Windows 11 movable taskbar edges closer to general release

Windows 11 is inching closer to parity with Windows 10 as Microsoft introduces a movable taskbar to the Release Preview Channel. This feature allows users to position the Windows taskbar at the top, left, or right of the screen, or keep it at the default bottom location. The demand for this functionality grew after Microsoft removed it from Windows 11.

The taskbar enhancement, along with other tweaks, has recently transitioned to the Release Preview Channel. Additional changes to the taskbar include a compact option featuring smaller icons and a reduced height, freeing up more desktop space. Microsoft has yet to specify when these enhancements will be made available to the general public, but their presence in the Release Preview suggests a potential rollout within weeks or months.

Moreover, Microsoft has expanded customization options for the Start menu, providing users with the choice between small and large layouts, deviating from the default size. The upcoming Windows Search updates are also included, aiming to improve the service's reliability and granting users the ability to eliminate Microsoft Store and web suggestions from search results.

Admins will appreciate two new features: administrator protection, which enables the execution of elevated tasks through just-in-time privileges (currently disabled by default but can be activated via Intune or Group Policy), and the removal of Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC). WMIC's absence may be welcomed by administrators, as it has been deprecated and is no longer available in the Features on Demand list. While WMIC is gone, Microsoft suggests PowerShell as a replacement.