Microsoft has released Windows 11 Experimental Preview Build 26300.8493 to Windows Insiders, finally restoring the ability to position the taskbar anywhere on the screen and adding a smaller taskbar mode. The build arrived in mid-May 2026 as part of early testing for version 25H2, the next major feature update for Windows 11.

The update directly addresses two of the most persistent complaints since Windows 11 launched in 2021: the taskbar could only sit at the bottom of the display, and its size was fixed at a chunky default. With build 26300.8493, Insiders can move the taskbar to the top, left, or right edge of the screen—just like in Windows 10 and earlier. A new compact mode also shrinks the taskbar’s height and switches to small icons, reclaiming precious vertical space.

A long-awaited fix for a controversial change

When Windows 11 debuted, Microsoft rewrote the taskbar from scratch, stripping away features that power users had relied on for decades. The ability to drag the taskbar to any screen edge vanished. Right-click menus lost options like “Show the desktop.” The system tray could no longer display all icons at once without manual tweaking. The uproar was immediate.

Third-party utilities such as StartAllBack, ExplorerPatcher, and Windhawk became essential downloads for anyone who wanted a side-mounted or top-placed taskbar. These tools hooked into Windows Explorer and often required updates after every Patch Tuesday to avoid breaking. Now, build 26300.8493 marks Microsoft’s official embrace of taskbar flexibility, eliminating the need for workarounds.

What’s new in build 26300.8493

The Experimental Preview build is part of the 25H2 development cycle. Build number 26300.8493 suggests it’s a post-26xxx series build, aligning with the new cadence for Windows 11’s annual feature drops. The star attractions are:

  • Taskbar location: You can set the taskbar to the bottom (default), top, left, or right edge. The setting lives in Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar alignment. Like in Windows 10, moving the taskbar relocates the Start button, system tray, and pinned apps accordingly. A top-aligned taskbar places the Start menu at the upper left, while left/right orientations stack icons vertically.
  • Smaller taskbar mode: A new toggle, “Use small taskbar buttons,” appears in the same settings page. Activating it reduces the taskbar height from the standard 48 pixels to approximately 36 pixels on typical 100% scaling. Icons shrink from 24×24 to 16×16, and the clock and notification area adjust to fit the compact layout. This mode is independent of display scaling and works on any screen.

Other taskbar improvements rumored for 25H2—such as a reorganized notification center or a redesigned system tray—are not yet visible in this build. The focus remains squarely on positioning and sizing.

How to get the build

Build 26300.8493 is currently available to Windows Insiders enrolled in the Dev Channel or Canary Channel. You can check for it by navigating to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program and selecting the appropriate channel. Be aware that Experimental Preview builds can be unstable; they often contain debugging tools and may break core functionality. Microsoft does not recommend installing them on a primary machine.

If you’re already on a 25H2 preview track, the update will appear as “Windows 11 Experimental Build 26300.8493” with the typical cumulative update installation. A restart is required.

The history of taskbar positioning in Windows

Taskbar mobility isn’t a new idea—it’s a restoration of a feature that existed from Windows 95 through Windows 10. In those OS versions, you could grab an empty area of the taskbar and drag it to any screen edge. Power users often placed it on the left or right to maximize vertical space on wide-screen monitors, or on top for a macOS-like layout. Windows 11’s 2021 rewrite removed this capability, citing telemetry that showed most users never changed the default.

That telemetry, however, ignored vocal communities of developers, designers, and IT professionals who rely on ergonomic setups. A 2022 survey by Windows Central found that 37% of respondents wanted a movable taskbar. Microsoft’s own Feedback Hub collected over 25,000 upvotes on the request. It took until 2026, but the company is finally delivering.

Why the smaller taskbar matters

Screen space is a constant battle, especially on laptops with 13-inch or 14-inch displays. The default Windows 11 taskbar occupies roughly 6% of a 1080p screen’s vertical real estate. On a 1920×1080 panel, that’s 48 pixels that could be used for a browser or document viewport. A compact mode shaves off 12 pixels, which may sound trivial but adds up during hours of use.

Additionally, small icons reduce visual clutter. For users who pin dozens of apps, the slimmer taskbar feels less obtrusive. Combined with auto-hide, the new mode makes Windows 11 feel more polished on compact devices like the Surface Pro or Asus ZenBook.

Technical underpinnings and customisation

Under the hood, Microsoft has likely reworked the taskbar’s XAML layout to support multiple alignments. In the original Windows 11 build, the taskbar was locked to the bottom and used a rigid grid. Third-party mods proved that repositioning was technically possible; developers found and activated hidden code paths. Build 26300.8493 formalises these paths and adds a user-facing toggle.

For Insiders who want to experiment further, registry tweaks may expose additional granularity. However, Microsoft has not documented any such keys publicly. The settings app is the recommended interface.

Community reaction and early feedback

Early reports from Insiders in the Discourse forum indicate that the feature works smoothly on single-monitor setups. Multi-monitor configurations, however, are a mixed bag. Some users note that the taskbar on secondary displays defaults to the bottom regardless of the primary monitor’s setting. Others say that when the taskbar is on top, the notification area clock disappears if the system tray overflows. These are typical quirks for an experimental build and will likely be ironed out before the 25H2 public launch.

Performance appears unaffected. Scrolling, animations, and touch interactions remain fluid. Third-party apps that alter the taskbar, like TranslucentTB, may conflict; Insiders should disable them when testing the native feature.

What this means for 25H2 and beyond

The inclusion of taskbar positioning and small icons signals a broader shift in Microsoft’s approach to Windows 11 customisation. Under CEO Satya Nadella, the Windows team has gradually reintroduced features dropped in the 2021 release—first with File Explorer tabs in 22H2, then with a redesigned volume mixer in 23H2, and now with taskbar flexibility. 25H2 appears poised to be the most community-driven update yet.

Rumors suggest that 25H2 will also bring back the ability to ungroup taskbar buttons and show labels, another heavily requested feature. If build 26300.8493 is any indication, those features could appear in upcoming previews.

Actionable takeaways

If you’re running an eligible Insider build, enable the new taskbar features and provide feedback via the Feedback Hub (Win + F). Microsoft engineers actively read reports from the Dev and Canary channels, and your input can shape the final implementation.

For enterprise IT admins, start planning for 25H2 deployments. The taskbar changes are user-facing but may require policy adjustments if your organisation enforces a specific layout via Group Policy. Native support means you can retire third-party customisation tools, reducing your attack surface and support burden.

Build 26300.8493 is a milestone for Windows 11. It fixes a four-year-old regression and gives users the control they’ve been demanding. The 25H2 era begins with a smaller, more flexible taskbar—and that’s a win for everyone.