Microsoft confirmed on May 15, 2026, that Windows 11 Insiders will soon gain unprecedented control over the Start menu and taskbar, introducing section-level toggles, separate controls for file recommendations, and new sizing options. The announcement, delivered via a brief statement on the company’s Insider blog, signals a significant shift in how users can tailor two of the most used interface elements in the operating system. While the initial disclosures lacked granular build numbers, they outlined a feature set that addresses years of user feedback about rigidity in Windows 11’s design.

For a cohort of Insiders who have clamored for deeper personalization since Windows 11’s debut in 2021, this marks a turning point. The Start menu, which replaced Live Tiles with a static grid of pinned apps and a recommendations section, has been a lightning rod for criticism. The taskbar, for its part, was rebuilt from the ground up and lost the ability to resize icons or reposition itself freely. These changes – or reversions to older functionality – promise to blend the modern aesthetic with the flexibility many power users crave.

What the announcement revealed

The May 15 confirmation was sparse on specifics but rich in implication. Microsoft said Insiders in the Dev and Beta Channels will soon see a revamped Settings page for taskbar and Start menu behavior. The most eye-catching addition is “section-level toggles” for the Start menu. Instead of a single on/off switch for the entire recommended content area, users will be able to enable or disable distinct sections – such as recent files, frequently used apps, and suggestions – independently. This granularity extends to file recommendations, which will get their own dedicated toggle separate from general content suggestions.

Privacy-conscious users have long objected to file recommendations that expose sensitive documents on the Start menu, even momentarily. A toggle to suppress those recommendations while keeping other dynamic content untouched is a direct response to those concerns. Microsoft did not specify whether the new controls will be live in an upcoming build or rolled out gradually via a server-side update, but Insiders should expect them “in the coming weeks.”

Taskbar changes are equally substantive. The statement confirmed that the much-requested option to switch between small and large taskbar icon sizes is returning. This feature was present in Windows 10 but stripped away in Windows 11’s initial release, forcing users to rely on registry hacks or third-party tools. Now, it will be accessible directly through Settings, alongside toggles for the taskbar corner icons, system tray overflow behavior, and other minor tweaks.

Start menu customization: beyond the basics

Windows 11’s Start menu has always been more curated than its predecessors. The grid of pinned apps and the “Recommended” section are visually clean but polarizing. The new section-level toggles break down that monolithic Recommended block into manageable slices. Insiders will likely encounter options such as:

  • Toggle for recently opened files
  • Toggle for recently installed apps
  • Toggle for app-specific recommendations (e.g., “Continue from your phone”)
  • Toggle for tips and suggestions

The ability to disable file recommendations while retaining the recently installed apps list, for example, could strike a balance between utility and privacy. Microsoft’s telemetry likely showed that many users disable the entire Recommended section because of one intrusive element, tossing out the baby with the bathwater. By decoupling these components, the company can keep users engaged with the features they find helpful.

Another subtlety: the “more recommendations” toggle that sometimes appears within the Start menu itself may now be controlled separately from the Settings app. This dual-layer control – system-level settings plus in-context toggles – would let users fine-tune their menu without digging through menus. The confirmation did not mention whether the Start menu’s layout, such as the number of pinned app rows, would also become adjustable, but the phrasing “deeper Start menu customization” leaves the door open for more surprises.

Taskbar size and behavior: reclaiming lost ground

The taskbar in Windows 11 was redesigned with centered icons and a simplified system tray. While visually appealing, it abandoned a feature set that many professionals depended on. The inability to resize icons or move the taskbar to the sides or top of the screen sparked immediate backlash. Microsoft’s confirmation that small and large sizes are returning is a step toward reconciliation.

The small icon mode, familiar from Windows 10, allows more items to fit on the taskbar without sacrificing readability. On high-resolution displays, it can free up significant vertical space. The large mode, meanwhile, suits touch-first devices or users with visual impairments. Microsoft might implement these as a simple dropdown in Settings > Personalization > Taskbar, perhaps under a “Taskbar icon size” option.

What’s not yet clear is whether the taskbar position can be changed. The brief statement focused on size and toggles, not location. The Insider community has long rallied for the return of top-aligned or side-aligned taskbars. If Microsoft is investing in taskbar customization, adding position options would be a logical next step, but the May 15 confirmation did not address it. Enthusiasts will have to wait and see.

Privacy controls take center stage

Privacy has become a battleground for operating system design, and Windows 11 is no exception. The separate toggle for file recommendations is a clear privacy win. Many users discovered that documents they’d opened once – a tax form, a personal letter, a sensitive PDF – could appear in the Start menu without warning. Even with entire recommendation sections turned off, the fear lingered. A dedicated off switch eliminates that anxiety.

Microsoft’s phrasing suggests these controls will be bundled into a larger privacy-focused Settings revamp for the Start menu. Existing toggles for “Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer” and “Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more” already exist in Windows 11’s Privacy & Security > General settings. The new additions would slot neatly into that framework, possibly with a new “Start menu recommendations” sub-page.

The timing aligns with broader industry trends. Regulatory pressure in Europe and growing consumer awareness have forced tech companies to offer more transparent controls over data usage. By giving Insiders early access, Microsoft can test usability and gather telemetry on which toggles users interact with most before a wider rollout.

The Insider feedback loop

Windows Insiders have historically served as the proving ground for such experiments. The gradual rollout of features like this follows a familiar pattern: a small subset of Dev Channel users get the changes first, feedback is collected via the Feedback Hub, and adjustments are made before expansion to the Beta Channel and eventually the Release Preview. Microsoft’s confirmation suggests that some Insiders have already begun seeing these options in limited tests.

If reception is positive, the features will likely land in the stable release via a cumulative update or a “Moment” feature drop. Microsoft has shifted to a continuous innovation model, where major features no longer wait for annual releases. Customization toggles for the Start menu and taskbar fit that model perfectly, as they are self-contained and don’t rely on deep system changes.

What’s still missing

While the confirmed changes address real pain points, the Insider community has a longer wishlist. Top of that list remains the ability to ungroup taskbar icons and show labels – a Windows 10 classic that vanished in Windows 11. Microsoft briefly experimented with bringing it back in an earlier Insider build, but the feature was pulled and has not returned. There’s no indication that the May announcement includes it, though it remains a top-voted request in the Feedback Hub.

Also absent is the ability to resize the Start menu itself, or to fully disable the recommendations section as a whole at a system level (the current toggle leaves a blank area with a note). Section-level toggles are a step in that direction, but some users want the entire space reclaimed for pinned apps. Whether Microsoft will ever allow that remains an open question.

How to get the new features

For Insiders eager to test these changes, the path is straightforward. Enroll a compatible device in the Dev Channel (Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program) to receive the most experimental builds. The Beta Channel offers a slightly more stable experience but usually gets features a bit later. Users should be aware that Dev Channel builds can be buggy and may require frequent updates.

Once the features ship, they are expected to appear as “controlled feature rollouts,” meaning not every Insider will get them immediately even if they’re on the right build. This allows Microsoft to compare telemetry from a randomized sample. Enthusiasts can sometimes force the changes using ViVeTool or similar open-source tools that enable feature IDs, but these methods come with risks.

The bigger picture

Customization has always been a cornerstone of the Windows experience. From the days of Windows 95’s classic Start menu tweaks to the Live Tile resizing of Windows 8 and 10, users have expected to make their desktop their own. Windows 11’s initial rigidity was a departure from that heritage, driven perhaps by a desire to emulate the locked-down simplicity of mobile platforms. The pendulum is now swinging back.

These new toggles, sizing options, and privacy controls don’t just fix complaints – they signal that Microsoft is listening. The Insider program remains the primary conduit for that feedback, and features like these validate the community’s influence. For Windows enthusiasts, the message is clear: the Start menu and taskbar are works in progress, and the company is willing to iterate based on real-world use.

As always with Insider announcements, patience is required. What’s confirmed today might ship tomorrow or six months from now. But the May 15 confirmation gives Insiders a concrete set of improvements to look forward to, and it draws a roadmap for a more customizable, privacy-respecting Windows 11.