Windows 11’s new update finally fixes its biggest taskbar complaint

With yesterday’s Patch Tuesday for September, Microsoft not only fixed a record number of security vulnerabilities but also released several new features for Windows 11, which you can try out now (or soon).

Microsoft gradually rolls out new features across eligible Windows 11 PCs. That means most users will gain access to the new features within the next few days or weeks.

Windows 11’s new features

For the first time since the launch of Windows 11, the taskbar can be repositioned to any edge of the screen. In doing so, Microsoft has addressed one of the biggest criticisms of Windows 11. You can now find the new taskbar setting under Settings → Personalization → Taskbar → Taskbar behavior → Taskbar position. There, you can choose from Left, Top, Right, and Bottom.

An option for a smaller taskbar reduces both the size of the icons and the height of the bar. However, there are some limitations, such as the search box and the compact version only being available when the taskbar is positioned at the top or bottom, not the sides.

The Start menu now features the size options Small, Automatic, and Large, as well as separate buttons for Pinned, Recently Used, and All. Windows Search now hides results from Bing and the Microsoft Store if you disable those result types, making it faster to use and find what you want.

Further updates relate to administrator protection and device preparation using Windows Autopilot. Microsoft is also introducing process isolation for Microsoft Execution Containers, which are designed for agent-based tasks and programming tasks.

Lastly, Microsoft is completely removing WMIC from Windows 11, and there are also some minor fixes to Outlook’s search and touchpad reliability.