# Improving Windows quality: Making Taskbar and Start more personal
**URL:** https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471
**Category:** Off-Topic
**Created:** [May 19, 2026, 11:40pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471 "2026-05-19T23:40:32Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Guido](https://resource.dopus.com/u/Guido)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2026, 11:40pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471/1 "2026-05-19T23:40:32Z")
Following-up from the [Our commitment to Windows quality](https://resource.dopus.com/t/dopus-for-linux/41052/110) message post:
New message from May 15, 2026:
[Improving Windows quality: Making Taskbar and Start more personal](https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2026/05/15/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/)
Many users were not happy with certain aspects of Windows 11.
Now Microsoft have taken the next step to regain confidence in the Windows platform.
For me, the "new" _Smaller taskbar_ feature does the trick.
Your mileage may vary.
Amazing that it took them 5 years to restore a feature in Windows 11 which I am actually using in Windows XP, 7, and 10.
Anyway, the timing is perfect, eventually providing a usable Windows 11 with the end of the Windows 10 ESU (Extended Security Updates) program.
Regards
Guido
---
### Author:  [@xavierarmand](https://resource.dopus.com/u/xavierarmand)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2026, 1:15am UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471/2 "2026-05-20T01:15:35Z")
They're a decade late and still short of basic functionality.
They started with the win 8 start menu. 10 wasn't much better.
I have been using [https://startisback.com/](https://startisback.com/) for some years now. I'll never use the M$ start menu again. It's $3 or $4. One licence for both win 10 and 11.
Get nostislic with a win 7 style start menu and taskbar. Or mix and match with its many customization options.
---
### Author:  [@Guido](https://resource.dopus.com/u/Guido)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2026, 1:30am UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471/3 "2026-05-20T01:30:22Z")
Taskbar is crucial because it's always visible (if not all hidden).
Start menu is not always visible.
10 is OK, best so far.
11 is moving target, will see...
Regards
Guido
---
### Author:  [@xavierarmand](https://resource.dopus.com/u/xavierarmand)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2026, 1:39am UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471/4 "2026-05-20T01:39:54Z")
Agree. Mine is always visible. I need to know what's open. On a big screen with pixel shift win 10\11 bottom 2 pixel highlights is USELESS. I use start all back to fully high what apps are open.
And as for a start menu. I don't actually use either windows or start all back but flow launcher. If I did use start menu all backs is better
This can everything the start menu does and then so much more if you start going overboard with plugins
> **[GitHub - Flow-Launcher/Flow.Launcher: :mag: Quick file search & app launcher for Windows...](https://github.com/Flow-Launcher/Flow.Launcher)**
>
> :mag: Quick file search & app launcher for Windows with community-made plugins
---
### Author:  [@tbone](https://resource.dopus.com/u/tbone)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2026, 6:27am UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471/5 "2026-05-20T06:27:30Z")
Just in case you did not discover WindHawk and the multiple plugins it offers yet. It took me quite some tinkering and custom styling, but I am quite "ok" now with the Win11 task bar. Most features from the "Win7TaskbarTweaker" are in there as well, and.. especially important a network IO-meter, which is hacked into the clock string. Win11 does not run taskbar widgets anymore and that clock-mod seems to be the only reasonable solution right now if you need a network meter always visible but not getting in the way at the same time.
EDIT: You can also move individual task bar buttons around, another important convenience feature, if multi-window applications open they windows in the wrong order.
---
### Author:  [@Guido](https://resource.dopus.com/u/Guido)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2026, 8:05pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471/6 "2026-08-14T20:05:21Z")
Today Microsoft announced the next step, making the Taskbar and Start menu enhancements available _before_ the next 26H2 feature update:
[Windows 11 Insider Release Preview Build 26100.9267/26200.9267](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-insider/release-notes/release-preview-24h2-25h2/build-26100-9267-26200-9267)
Release date: 14 August 2026
The update should be provided as an optional update at the end of the month for all users, but maybe with gradual rollout.
Regards
Guido
---
### Author:  [@tbone](https://resource.dopus.com/u/tbone)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2026, 10:17pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471/7 "2026-08-19T22:17:13Z")
Some missing features come back, they put "New!:" in front of them.. I don't know. o)
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### Author:  [@Guido](https://resource.dopus.com/u/Guido)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2026, 11:58pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471/8 "2026-08-19T23:58:16Z")
> [@](#):
>
> But times are tough I know and the pull
> Of what we can't give up takes hold.
End of Terra Naomi "Say It's Possible".
End of Windows 11 resentment for some of us.
Regards
Guido
---
### Author:  [@Guido](https://resource.dopus.com/u/Guido)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2026, 7:30pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471/9 "2026-08-27T19:30:23Z")
Today it's available via Windows Update:
[August 27, 2026—KB5120998 (OS Builds 26200.9278 and 26100.9278) Preview](https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/servicing/os/windows-11/2026/08/kb5120998-windows-11-24h2-25h2-update)
(\> Highlights \> Gradual rollout)
Strange: Had a black desktop background after update, need to readjust.
Other people report problems with custom mouse settings.
Small taskbar is back, and other options!
That's on one system.
Not yet available on other system after update ('gradual rollout').
Regards
Guido
---
### Author:  [@dopus\_user1](https://resource.dopus.com/u/dopus_user1)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2026, 4:21am UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471/10 "2026-08-30T04:21:13Z")
I don't use win11 taskbar, at all.
Simply install other software that meets your taskbar needs.
---
### Author:  [@Guido](https://resource.dopus.com/u/Guido)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2026, 1:11pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471/11 "2026-08-30T13:11:27Z")
> [@dopus\_user1](#):
>
> Simply install other software that meets your taskbar needs
I have installed such software 9 years ago. It is called Windows 10, and that's what I use.
Oddly enough, the small taskbar is enabled on Windows 11 ARM running on the Parallels virtual machine on the Apple silicon MacBook, but the feature didn't reach the Windows 11 hardware device with Intel silicon where it is needed more.
Regards
Guido
---
### Author:  [@dopus\_user1](https://resource.dopus.com/u/dopus_user1)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471/12 "2026-08-30T16:59:38Z")
No my friend. I don't recommend using windows default taskbar at all.
I advise you to install some software that would provide you with much better, more customizable taskbar.
Talk to your AI agent, he will recommend some good ones to you.
Personally, I use Start11 software. I think it is great.
Also, you could simply ditch taskbar all together,
Use windows Powertoyes, It has a Command Platte Module,
It will perform all your taskbar needs, plus it is free, plus it is from windows.
Catch you later.
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### Author:  [@Guido](https://resource.dopus.com/u/Guido)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2026, 8:15pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471/13 "2026-08-30T20:15:24Z")
All I need is this option in Settings:
This is on Mac, I need it on PC.
Regards
Guido
---
### Author:  [@dopus\_user1](https://resource.dopus.com/u/dopus_user1)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2026, 3:56am UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471/14 "2026-08-31T03:56:18Z")
Sorry I don't follow you. You Said this is "on mac". but the screen shot you shared is from a PC. Specifically A very new updated from Windows 11, extremely fresh update. Which allows the users to move the taskbar around.
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### Author:  [@Guido](https://resource.dopus.com/u/Guido)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2026, 1:45pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471/15 "2026-08-31T13:45:22Z")
Above screenshot done in Windows.
Same thing done in macOS:
Paradoxical situation:
Have decent Windows 11 run on Mac, but _not_ on PC.
Regards
Guido
---
### Author:  [@Guido](https://resource.dopus.com/u/Guido)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471/16 "2026-08-31T16:15:27Z")
Fullscreen:
Regards
Guido
---
### Author:  [@dopus\_user1](https://resource.dopus.com/u/dopus_user1)
#### Post date: [September 3, 2026, 4:02am UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471/17 "2026-09-03T04:02:39Z")
okay. what do you want done, exactly?
---
### Author:  [@Guido](https://resource.dopus.com/u/Guido)
#### Post date: [September 3, 2026, 2:00pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471/18 "2026-09-03T14:00:22Z")
[Windows 11: Pseudo-Update 26H2 geht in die Release Preview](https://www.drwindows.de/news/windows-11-pseudo-update-26h2-geht-in-die-release-preview):
> [@](#):
>
> The versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H2 are completely identical and differ only in one number each. There is not a single function in Windows 11 that is firmly associated with one of these versions. Therefore, the actual version update is not one at all, but another "Enablement Package", which simply changes the version number.
>
> New features such as the flexible taskbar or the changes to the Start menu are subject to a gradual rollout, so they will come at some point. It's more than likely that there are systems with version 25H2 that already have these innovations, while they are not visible on systems with version 26H2.
>
> While this isn't particularly tragic, it's becoming increasingly silly since Microsoft is randomly distributing all changes to Windows 11 without any rhyme or reason.
So what can we do? Just wait and see...
And prepare a template to finish this thread:
> [@](#):
>
> \
> Update brought the feature to the PC. This is my Delphi PC:
>
> \
>
> Bought the MacBook in June 2023 for Xcode, the "Eee Top" PC in July 2023 for Delphi.
> Could also watch Windows 11 become usable, which is now the case.
> MacBook also served as host for ARM-Windows later (Feb 2025).
Regards
Guido
---
### Author:  [@Leo](https://resource.dopus.com/u/Leo)
#### Post date: [September 3, 2026, 2:12pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471/19 "2026-09-03T14:12:31Z")
Are they going to let us move the Taskbar to other monitors again, or just to the sides of the primary monitor?
The UI shown above makes it look like it's only the latter, which would be utterly pathetic, but also typical of Microsoft these days.
---
### Author:  [@Bennjamin](https://resource.dopus.com/u/Bennjamin)
#### Post date: [September 3, 2026, 2:20pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/improving-windows-quality-making-taskbar-and-start-more-personal/59471/20 "2026-09-03T14:20:00Z")
Can Opus toolbars be moved (and opened) on other monitors? (Because... you need to set the example, when you criticize...)
PS. I temporarily have no access to a second monitor for a while, can't test it.
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