Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8758 to testers in the Dev Channel, and it packs a feature that many users have been clamoring for since the OS first debuted: a dedicated taskbar size setting. With this update, insiders can finally choose a more compact taskbar, reducing its height and shrinking the icons to reclaim valuable screen real estate—a capability that was present in Windows 10 but conspicuously absent from Windows 11 until now.
The build, which rolled out in late June 2026, introduces a new option under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar, labeled simply “Taskbar size.” Early testers report that the setting offers multiple presets, including a smaller size that slims down the taskbar to roughly the dimensions of the old Windows 10 default, along with options to revert to the larger Windows 11 style or pick an intermediate size. Icons scale proportionally, and the system tray adapts seamlessly, maintaining usability without cropping notifications or clock text.
A Feature Three Years in the Making
When Windows 11 launched in 2021, its centered Start menu and redesigned taskbar drew both praise and criticism. One of the most persistent complaints centered on the removal of basic customization options that power users had taken for granted. In Windows 10, you could easily switch between small, medium, and large taskbar icons with a simple toggle, or even enable compact mode via a registry tweak. Windows 11 stripped all that away, locking the taskbar at a fixed height and icon size that many felt wasted vertical space—especially on laptops with 16:9 or 3:2 displays.
Feedback echoes through the years were hard to ignore. The Windows Insider Feedback Hub amassed thousands of upvotes for requests like “Bring back small taskbar” and “Make the taskbar resizable.” Third-party developers stepped in with tools like StartAllBack, ExplorerPatcher, and Start11, which allowed users to restore a Windows 10-style taskbar with smaller icons and adjustable heights. But those came with the risk of instability, especially after Windows updates, and were never a true solution for the broader user base.
Now, with Build 26300.8758, Microsoft appears to be directly addressing this long-standing gripe. The addition of an official taskbar size setting signals that the company is listening—even if it took three years and a significant rewrite of the taskbar’s underlying code. In fact, the experimental nature of this build suggests that the feature is still being refined and may only be available to a subset of insiders at first, as Microsoft gauges performance and compatibility.
What the New Taskbar Size Setting Actually Changes
Unlike the simple small/large toggle of old, the new setting in Build 26300.8758 offers a more nuanced control. While the exact labels may vary, insiders have described options such as “Smaller,” “Default,” and “Larger,” each adjusting the taskbar height and icon scaling accordingly. The smaller setting reduces the height to approximately 40 pixels—comparable to the compact mode in Windows 10—while the larger option pushes it beyond the current default. Icons shrink gracefully, with the Start button, pinned apps, and system tray icons all remaining crisp and legible.
Crucially, the setting also affects taskbar previews and notification badges. In the smaller mode, thumbnail previews of open windows appear proportionally compact, and the clock and date display fit neatly without truncation. The action center and quick settings flyouts remain unchanged, preserving the touch-friendly design that Microsoft emphasized in Windows 11’s original release.
To enable the new feature, testers must be running the Experimental Preview build—a special branch of the Dev Channel that occasionally tests features not yet ready for the main Dev ring. Once installed, the setting appears directly in the Taskbar settings page, requiring no registry hacks or third-party software. However, because this is an experimental build, there’s no guarantee the feature will ship in the final version of Windows 11 24H2 or whatever the next feature update is called. But its inclusion here is a strong indicator of Microsoft’s intent.
More Than Just a Taskbar: File Explorer Fixes and System Refinements
While the taskbar size setting grabs the headlines, Build 26300.8758 also includes a series of fixes for File Explorer—an area that has seen its share of bugs since the introduction of tabs and the modernized home page. According to the build’s release notes, the update addresses several issues that caused File Explorer to crash when navigating folders with large numbers of images, and it improves the reliability of context menus in the navigation pane. Testers have reported smoother performance when dragging files between tabs and a fix for a memory leak that would slow down the system after prolonged use of the file browser.
These under-the-hood improvements are just as important as the visual changes. File Explorer stability has been a pain point for many Windows 11 users, and each cumulative update brings incremental relief. The experimental nature of this build means Microsoft is likely testing new code paths for file management, possibly in preparation for deeper integration with cloud services and AI-powered search—features that have been rumored for future Windows releases.
Other minor tweaks in Build 26300.8758 include updated animations for the notification area and a subtle refresh of the sound output picker, aligning it more closely with the Windows 11 visual language. There’s also a new toggle under Privacy & Security > Diagnostics & Feedback that lets users control how click data is shared with Microsoft, part of an ongoing effort to increase transparency around telemetry.
How to Get the Build and What to Expect
Build 26300.8758 is available to Windows Insiders enrolled in the Dev Channel, specifically those who have opted into receiving Experimental Preview builds. These builds are less stable than typical Dev Channel releases and may contain features that never ship, so they’re best installed on secondary machines or virtual environments. To check if you’re eligible, navigate to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program and ensure your channel is set to Dev. Under “Professional settings,” make sure “Experimental Preview” is enabled.
Once the build is installed, the new taskbar size option should appear immediately. If it doesn’t, a simple reboot or a check in Windows Update for a configuration update may resolve it—Microsoft occasionally rolls out features via staged enablement packages. As with all insider builds, bugs are inevitable. Early reports indicate that some third-party taskbar customization tools may conflict with the new setting, and users might need to disable or uninstall them to avoid graphical glitches.
For those not in the Insider program, the feature’s eventual arrival in a stable release remains uncertain. Microsoft’s track record with experimental features is mixed: while many make it to production, some are scrapped entirely. The company has been increasingly cautious with taskbar changes after the initial backlash to Windows 11’s rigid design. This cautious approach might actually work in favor of a polished final product, but it also means patience is required.
Community Reaction and the Bigger Picture
The response from the Windows Insider community has been overwhelmingly positive. Social media and forum threads lit up within hours of the build’s release, with many long-time critics calling it a “return to sanity.” One tester on the Windows Insider subreddit noted, “I can finally see more than six rows of my spreadsheet without hiding the taskbar. It sounds small, but it’s a huge quality-of-life improvement.” Another user, who had been using ExplorerPatcher for years, expressed relief: “It’s great that I won’t have to worry about a third-party tool breaking every Patch Tuesday.”
This feature is more than a mere tweak; it represents a philosophical shift in Microsoft’s approach to Windows 11. The original release emphasized a simplified, one-size-fits-all aesthetic that borrowed heavily from mobile and tablet interfaces. But as the operating system matured and adoption grew—especially among businesses and power users—the demand for flexibility became undeniable. The reintroduction of taskbar grouping options, never-combine labels, and now resizable taskbars suggests that Microsoft is willing to walk back some of its earlier design decisions when user feedback is loud enough.
There’s also a competitive angle. Apple’s macOS allows significant taskbar (Dock) customization, and Linux desktop environments like KDE Plasma offer extreme flexibility. By adding such options, Windows 11 becomes more appealing to a broader audience, including those who might otherwise consider switching platforms. For enterprises, a smaller taskbar means more usable workspace on standard 14-inch laptops, which is a small but meaningful productivity gain.
What’s Next for Windows 11 Customization?
Build 26300.8758 is unlikely to be the end of the story. Microsoft insiders hint that the taskbar size setting is part of a larger “compact mode” initiative that could eventually extend to the Start menu, File Explorer title bars, and even the settings app. If these experiments succeed, we might see a system-wide density option similar to what many browsers and code editors offer—allowing users to choose between airy, touch-friendly spacing and a more information-dense layout.
Additionally, the modular nature of the taskbar code in recent builds suggests that Microsoft is preparing for more substantial under-the-hood changes. There are whispers of a fully detachable taskbar that can be placed on any screen edge, a feature that was functional in Windows 10 but removed in 11. While not present in this build, such a capability would require the kind of flexible sizing logic that this update introduces.
For now, insiders can enjoy the immediate benefit of a less chunky taskbar. Those who rely on multiple monitors or small laptop screens will likely see the greatest impact. The build also serves as a reminder that Windows 11 is still very much a work in progress—and that Microsoft, albeit slowly, is responding to the most vocal feedback it receives.
As we look ahead to the next major Windows update, the question remains: will this feature make the cut for a broader release? If history is any guide, the experimental tag means it’s not a sure thing. But the overwhelming positive reception and the clear alignment with user demand give it a strong chance. In the meantime, brave insiders can get a taste of what a more customizable Windows 11 looks like—one where the taskbar doesn’t have to be the loud, unchanging furniture it’s been for years.