Summary
- Microsoft is reportedly rethinking its AI-first, "agentic OS" direction for Windows 11, including pulling back Copilot from parts of the OS after strong user backlash.
- As part of rebuilding goodwill, the company may revive a Windows 95-era movable taskbar feature, one of the most upvoted requests on Feedback Hub.
- According to a report, the feature could arrive as soon as summer 2026, alongside broader taskbar customization and performance fixes.
Microsoft faced severe backlash from users for planning to evolve Windows 11 into an "agentic" OS, prompting it to rethink its new direction for the world's most popular desktop operating system. If rumors are to be believed, part of its renewed strategy is to remove Copilot from several parts of the operating system.
That's not the only way Microsoft plans to rebuild user confidence around Windows 11. The Redmond-based tech giant has another plan to restore positive sentiment around the operating system. According to the latest rumors, the company is finally going to let users move their taskbar, like you used to be able to do on Windows 10 a few years ago.
Microsoft is reportedly backing down on its AI-first plan after people made their voices heard
If true, it may mark the end of an era.
Windows 11 may soon have a more customizable taskbar
It may finally be able to change its place
Windows 11 introduced some of the biggest changes to the taskbar in decades, but not all of them have been well-received by users. While users liked the addition of a centered taskbar, what many considered an even bigger disappointment was the removal of the ability to move the taskbar from the bottom to the sides or to the top.
If a report from Windows Central is accurate, Microsoft is now planning to revive the removable taskbar feature in Windows 11, and we may see it in action as soon as this summer. To give a sense of how significant this is, as many as 24,351 users have upvoted a removable taskbar feature suggestion on Windows 11's Feedback Hub app at the time of writing.
The report also claims that after changing the taskbar orientation, Windows 11 will ensure that all flyouts and buttons work as you'd expect. In addition to changing the taskbar's position, users can adjust its size, much like you can tweak the Dock's size on macOS.
While there is always some uncertainty around release timelines for upcoming Windows 11 features, Microsoft is reportedly putting extra effort into ensuring these taskbar improvements launch in the summer of 2026.
The report also highlighted issues with File Explorer and the OS' overall performance, noting that Microsoft plans to fix these problems, though it doesn't say whether they'll be available this summer, along with the movable taskbar. Only time will tell whether these changes help shift the negative sentiment around Windows 11.