Microsoft revealed a new package of updates for the “Windows 11” system that focuses on enhancing the user experience, by expanding customization options for the taskbar and the “Start” menu, within versions of the “Windows Insider” program.
Smaller taskbar
Microsoft has provided a new option that allows the taskbar to be minimized, in a move specifically targeting users of mobile devices and small screens. This modification reduces the size of the icons and the height of the bar, providing additional vertical space for applications, without the need to restart the device or log out.
This development comes in response to feedback from users who saw that the taskbar design in Windows 11 consumes more space compared to previous versions, which limits the efficiency of use on small screens.
Wider customization options
The company also began testing the ability to move the taskbar to different sides of the screen, including the top and sides, a feature that was available in Windows 10 before it was canceled in the current version of the system.
In the same context, work is underway to allow adjusting the size of the “Start” menu between two modes, small and large, in addition to improving the organization of internal sections such as installed applications and recent files, giving users greater freedom to adjust the interface according to their needs.
Performance improvements
Microsoft is working within a comprehensive development plan to increase the performance efficiency of the system interfaces and reduce resource consumption, while improving the speed of basic applications such as “File Explorer.” It is also testing modifications to the “widget” system aimed at reducing notifications and distracting content, by reducing default alerts and badges and making the experience quieter.
In response to user demands
Observers believe that these updates reflect a new trend within Microsoft to focus on improving the basics of the system and responding to user feedback, after criticism of the Windows 11 experience over the past years due to limited customization options and a strong focus on artificial intelligence features.
