Microsoft slowly but surely admits it was wrong about the Windows 11 taskbar
Windows 11 just got its first preview build in the new Canary channel – the earliest test builds of the operating system in the future, which may represent the base of Windows 12 – and while nothing much special was introduced at first glance, it is unearthed a hidden gem.
Twitter-based leaker @PhantomOfEarth pointed out @XenoPanther’s discovery of some strings tucked under the hood in build 25314, referring to taskbar grouping.
👀 More signs of a taskbar-app-grouping-behaviour/showing-labels pick feature (in simple terms, never combine is return) in 25314, could we finally see it soon? New strings: “Options to group similar windows on the taskbar” “Show labels on taskbar pins” https://t.co/JN4XKSkIdAMarch 9, 2023
What does this mean? Well, it’s a tantalizing hint that, as previously rumored, Microsoft is bringing back the “never combine” option when it comes to grouping apps on the taskbar.
In other words, instead of having multiple instances of the same app automatically grouped together on the taskbar (stacked vertically), you can separate them all into individual entries (horizontal) on the bar.
Elsewhere in build 25314 there are some minor tweaks, the most significant of which is a change to Explorer, namely the addition of access keys. These are single keystroke shortcuts labeled with a single letter in File Explorer’s context menu – just press the relevant key to quickly execute the respective command.
In addition, those using Azure Active Directory now see recommendations for files they might find useful or relevant at the top of the Explorer home page.
Analysis: Looks like Microsoft is finally listening on the taskbar
When cooking up Windows 11, Microsoft made some puzzling decisions with the interface, omitting some core features from Windows 10, most notably with the taskbar. The ability to never combine (stack) running instances of the same app was one of the features that was dropped.
So seeing a glimmer of hope that it might be incoming in the future is certainly welcome. Though we’re still wondering why it took Microsoft so long to implement this. And we should bear in mind that for now this is just background tinkering during early testing – ultimately it’s possible nothing could come of it, although frankly we’re trying not to entertain that possibility. The lack of this feature is a deal-breaker for us personally in Windows 11.
As for the other notable taskbar omissions that Microsoft made with Windows 11, drag and drop support has returned to the bar not too long ago. And in the future, we may also see the resurgence of the ability to move the taskbar from the bottom of the screen to the sides or top. (Currently it is locked to the base of the screen for Windows 11 users, while Windows 10 users can of course move it).
So it seems that Microsoft is slowly rethinking and reversing its taskbar philosophy with Windows 11, and frankly, it’s about time. Especially given all the feedback and voices screaming that these bits of functionality have been taken away for no good reason – at least not that we can think of. And don’t give us excuses for streamlining or simplifying the UI, these may be options in Settings that no one concerned about this sort of thing ever needs to look at.
In short, Microsoft, please continue on this path of reversal, because you know, we’d like to get back to a Windows 10 functionality level with the taskbar, if that’s okay?