Windows 11 update adds new taskbar features
Windows 11 version 26H2 is expected to arrive around October 2026 as a small enablement package, bringing several updates to the operating system, including a movable taskbar and local search.
The update will use the same Germanium platform as 24H2 and 25H2, and PCs already running these versions should upgrade quickly, in just a few minutes with a single reboot.
Microsoft is making changes to the taskbar, allowing users to move it to any edge of the screen and choose a smaller layout with reduced icon sizes.
This feature was previously available in Windows 10 but was removed when Windows 11 launched its redesigned shell in 2021.
They are also changing how the interface responds to the taskbar’s position, with the Start menu and search panel opening downward instead of upward when the taskbar is at the top.
The Start menu is getting more configuration options, including size presets and toggles to show or hide the Pinned, Recent, and All apps sections.
Microsoft is adding a privacy setting to hide account details during screen sharing, and search is being changed to work more like a local search tool instead of a web front end.
A switch to turn off web results entirely will be added, allowing search to focus only on local content, which will be particularly useful for developers, admins, and power users who need predictable search.
Ask Copilot, an AI-powered alternative, will also be available alongside traditional search.
They are expanding cloud-assisted setup and recovery, with Windows settings backup and restore being turned on by default for eligible Microsoft Entra devices.
This change will automatically save configuration settings and the Microsoft Store app list, allowing a device to be restored to a familiar state after a reset, reimage, or hardware swap.
Personal files are not included and are still handled through OneDrive folder backup, and restoring from a backup still requires a separate admin setup.
This builds on Point-in-Time Restore and Cloud Rebuild, two recovery features Microsoft has already released through preview and cumulative updates.
Copilot is becoming more integrated into daily Windows use, with plans to add it to Search and File Explorer, including a dockable side panel in File Explorer.
Some long-standing tools and protections are being updated, including a new optional Run dialog and Administrator Protection, which replaces the usual UAC prompt with Windows Hello authentication for tasks that require higher privileges.
Most of these smaller quality-of-life changes will be delivered through cumulative updates across 24H2, 25H2, and 26H2, rather than being bundled into a single release.
One thing to note is that the update’s impact will be felt most by managed devices, where the new cloud recovery defaults will be enabled, and the changes to search and the taskbar will provide more flexibility for users.
The hardware requirements for Windows 11 26H2 do not change, and any PC that can run Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2 can upgrade to 26H2.
It is planned for the second half of 2026, likely around October.
Since 26H2 is an enablement package, PCs already running 24H2 or 25H2 should upgrade in just a few minutes with a single reboot.
Cloud recovery defaults apply only to eligible managed Entra devices outside the EU.
