After more than four years, Windows 11 users can finally move the taskbar to any edge of the screen again—but only if they’re in the Insider Beta channel, and only with a few important features still missing. Microsoft released two Beta builds on July 31, 2026: Build 26220.9022 for the standard Beta channel and Build 28020.2623 for the 26H1 branch. Both restore the long-loved ability to dock the taskbar at the top, left, or right, as reported by Neowin and Windows Report.

What the new Beta builds deliver

The taskbar position control lives under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors. You can now select Bottom (the default), Top, Left, or Right. For anyone who uses an ultrawide monitor or a portrait-oriented display, a vertical taskbar instantly reclaims precious horizontal space. In portrait mode, the taskbar spreads vertically along the longer edge, which makes far more sense than trying to cram everything into a squashed bottom strip.

Alongside positioning, Microsoft added a smaller taskbar mode. This shrinks the taskbar height and icon size, and scales the Start button, Search field, and system tray icons proportionally. But the smaller mode only works when the taskbar is at the top or bottom—left and right alignment keep the full size for now.

The build also preserves existing taskbar options that power users rely on. If you prefer never combine taskbar buttons or want labeled buttons for easier window tracking, both continue to function in the new positions. That’s especially handy on vertical taskbars, where text labels can be more readable than crammed icons. You can, for example, pin your most-used apps and see full window titles at a glance, which turns the side-mounted taskbar into more of a launch-and-switch panel.

What you gain—and what’s still missing

The return of a movable taskbar is a big win for desktop flexibility. If you work with a vertical stack of windows, putting the taskbar on the left can echo macOS or older Windows layouts. If your muscle memory prefers a top-anchored bar, you can finally recreate that. Portrait monitor users, in particular, have been clamoring for a side-mounted taskbar since Windows 11 launched in 2021, when Microsoft locked the taskbar to the bottom for what it called a “simplified” and touch-friendly redesign. Third-party tools like StartAllBack and ExplorerPatcher rushed to fill the void, but now a native solution is within reach.

However, the feature arrives with clear limitations. Touch gestures, the Search box, and the Ask Copilot experience don’t yet work in the top, left, or right positions. If you rely on touch or a stylus, you’ll need to stick with the bottom docking for full support. Auto-hide and the touch-optimized taskbar (which automatically expands when you switch to tablet mode) are also restricted to the bottom edge. And as mentioned, the small taskbar isn’t available on the sides yet.

These gaps matter most for 2-in-1 and tablet users. The very people who might benefit from a less cluttered taskbar on a small screen are the ones left waiting. For desktop PC users, though, the trade-off is minimal: moving the taskbar to the side or top and losing Copilot integration is an easy bargain for many. Just be aware that if you rely on the Windows key + search shortcut or the dedicated Search icon, you’ll temporarily lose that convenience until Microsoft updates those experiences.

The IT administrator’s checklist

Build 26220.9022 also fixes a nagging update problem. Some Beta-channel installations were rolling back with error code 0xc1900101, a generic driver-related failure. Microsoft notes this fix is specific to the Beta channel, not a universal cure, but it should smooth the upgrade path for Insiders who hit that wall.

Two other fixes stand out for managed environments. File History backups to SMB network shares will no longer fail with misleading “invalid credentials” errors—a problem that could silently break backup policies in small offices. And files on DFS mapped drives are no longer incorrectly stamped with the Mark of the Web when a device starts offline and later connects. That means you won’t see unexpected security warnings in File Explorer’s Preview pane, reducing confusion for end users who open files from network paths.

Both builds renew the Windows Insider flight certificate. If you don’t install this build or a later one before August 11, 2026, your machine may stop receiving future preview builds without a clean install. This is a routine housekeeping step, but it’s a hard deadline that IT pros managing Insider test rings should schedule now. After that date, the old certificate expires and Windows Update will refuse to offer new flights.

The 26H1 build (28020.2623) introduces two forward-looking changes. First, precision touchpad settings now let you adjust scroll speed, zoom speed, and enable accelerated scrolling. You’ll find these under Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad. Some gestures depend on updated WinUI 3 apps via the Windows App SDK, so full functionality may trickle in later. Second, Microsoft is beginning to unify updates: driver, .NET, and firmware patches will be coordinated with the monthly quality update, aiming to cut down on those multiple sequential restarts. For IT teams managing fleets, that’s potentially a bigger deal than the taskbar tweak—but it’s still just an Insider experiment and not something you can yet manage via Group Policy or Intune.

Why a movable taskbar took years to return

When Windows 11 arrived in October 2021, Microsoft locked the taskbar to the bottom, citing a redesigned system tray and a touch-friendly experience. The community reaction was swift and brutal: a Feedback Hub request titled “Bring back the ability to move the taskbar to the top/sides of the screen” quickly racked up over 30,000 upvotes. For years, the official response was a vague “we’re listening.”

Behind the scenes, the taskbar had been completely rebuilt for Windows 11 using modern XAML and WinUI components. That meant the old code that let users drag the bar around was gone, and rebuilding it wasn’t trivial. Over time, Microsoft added features back incrementally: the “never combine” option returned in 2023, labeled buttons followed, and an improved overflow menu landed in 2024. The movable taskbar, however, required reworking how the taskbar interacts with the entire shell—especially with the centered Start menu and Widgets panel.

The fact that two separate Beta branches are now shipping the feature suggests it’s approaching final quality. Usually, features graduate from Dev and Canary to Beta before hitting Release Preview and stable. The 26H1 branch hints that this could land with the next major update cycle, though Microsoft hasn’t made any public timeline promises. Historically, 26H1 would release in the first half of 2027, but these taskbar changes might appear in a “moment” update sooner.

How to try it out today

If you want the movable taskbar now, join the Windows Insider program and switch to the Beta channel. (Enroll at Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program.) Once you’re in, check for updates to get Build 26220.9022 (standard Beta). If you’re already part of the 26H1 preview, you’ll see Build 28020.2623 instead.

After upgrading, navigate to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors, and choose your preferred position from the dropdown. The smaller taskbar toggle is right above it. For the new touchpad controls in 26H1, go to Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad.

If your device is already enrolled in the Beta channel, install the update as soon as possible to get the renewed flight certificate before August 11. Also, if you had previously hit the 0xc1900101 error, this build should let you past it. Remember that these are preview builds, so expect some rough edges. It’s wise to run them on a secondary machine or in a virtual environment first.

What’s next

The taskbar repositioning feature is likely to stabilize in upcoming Beta builds and eventually reach the Release Preview channel. Expect Microsoft to fill the touch and auto-hide gaps before declaring it ready for mainstream Windows 11 users. There’s no ETA for the smaller taskbar on the sides, but it’s a logical next step. Insiders should watch for builds that mention taskbar improvements in the release notes.

For IT pros, the unified update rollout is the quiet star of the 26H1 build. If it works well, it could reshape how Windows patching feels in corporate environments—fewer reboots, better coordination, and less helpdesk noise. We’ll be watching upcoming Insider flights for signs of its expansion and any management tools that accompany it.

In the meantime, Beta testers now have the most tangible taskbar win since Windows 11’s launch. The long wait for a movable bar is almost over.