How to Move Windows 11 Taskbar to the Top, Left or Right
Windows 11 can now place the taskbar at the top, left, right or bottom of your screen—without a registry hack or replacement taskbar. The setting is in Settings → Personalization → Taskbar → Taskbar behaviors → Taskbar position. The important detail is that this feature arrived through a staged Windows Update rollout, not exclusively with Windows 11 version 26H2. Microsoft documented it in the August 27, 2026 KB5120998 preview update for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2, and the September 8 security update KB5124008 incorporated those earlier changes. Microsoft’s KB5120998 notes explain both the new positions and the gradual rollout. KB5124008 carries those previous improvements into the September security update.
Quick Answer: How to Move the Windows 11 Taskbar
- Right-click an empty area of the taskbar and choose Taskbar settings, or open Settings → Personalization → Taskbar.
- Expand Taskbar behaviors.
- Find Taskbar position.
- Select Top, Left, Right or Bottom. The taskbar moves to the selected edge.
If you do not see Taskbar position, check Windows Update and your build first. Microsoft says the feature is in a gradual rollout, so an eligible device may not receive the setting at the same time as another PC.
How to Move the Windows 11 Taskbar to the Top, Left or Right
Use the built-in Windows setting. You do not need to edit the registry, install ExplorerPatcher or use a third-party taskbar replacement when the native option is available.
- Open Taskbar settings. Right-click an empty section of the taskbar and select Taskbar settings. You can also go to Start → Settings → Personalization → Taskbar.
- Expand Taskbar behaviors. Scroll down the Taskbar settings page and open this section if it is collapsed.
- Find Taskbar position. This control is separate from Taskbar alignment.
- Choose an edge. Select Top, Left, Right or Bottom. Windows applies the position.
This is a third-party how-to demonstration from Pureinfotech, not a Microsoft support video. The steps are compared against Microsoft’s own update documentation below.
Which Windows 11 Versions Support Taskbar Position?
Advertisements
The feature did not arrive only with Windows 11 26H2. Microsoft’s August 27, 2026 preview update introduced it for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. Microsoft’s September 8 security update then included improvements from KB5120998. The feature’s availability is gradual, so an installed update and a visible setting are not always simultaneous.
| Windows release / update | What Microsoft documented | Practical guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 24H2 KB5120998 preview Build 26100.9278 | Taskbar position was introduced in the August 27, 2026 preview update. | Feature is part of the update train, subject to gradual rollout. 24H2 Home and Pro reached end of updates on October 13, 2026; move to a supported Windows release. |
| Windows 11 25H2 KB5120998 preview Build 26200.9278 | Same taskbar-position feature documented for 25H2. | Install KB5120998 or a later cumulative update. If the option is still missing, check staged availability. |
| Windows 11 26H2 Current 26H2 branch | Later cumulative servicing includes the taskbar improvements delivered in earlier updates. | Keep Windows updated and check Taskbar behaviors. Do not assume every device receives a feature at exactly the same time. |
| Older releases / builds | The native selector is not included in older builds that predate the feature. | Use Windows Update to move to a supported release and install its current updates. |
How to check your version: Press Windows + R, type winver, and press Enter. The About Windows dialog shows your Windows version and OS build. To review installed updates, open Settings → Windows Update → Update history.
Update history references: KB5120998 (August 27, 2026); KB5124008 (September 8, 2026); and KB5127936 (October 28, 2026).
Interactive Tool: Windows 11 Taskbar Position Checker
Check your Windows version, update status and the feature you want. This guide provides an on-device checklist; it cannot inspect your PC automatically.
What Works When the Taskbar Is at the Top, Left or Right?
Microsoft says tooltips, flyouts, animations and most taskbar customization settings—including never combining taskbar icons—work in all four positions. Two visible limitations matter if you choose a vertical taskbar.
| Feature | Bottom | Top | Left / Right |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taskbar position | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| Search box | Supported | Supported | Not currently supported as a full box; use Search icon / Windows + S |
| Small taskbar size | Supported | Supported | Not currently supported |
| Tooltips, flyouts and animations | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| Never combine taskbar icons | Supported | Supported | Supported |
Taskbar Position Missing? Try These Steps in Order
- Confirm your Windows build. Press Windows + R, enter
winver, and check whether you’re on Windows 11 24H2, 25H2 or 26H2. For 24H2/25H2, Microsoft first documented the feature in KB5120998 (builds 26100.9278 and 26200.9278). - Install Windows updates. Open Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates. Install available cumulative updates, restart, then look again under Settings → Personalization → Taskbar → Taskbar behaviors.
- Check the optional “Get the latest updates” preference. In Windows Update, open Advanced options and consider enabling Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available. This can prioritize non-security features, but it does not guarantee that a staged feature appears immediately.
- Check the exact settings section. The position selector is inside Taskbar behaviors, not the separate Taskbar alignment control. Expand the section and scroll through its options.
- Avoid random feature IDs and registry files. Microsoft’s release notes describe a gradual rollout. Third-party tools such as ViveTool or ExplorerPatcher are not Microsoft-supported methods for this setting, and feature IDs can differ between Windows builds. Do not run a command copied from an unrelated build just to force the menu to appear.
Windows 11 24H2 Home/Pro note: Microsoft states that these editions reached end of updates on October 13, 2026. Although KB5120998 introduced taskbar positioning for 24H2, these editions should be upgraded to a supported Windows release for continuing security updates. Windows 24H2 Enterprise and Education have a different support timeline. See Microsoft’s October 2026 support notice.
Why Can’t You Drag the Windows 11 Taskbar Like You Could in Windows 10?
Windows 10 allowed users to unlock the taskbar and drag it to another screen edge. Windows 11 uses a Settings control instead. On October 30, 2026, Microsoft VP of Design Diego Baca explained that the omission was intentional: Microsoft’s research found that dragging could cause accidental repositioning, while users rarely change the taskbar’s location. He described it as “a deliberate design decision, not a missing capability.” PCWorld’s report and quoted post.
This means there are two different questions: Windows 11 now supports moving the taskbar to the edge you want, but it does not restore the Windows 10 drag-to-move interaction. Use the Taskbar position dropdown instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I move the Windows 11 taskbar to the top, left or right?
Open Settings → Personalization → Taskbar, expand Taskbar behaviors, and select Top, Left, Right or Bottom from Taskbar position.
Which Windows 11 update introduced taskbar positioning?
Microsoft documented the feature in the August 27, 2026 preview update KB5120998 for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2, with OS builds 26100.9278 and 26200.9278. The September 8 security update KB5124008 incorporated those earlier changes. Availability is gradual.
Does Windows 11 26H2 support moving the taskbar?
The feature is part of the updated Windows 11 taskbar experience and is available on current updated builds. It was not exclusive to 26H2: Microsoft first documented it for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 in KB5120998.
Why is Taskbar position missing from my Windows 11 settings?
The feature is delivered gradually. Check your Windows version with winver, install the latest cumulative updates, restart, and look under Settings → Personalization → Taskbar → Taskbar behaviors. Enabling Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available may help you receive non-security features sooner, but does not guarantee immediate access.
Can I drag the Windows 11 taskbar to move it like Windows 10?
No. Windows 11 uses the Taskbar position setting instead of the Windows 10 unlock-and-drag method. Microsoft VP of Design Diego Baca said on October 30, 2026 that omitting drag-to-reposition was a deliberate design choice intended to reduce accidental moves.
Can I use the Search box when the taskbar is on the left or right?
Microsoft’s KB5120998 release notes say the Search box is supported only when the taskbar is at the top or bottom. When the taskbar is on the left or right, use the available Search icon or press Windows + S.
Can I make the taskbar smaller when it is on the left or right?
No. Microsoft’s KB5120998 release notes state that the Small taskbar size option is currently supported only at the top and bottom. Choose Top or Bottom if you need the smaller taskbar setting.
What is the difference between Taskbar alignment and Taskbar position?
Taskbar position moves the entire taskbar to the top, bottom, left or right edge. Taskbar alignment changes where the pinned app icons sit within the taskbar; it does not move the bar to another screen edge.
Should I use ViveTool or ExplorerPatcher if the option is missing?
Start with Windows Update and the official staged rollout. ViveTool and ExplorerPatcher are third-party tools, not Microsoft-supported ways to enable this feature. Feature IDs and shell modifications can change between builds, so avoid copying commands from unrelated or older builds.
Primary references: Microsoft KB5120998 · Microsoft KB5124008 · Windows Insider Blog · PCWorld · Pureinfotech how-to.
Disclaimer: Ultimate Info Guide is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft Corporation.
