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 received severe backlash from users for intending to evolve Windows 11 into an “agentic” OS, so much so that it had 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 users’ confidence around Windows 11. The Redmond-based tech giant has another exciting plan to bring back the positive sentiment around the operating system. As per the latest rumors, the company wants to revive a beloved Windows 95-era taskbar feature in Windows 11 to ease the criticism.
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 the changes received a good response from 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 to be believed, 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 orientation of the taskbar, Windows 11 will ensure all the flyouts and buttons work as you’d expect. In addition to being able to change the position of the taskbar, users will also be able to adjust its size, much like how you can tweak the size of the Dock on macOS.
While there is always a degree of uncertainty when it comes to release timelines of upcoming Windows 11 features, Microsoft is reportedly putting extra effort into making sure that these taskbar improvements launch in time, which is summer 2026.
The report also highlighted issues related to File Explorer and the general performance of the OS as something that Microsoft is planning to fix, though it didn’t shed light on whether they will be available this summer, along with the movable taskbar.
While Microsoft’s official response to this report is still awaited, it’s perhaps the best time to fulfill the long-standing demands of Windows 11 users. However, only time will tell how or whether these changes help revive the sentiment around Windows 11.
