Microsoft: Moving Windows 11 taskbar may never be an option again (More features removed, apparently permanently)

Bleeping Computer ^ | April 11, 2022 | Lawrence Abrams

[dayglored]

If you are waiting for Windows 11 side-taskbar support before upgrading to the latest operating system, you may be waiting for a long time, according to a recent Microsoft Ask Me Anything (AMA) session.

When Windows (11) was first released, the most controversial changes were the new centered Start Menu and the reduced functionality of the Windows taskbar.

In the past, the Start Menu was left-aligned on the taskbar, and it was possible to move the taskbar, so it was pinned to the top, sides, and bottom of the screen.

However, with Windows 11, Microsoft took away the ability to move the taskbar, which is one of the most requested features on the Microsoft Feedback Hub, with over 17,500 upvotes.

As first reported by Neowin, in a recent Microsoft Ask Me Anything (AMA) session, a user asked whether Microsoft would be bringing back the ability to move the sidebar to the sides.

The response was not very promising, with Tali Roth, Microsoft's Head of Product, explaining that a small amount of Windows users use the feature and that it is unsure whether the feature will ever be brought back...

[dayglored]

> Windows 10 is much better than Windows 7. Better kernel, better security constructs, better settings and features, better multi monitor setup, better driver support, better login options.

I'd agree with all except "better settings and features".

IMO, the Win10 user interface is a complete functional failure, having been designed for hand-held devices (c. Win8) and Microsoft refuses to admit that was a terrible mistake, so they perpetuate it. I find the "PC Settings" dialogs frustrating and stupid, filled with unnecessary whitespace, and poorly laid out.

As a result I vastly prefer the Win7 user interface.

Everything else you wrote is spot-on.

[Montana_Sam]

People willing to use the product of a corporation like Microsoft that caters to totalitarian states deserve exactly the pain and frustration and misery they get.

[ontap]

I went to Apple years ago.....great decision!!!!

[daniel1212]

"However, with Windows 11, Microsoft took away the ability to move the taskbar, which is one of the most requested features on the Microsoft Feedback Hub, with over 17,500 upvotes. "Not true.

And unless MS outlaws customization, you can change this:

To this:

How? Read on:

As one who seeks more efficient operation of the desktop, this means customizing over what MS defaults, which I think will become more difficult in the future. I am not looking to go back, but one major change after XP is the divestiture of much of the appearance settings in later OS versions. W/11 (which i just upgraded to) is no different, and as with the Start menu the interface is worse. However, per usual, there is much tested freeware to enable extensive easy customization, such as,

Like Open Shell, download Open Shell (click on Releases>Latest on middle right side) to replace the mobile device W/11 start menu, and there is Explorer Patcher that restores the Windows 11 taskbar to be exactly like Windows 10, while Windows 7+ Taskbar Tweaker (I am using the beta ver.) provides more customization.
Then there are the over 200 tweaks available in Ultimate Windows Tweaker 4 and now there is Ultimate Windows Tweaker 5 for Windows 11 from the Windows club.

Add to this the many Winaero features of the Winaero Tweaker

Add to this is Right-Click Extender (add items to many right click menus), while T-Clock Redux works in W/10 (far better than the default) but not W/11 as yet.

I think that a simple right click on the desktop should provide a visible GUI menu with submenus listing access most every setting, but instead the trajecory seems to be to make desktops more like mobile devices (though I advocate quick GUI access to most everything on these also). But which is not the case in Windows, apart from customization, nor in the many Linux distros I have found (which can be more of a problem).

But thank God for the tools we have to be used for Good and the glory of God, and for those who provide them.

W/11 Default Start menu>All apps

Versus OpenShell W/11:

Right Click Extender (some additions):

7+Taskbar Tweaker (stacks open pages from same source, etc.):

Hope this helps. http://peacebyjesus.net

[Montana_Sam]

Placing your taskbar to the left, top, or right is for clowns.

Can't agree with that. Have used a top-edge position taskbar with my Linux systems for decades, and prefer that to the bottom-edge position.

[Mr. K]

I’m sticking with WinME!!!

[daniel1212]

"Their free “Textify” at the link is a great program to lift text off of dialog boxes. I have my keyboard shortcuts as: hold down the ctrl, shift keys and then click on the text you want with the mouse left button. Up pops up the text you can copy then paste into say Notepad."

Thanks! I missed that one, while see my above post.

" I have my keyboard shortcuts as"

Same here, esp. due to stiff arthritic fingers, using AutoHotKey , which includes remapping the CapsLock ket to copy (ctrl+c) and Esc to paste (ctrl+v) , then NumLock (I do not game) to Esc, and the middle mouse button to Cut. (Cannot easily do this in Linux).

NumLock::Esc

CapsLock::^c

Esc::^v

mbutton::^x

Thank God by the grace we are blessed with such tools. May they be used for God and for good.

[BiglyCommentary]

Agree I hate the block/panel type of interface that they forced on everyone to accommodate mobile and tablets. Win7 visual styles were much nicer.

[glennaro]

When I finally went to Windows 10 I installed the Windows 7 classic shell that I found free somewhere online which makes my updated 10 look and feel like 7. Has worked like a charm for several years now.

[daniel1212]

"will the lack of handy shortcuts and other features that many are using be a deal breaker for those who are candidates for the upgrade to Windoze 11. As a Win 7 Pro user my first encounter with Windoze 11 was enough to put me in the Linux camp when this system dies. W-11 was slow, bloated with crap-ware and totally unusable. There are Linux versions of just about anything one uses day to day. Libre Office, FireFox, etc. There is no need to continue to pour money into Bill Gates pocket."

I myself find Linux lacking in the scope of easy customization that can be obtained via tested safe freeware for Windows, which (true to trend) is even more needful for W/11. See post 24

[daniel1212]

"No serious or knowledgeable Windows user leaves all the crap turned on. Its gone in the first 10 minutes after installing or upgrading."

Most users do not tinker with such, but MS autoruns https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/autoruns is excellent for editing what runs by default. Thank God we can still do this. See on thread New Windows 11 Security Feature Will Require a PC Reset (Is this a Great Reset? Maybe...)

[daniel1212]

"e. It would be nice if you could make Win 11 taskbar icons larger. "

See the many Winaero features of the Winaero Tweaker mentioned in post 24, for I think it may be there. "Here you can change scrollbars width and appearance. You can reduce or enlarge it." Get the beta version. But do not mess with Window Title Bars. If you really want to change such, there is QTTabBar . But do a system restore point first, as Ultimate Windows Tweaker 5 for Windows 11 recomends.

[Bob434]

I hate distros where the Taskbar is in middle, and apparently,that seems to be where distros are heading. I want the whole task ar across the bottom with aps on right and left, and open programs or pages in the middle. This has worked perfectly well for me for 20.years, and there is noneed for it to change. Hopefully if windows goes with it in middle they have an option to have it traditional. Why cant they just leave features alone or at ,east give options? Sadly companies just don’t care. They will get enough people who just put up with it that their revenue will not,suff e r much if any.

Adobe photoshop didn’t give a rip about many users desires to keep it as a purchasable program. So lots of folks stopped upgrading around cs6 (I stopped at 5), and now we don’t get new features unless we decided to abide by their draconian rules (ie our work doesn’t belong to us, and can’t be retrieved if we let th3 subscription run out (don’t onow if they still do this? I haven’t been following it, because that alone soured me to the product-

Anyways. Crap. Looks like Ms is,pushing me totally away as well. All because some college grads the k they know what I shoukd want and not want, and because they can’t just leave well enough alone. . (Plus the fzct that they see shamlessly infected with phone home crap and deny the user control thst we used to have.)

Whatever MS. Is ihave windows 7 still and it’s all I need for certain offline activities. Linux has replaced you for,the most part in my house at least. I also,have cs5 and that is all i need for photoshop work. Wpild be nice to,have the new ells and whistles, but certainly not needed!

[Bob434]

You should be able to use it on new computer. Also look into dual boot- use Linux for almost all online activity, and winders offline if,possible. Linux mint cinnamon is very user,friendly for,the most,part, and functions jusy like windows for basic stuff like browsing, email. I use it as Main os and windows 7 as my gaming and photoshop os offline (though one game is online, but that is all I do withmit online)i really resited going linux, but oncd mint became so easy to,use, i am glad i made the switch.

[Bob434]

Thanks for thst- I don’t like grouped aps at all. I tried to get used to,them, but I just don’t care for it. I’m nbookmarking you post incase I do eventually get 11. Jusyna sham e that we have to,use third party apps to get the os looking ,ike,we loved it in previous versions

[dayglored]

> I’m sticking with WinME!!!

Wow, I think that's the first time I've ever heard somebody say that.

Win98SE, WinXP, Win7.... yes. But WinME is arguably the most unloved MS-DOS/Windows release. Win8 takes that honor for the NT/Windows family.

I'm hoping you just forgot the /sarc tag, but if not, ... Best of luck!

[Bob434]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention. If you decide to,try Linux mint, there is a mouse gesture program worth a look called easystroke (horrible name)- I use it for,a number of things ,ike “next page” and “previous page” “next tab” “previous tab” “close page” “open terminal” “calculator” “notepad” - all,kinds of things. I can even call up the shut down dialogue by simply doing an “s” gesture holding down right mouse button- super quick and easy

If I wanna go,to a new tab, I just hold right mouse button and do a diagonal slash mark like /

It’s probsbly my most used app. Use it many times a day

[Bob434]

Oh dang, I forgot about not being able to get updates for windows 7. I figured ms woild,keep the ones they had up,till they discontinued 7. Dang it.

Supposedly some site was going to keep updates to 7 going, but not sure if they are stil, around or not? Anyone know about that site?

[Bob434]

This 1-7 doesn’t look too,bad for around $400

http://bitly.ws/qhph

[rockrr]

Well at least they haven’t (yet) forced holographic displays upon us where you stand in front of a display that’s there but not quite there and flail your arms about, trying to open sub-windows that may or may not contain the stuff you thought you had saved...