Microsoft is rolling out further redesigned Start menu features to Windows 11 Beta channel Insiders, though a much-requested movable taskbar remains restricted to experimental builds only. The update suggests Microsoft is responding to user feedback, but critics argue that restoring interface options removed years ago matters less than addressing the operating system's rising hardware demands at a time when component prices are increasing.

Build 26220.8925, released to Beta channel Insiders, adds small and large Start menu size options, a rename of the "Recommended" section to "Recent", a redesigned Start menu settings page, and the ability to hide the user's name and picture. The ability to reposition the taskbar to the top or sides of the screen, a feature present in Windows 10 but dropped in Windows 11, was promised by Microsoft in May but has yet to progress beyond experimental testing. Windows 11 requires a minimum of 4GB of RAM compared with Windows 10's 2GB, and commentators suggest a leaner, less resource-hungry OS would benefit users more than cosmetic interface tweaks.