Windows 10: Feature Request: Restore Taskbar Position Customization in Windows 11

I was in a deep frustration and disappointment to writing this request.I’ve been a Windows user for over 15 years and have always positioned my taskbar at the top of the screen. This layout improves my workflow, reduces neck strain, and helps me focus better by keeping active windows below the taskbar.Windows 10 allowed this flexibility, but Windows 11 removed it — even as an optional setting. I understand the new taskbar architecture and design goals, but many users like me rely on this feature for productivity and comfort.Please consider restoring taskbar positioning options top, left, righ

:)

 

Windows 11 Taskbar: Settings to Mimic Windows 10?

Feature request for Windows 11 Taskbar and Start to mimic Windows 10.

A simple toggle in settings to switch from Windows 11 Taskbar and Start to Windows 10.

• Make customization options options available after selecting Windows 10 "Classic" Taskbar and Start:
  
  • Never Combine Buttons
    
  • Use small taskbar buttons
    
  • Position Taskbar: Left, Right, Top, Bottom
    
  • Drag to resize Taskbar
    
  • Pin
    
  • The full Taskbar slide out menu
    
  • 2-column Start menu
    
  • and so on...
    

Third party software and registry tweaks can restore all of the Windows 10 Taskbar and Start features. It seems that Microsoft, as the "parent" of Windows, should be able to provide the same capability.

 

Windows 7 top feature request list leaked to the public

With Windows still managing to find its way to over 95 percent of the desktop computers sold each year, it's not surprising that one can find plenty of people interested in giving their feedback about what future versions of Windows should be able to do.

A few years ago, before Windows Vista had even shipped, Microsoft sent out a wish list form asking people what features they would like to see in the next version of Windows, currently code-named Windows 7. The top wished-for features in this list were recently leaked to the public and have popped up at various sites (e.g., Neowin). While anonymous sources at Microsoft tell us that they bear no relationship to the actual feature set Microsoft is currently writing for Windows 7, the list does provide interesting insight into what the Windows-using public most wants from Windows.

The features are listed in no particular order, but they break down into various categories depending on what part of Windows the feature request falls under. Many requests for improvements in Internet Explorer, such as a session restore function, are fairly obvious wishes for features that already exist in competitive products such as Firefox and Opera. Other suggestions, such as a tabbed Windows Explorer, look for features from web browsers to migrate into the general user interface.





Some of the feature requests are clearly unrealistic, such as the desire to "back up" Xbox 360 games to the PC (yeah, I don't think Microsoft will be doing that one). Others are minor user interface enhancements that would be nice additions but wouldn't really change the Windows experience, such as a progress bar when hibernating the system. However, there are a few that make good sense and would be welcome additions to the operating system, such as a built-in video and audio codec manager.

A Windows 7 insider who wishes to remain anonymous told Ars that the leaked feature list was gathered before any real development on Windows 7 was started, and readers should not expect to see requests from the list necessarily implemented in Microsoft’s next major Windows release.

 

Windows 11 Taskbar feature loss

In addition to unlocking (as discussed here), there are two more Taskbar features that seem to have disappeared in Windows 11. Am I looking in all the wrong places, or is the reduction in Taskbar features really this bad?

1. If the Taskbar has space, show separate buttons for each application window (in Windows 11, it seems that the only option is a button per application, meaning I have to either Alt-Tab or hover over the button to find the window I need. Alt-Tab is cumbersome with many windows open; hovering takes too much time. And clicking an application button merely toggles the last-used application window up or minimized, as if the other windows don't exist.
   
2. On the 2nd (and subsequent) monitors, show only the taskbar buttons of windows that are actually displayed on that monitor. In Windows 11, all taskbars show all buttons, even if an applications has no windows on the 2nd screen.
   

Maybe these should be feature requests? Though it feels wrong somehow to submit a feature request for features that Microsoft seems to have removed with evil intent.

In any case. productivity is significantly reduced for me with the loss of these two features!