Microsoft pushes movable taskbar and other tweaks into Windows 11 Release Preview

In the newest Windows 11 Release Preview build, Microsoft introduced a taskbar that can be docked at the top, left or right of the display, restoring a feature long requested by users. The update also offers a compact taskbar option with smaller icons and reduced height, freeing desktop space. Users can now pick between small or large Start-menu layouts, and Windows Search has been made more reliable, allowing the removal of Microsoft Store and web suggestions.

For IT admins, the preview adds an optional just-in-time privilege elevation feature controllable via Intune or Group Policy, while the deprecated Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) has been stripped from the Features on Demand catalog. Although Microsoft has not set a general-availability timeline, the move to Release Preview indicates a wider deployment could follow in the near future.