What’s new in Windows 11 Build 26200.9278 (25H2) / Build 26100.9278 (24H2)?
All features are rolling out gradually and will be enabled over the coming days.
1. Windows 10’s movable taskbar is now on Windows 11
The wait is finally over, as Windows 11 KB5120998 lets you move the taskbar to the top, left, or right sides, similar to Windows 10 and other versions.
Microsoft is restoring the movable taskbar feature in Windows 11 five years after its launch, and I still remember that the company once justified its removal for “animations” and better “flow” of the interface. Five years later, as Windows 11 failed to grab the eyeballs https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/24/hp-admits-30-of-pcs-still-run-windows-10-rejecting-windows-11-and-its-why-microsoft-caved-on-support/, the company finally heard the feedback and added back the movable taskbar.
But you can’t just get started with the movable taskbar right away. On Windows 10, you could hold and drag the taskbar to any corner of the screen, and that moved it, but in the case of Windows 11, that implementation isn’t ready just yet. Instead, you need to open Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors > Taskbar position, and choose your preferred layout.
As you can see, you’ve the option to choose “left, top, right, and bottom” as your preferred taskbar layout. A restart is not required to apply these changes.
I personally use the top taskbar because it allows me to easily switch back and forth between apps, browser tabs, and tabs in Windows Terminal.
Microsoft sources previously told Windows Latest that it’ll add back the ability to move the taskbar by dragging it to any side of the screen, similar to Windows 10. For now, you have to rely on Windows Settings to customize the layout.
Smaller taskbar is finally here!
I can’t help but droll over all the highly anticipated Windows 11 features rolling out today, and one of my personal favorites, but a nifty change, is the smaller taskbar.
If you recall, Windows 10 has a feature that lets you make the taskbar smaller, so it uses less screen space and makes it easier to see more apps/open windows on the taskbar. It is an optional feature that needs to be turned on, and it worked far better than whatever the current implementation is on Windows 11.
In the case of Windows 11, you have a smaller taskbar buttons feature, which makes the taskbar icons and everything smaller, but the taskbar itself remains big. So while you can have more apps on the taskbar, you cannot reduce its screen space, and it clearly looks odd.
With Windows 11 KB5120998, Microsoft is adding back a Windows 10-like smaller taskbar, so you can also shrink the taskbar, not just the icons.
You can enable it from Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Show smaller taskbar buttons.
2. Resizable Start menu is finally rolling out on Windows 11
Unlike Windows 10, Windows 11 barely lets you customize the Start menu because Microsoft assumes its designers have already found the best fit for everyone, but that’s far from reality.
Most users want to customize their Start menu, change the layout, modify the categories, or at least resize the menu that can take over your screen!
New Windows 11 Start menu is almost twice the size of the old Windows 11 Start menu
Windows Latest has been complaining about how the new Start menu with the Categories layout takes up to 70% of screen space on PCs with smaller screen sizes, or in fact, the now-standard 14-inch laptop screen. It’s barely usable on my Spectre until I manually change the scaling settings to make everything smaller, including the Start menu.
But Windows 11 KB5120998 finally lets you change the size of the Start menu without playing with scaling settings.
If you go to Settings > Personalization > Start, you can now choose the Start menu size. By default, it automatically adapts to the screen resolution, but you can switch between Small and Large.
In addition, it’s now possible to fully remove the Recommended/Recent feed and just show your pinned apps. Or you can also remove the Pinned section and just have your “All apps” list.
Start menu with just pinned apps
The ability to turn off the Recommended feed was added to Windows 11 earlier this year, but when you disabled it, you also broke the Recent integration in File Explorer and the taskbar’s jump list (right-click). Microsoft is fixing that, as it has decoupled the two settings, and turning off Recent/Recommended in the Start menu does not have any effect on other areas.
Last but not least, Windows Latest noticed that it’s now possible to disable your name and profile picture in Start, which may not sound like a huge deal unless you frequently share your screen for livestreams and gameplay.
3. Windows Search without Bing and Microsoft Store
This is probably the most exciting change, and the only thing most people were waiting. You can now turn off Bing in Windows Search https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/06/21/tested-microsoft-just-debloated-windows-11-search-without-bing-and-its-crazy-fast/, and even Microsoft Store results, which means Windows Search will now only show local results. This includes your files, pictures, and, of course, Windows apps.
Search shows Windows Settings instead of web results. Source: Microsoft
Microsoft also confirmed that it’ll now do a better job of surfacing items that you actually want, so the results will be much easier to scan and clearer.
You can turn off Bing and Microsoft Store results in Settings > Privacy & security > Search.