How to Move the Taskbar in Windows 11 (Top, Left, Right)

Since Windows 11 launched in 2021, the taskbar has been stuck at the bottom of the screen with no official way to move it. That finally changed with an update in August 2026. If you liked having your taskbar on the side or top in Windows 10, here is exactly how to get it back.

Quick Answer

• Taskbar repositioning arrived in KB5120998, released August 27, 2026
• You can now move the taskbar to Top, Left, Right, or Bottom
• It’s a Settings toggle, not drag-and-drop like old Windows versions
• Moving it to the left or right disables the search box and the small taskbar size option, both only work at top or bottom
• This came bundled with a resizable Start menu and the option to remove Bing results from Windows Search

How to Move Your Taskbar

1. Go to Settings
2. Click Personalization
3. Click Taskbar
4. Click Taskbar behaviors
5. Under Taskbar position, choose Bottom, Top, Left, or Right

That’s it. The change applies instantly, no restart needed.

Do I Need to Install a Specific Update First

Yes, if you don’t see this option yet. This feature originally shipped in KB5120998, an optional preview update from August 27, 2026, before becoming part of the regular monthly updates that followed. If Taskbar position doesn’t show up under Taskbar behaviors:

1. Go to Settings > Windows Update
2. Click Check for updates
3. If nothing new appears, go to Advanced options > Optional updates and install anything listed there

Once you’re on build 26100.9278 (24H2) or 26200.9278 (25H2) or later, you should see the setting. Check your build under Settings > System > About.

What Changes When You Move the Taskbar Sideways

Moving your taskbar to the left or right gives it a vertical layout, which comes with two trade-offs worth knowing before you switch:

• The search box shrinks to just an icon. The full search bar only works when the taskbar is at the top or bottom.
• The small taskbar size option disappears. Compact sizing is currently only available for top and bottom positions.

Everything else, including app icons, notifications, and the system tray, works normally in a vertical layout.

Icon Alignment Options

Depending on where you place the taskbar, you get slightly different alignment choices:

• Top or bottom position: Icons can be aligned left or centered
• Left or right position: Icons can be aligned top or centered

You’ll find these alignment options in the same Taskbar behaviors menu once you’ve picked a position.

Can I Just Drag the Taskbar Like in Windows 10

Not yet. In Windows 10, you could click and drag the taskbar to any edge of the screen. That hasn’t returned in Windows 11 as of this update. For now, you have to use the Settings menu described above. Microsoft has reportedly said drag-to-move support is planned for a future update, but there’s no confirmed date for it.

Other Changes That Came With This Update

Taskbar positioning wasn’t the only thing this update brought:

• Resizable Start menu, giving you more control over how much space Start takes up on screen
• Bing-free search results, letting you turn off Bing and Microsoft Store suggestions when using Windows Search, so it only searches your own PC

Should I Install This Update

If you’ve been waiting for a movable taskbar since switching from Windows 10, yes, it’s worth installing. Just know this same update also introduced a couple of bugs, including a cursor customization reset issue and a background wallpaper reset issue, both of which have since been fixed in later updates. If you install this update and notice something else acting up, check our full list of Windows 11 update issues to see if it’s a known bug with a fix already available. For the bigger picture of what’s shipped recently, our latest Windows 11 updates page tracks everything in order.

Frequently Asked Questions