For nearly five years, Windows 11 locked the taskbar to the bottom of the screen. No top. No sides. Nothing! Moving the taskbar was one of the most requested features on the Feedback Hub, and I was one of those frustrated users who missed my vertical taskbar from Windows 10.
Good news: With the latest Windows 11 update, you can place the taskbar at the top, left, right, or bottom of your screen using a built-in setting. No registry hacks. No third-party tools.
In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to change the taskbar position in Windows 11, what to do if the option is missing, and which features change when you move it.
Table of Contents
Can You Move the Taskbar in Windows 11? (What Changed in 2026)
Yes, you can. Windows 11 now lets you place the taskbar at the top, bottom, left, or right edge of the screen (Microsoft Windows Insider Blog).
If you searched for this setting before 2026 and could not find it, the setting did not exist on your PC. Microsoft added it in 2026, and it is now part of the standard Windows 11 Settings app.
Why the Windows 11 Taskbar Was Locked to the Bottom
Windows 11 was released in October 2021 with a taskbar that stayed at the bottom of the screen.
Windows 10 allowed users to drag the taskbar to any edge of the display.
Microsoft rebuilt the Windows 11 taskbar from scratch, so many Windows 10 taskbar features were missing at launch.
Microsoft also said that a taskbar on the left or right edge causes a sudden reflow of the screen layout, which was the reason given for keeping it at the bottom.
How Microsoft Brought Back Taskbar Positions in 2026
The feature rolled out to regular users in three stages.
- On 15 May 2026, Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel received the option to position the taskbar on any edge of the screen.
- On 27 August 2026, Microsoft released optional update KB5120998 for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, which added the bottom, top, left, and right positions.
- On 29 September 2026, Microsoft released Windows 11 version 26H2, also called the Windows 11 2026 Update.
In Windows 11 version 26H2, the redesigned taskbar is enabled by default so that you can change the taskbar position without an extra update.
On Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, Microsoft rolls out the feature gradually, so it may not appear immediately after you install KB5120998.
Check Your Windows 11 Version Before You Start
The Taskbar position setting depends on your Windows 11 version and OS build. Check both before you look for the setting, so you know whether your PC already has it.
Method 1. Check Your Version with winver
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type winver and press Enter.
- Read the version and OS build in the About Windows window.
Method 2. Check Your Version in Settings
- Right-click Start and select Settings.
- Select System, then select About.
- Under Windows info, read the Version and OS build lines.
What Your Windows 11 Version Means for the Taskbar Position Setting
Each Windows 11 version uses its own build prefix. Windows 11 24H2 uses 26100, 25H2 uses 26200, and 26H2 uses 26300.
Use the table to match your result to what you can expect.
Windows 11 version 24H2 Home and Pro editions reached the end of updates on 13 October 2026.
If you are still on 24H2, upgrading to 26H2 gives you the Taskbar position setting and continued updates in one step.
How to Install Windows 11 26H2
Windows 11 26H2 is available through Windows Update, and it installs as a small package on PCs running 25H2 or 24H2.
- Open Settings and select Windows Update in the left pane.
- Turn on the Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available toggle, then select Check for updates.
- Select Download and install now when Windows 11, version 26H2 appears.
- Select Restart now to finish the installation.
Back up your files before you upgrade, because problems can occur during or after any feature update.
PCs on Windows 11 23H2 or older, and PCs on Windows 10, go through a full upgrade instead of the small package.
How to Move the Taskbar to the Top, Left, or Right in Windows 11
Moving the taskbar takes a few clicks in the Settings app. The steps are the same for every position, and only your final selection changes.
- Right-click an empty area of the taskbar and select Taskbar settings to open the Taskbar page in Settings.
- Go to the Taskbar behaviors section, which is expanded by default.
- Under Taskbar position, select Top, Left, Right, or Bottom. The taskbar moves to that edge immediately.
The taskbar moves to the new edge immediately, and you do not need to restart your PC.
You can also open the same page from Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors.
Taskbar at the Top
When the taskbar is at the top, Start, Search, and other flyouts open from the top of the screen
The top position keeps the full Search box, and you can still make the taskbar smaller in Windows 11, because Microsoft supports both features at the top and bottom
Icons at the top can be left-aligned or centered, the same as at the bottom.
Choose the top position if you want to move the taskbar but still use the Search box.
Taskbar on the Left or Right
When you select Left or Right, the taskbar becomes a vertical bar along that edge of the screen.
- Icons can be top-aligned or centered in a vertical taskbar.
- The Search box is not available in vertical positions, and Search appears as an icon instead.
- The smaller taskbar is not available in vertical positions.
A side taskbar frees vertical screen space for content, which helps on widescreen and ultrawide monitors.
For a clearer vertical layout, set “Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels” to Never in Taskbar behaviors.
With this setting, each app window appears as a separate button with its name next to the icon.
Things to Know Before You Switch
- You can hide the taskbar in Windows 11 with auto-hide only when the taskbar is at the bottom
- Drag and drop is not a way to move the taskbar. In May 2026, Microsoft listed drag and drop and separate taskbar positions for each monitor as options under evaluation, not confirmed features.
- If you do not see Taskbar position, check your Windows 11 version first, as covered in the previous section.
Taskbar Position vs Taskbar Alignment: Know the Difference
Windows 11 has two taskbar settings with similar names in the same section of the Settings app. Many users change one when they meant to change the other, so it helps to know what each setting does.
Taskbar position decides which edge of the screen the whole taskbar uses. Taskbar alignment decides where the icons sit on the taskbar.
What Taskbar Alignment Does
Taskbar alignment has been in Windows 11 since its first release. It offers two choices, Left and Center, and Center is the default.
- Left alignment moves the Start button and the app icons, including the apps you pin to the taskbar in Windows 11, to the left end of the taskbar
- The Start menu then opens from the left edge, because it follows the Start button.
- The system tray stays on the right.
- There is no option to align the icons to the right.
Left alignment does not move the taskbar to the left edge of the screen. The taskbar stays at the bottom, and only the icons change place.
How Alignment Options Change with Position
The two settings work together. The alignment choices you see depend on the position you select.
- When the taskbar is at the top or bottom, the icons can be left-aligned or centered.
- When the taskbar is on the left or right, the icons can be top-aligned or centered.
Conclusion
You can now move the Windows 11 taskbar to the top, left, right, or bottom of your screen. On Windows 11 26H2, open Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors and select an option under Taskbar position. The taskbar moves immediately, and you do not need to restart your PC. If your PC runs 24H2 or 25H2, install KB5120998 or upgrade to 26H2 to get this setting.
Before you switch, check which features you need. The Search box and the smaller taskbar work only at the top or bottom, and auto-hide works only at the bottom. If you only want the Start button in the corner, keep the taskbar at the bottom and set Taskbar alignment to Left.
I suggest you try each position for a day or two and keep the one that suits your screen and the way you work. Let me know in the comments which position you chose.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No. You change the taskbar position in Settings, because dragging the taskbar on the desktop is not supported in Windows 11.
Your PC needs Windows 11 26H2, where the setting is enabled by default.
On 24H2 or 25H2, you need to update to KB5120998 or later, and Microsoft enables the setting gradually after you install the update.
On a work or school PC, your IT administrator may restrict this setting.
The full Search box works only when the taskbar is at the top or bottom. On the left or right, Search appears as an icon.
Auto-hide works only when the taskbar is at the bottom. Move the taskbar back to the bottom if you need auto-hide.
No. Windows 11 does not support a multi-row taskbar. The only size option is the smaller taskbar, which works at the top and bottom positions.
No. Taskbar alignment moves only the Start button and icons to the left end of the taskbar, and the taskbar stays at the bottom.
To move the whole taskbar to the left edge, use Taskbar position instead.
