: https://github.com/Raphire/Win11Debloat

[elsergiovolador]

Could

Could not they just ship Windows 10?

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Could

At this moment in time W98SE was a superior experience to W11.

Modernise that for current hardware and secure it and tbh I'd be happy (I'd be even happier with W2k).

Ditto Office 97.

The OS should just be a robust framework in which to run the software you actually need/want. Other than that it should shut up and stay out of the way.

[Paul Herber]

Hey guys, I've just invented a wheel thingy. The first one I made went both clockwise and anti-clockwise and that is what I planned to release but the priesthood thought that ant-clockwise would be heretical so it's only going to be clockwise for now. However, a quick hint, if you turn the wheel round by 180 degrees it then goes anti-clockwise, but don't tell anyone I told you !!!

[Richard Hewitt]

No sign of a multiline taskbar, so it's a No from me. I tend to keep lots of windows open, the clue is in the name of the OS and I hate it when they combine the buttons on the taskbar due to lack of space. I'm guessing that'll take another six years to implement?

[VBF]

But the "combine" feature and button size are already switchable (and have been for several releases) by going to Settings > Personalisation > Taskbar.

I've always thought that the Taskbar "belongs" along the bottom anyway, but I take the point about having choice.

The multi-line option would be useful I do concede.

[gv]

Prefer my taskbar on the left of my wide-screen monitor, ideally with the menu button at the bottom, something I can achieve easily with KDE, XFCE, Cosmic, et al.

[AMBxx]

I have a remote desktop open in a full window all the time. That gives me my host PC toolbar and the toolbar in the remote desktop taking up vertical space all the time.

Best option for me is at the top on a different screen and hidden until hover.

We all like to work differently and it should be up to MS to dictate.

[Sorry that handle is already taken.]

Okay, great

So when do we get the expandable multiple-row taskbar back?

[find users who cut cat tail]

Re: Okay, great

Immediately when you upgrade your desktop to KDE (or some other environment made for people).

[Paul Herber]

Re: Okay, great

Error 42: missing penguin.

[Always Right Mostly]

Not that any of this will do any good because …

Windows 12 will undo everything that you did on Windows 11 and create a whole new steaming pile of horrors to tweak out out of existence.

[Anonymous Coward]

Coprolite

What are the chances that MS make it that you can only move the taskbar by asking via coprolite.

And if you block it the taskbar moves back.

[Jedit]

Coprolite?

Sounds shit to me.

[Paul Herber]

Re: Coprolite?

If you pay for updates then it's the only way to get a fee cease.

[RLWatkins]

How is removing features "progress"?

This isn't the first time. Cell padding in Excel is gone, MDI windows are gone from their IDE, all CUA compliance is gone since Win7.... The list goes on and on. How does removing oft-used features from a product count as an improvement? This is like experiencing dementia without all the pesky brain damage.