Windows 11 Taskbar Enhancements and Copilot Recommendations in Start Menu

Upcoming Enhancements to Windows 11 Taskbar and Start Menu

As Windows 11 approaches its fourth anniversary, it continues to spark debate over its taskbar and Start menu functionalities, leading numerous users to stick with Windows 10 for a while longer. Microsoft has acknowledged these concerns and has already planned significant redesigns based on user feedback. Encouragingly, additional improvements are on the horizon to refine these features even further.

New Preview Builds Revealed

Recently, Microsoft unveiled two new preview builds of Windows 11, which include enhancements targeting both the taskbar and the Start menu. Notable changes focus on increasing the reliability of the taskbar when it is set to auto-hide, along with smoother animations to enhance user experience. Additionally, a bug causing Windows 11 to not recognize user interactions in applications or desktop elements located immediately above the taskbar has been addressed.

Enhancements have been made to boost the reliability of the taskbar’s behavior when the “automatically hide the taskbar”option is enabled. Users should notice smoother animations with this update. It’s important to remember that if an application displays an alert (indicated by an orange highlight on the icon), the taskbar will still be visible.

Resolved several issues that could prevent users from interacting with apps or the desktop directly above the taskbar.

Start Menu Updates: A Mixed Bag

In terms of the Start menu, a new feature is being introduced, though reactions among Windows 11 users may vary. Microsoft plans to enrich the Recommended section of the Start menu by incorporating prompts for the Copilot app. The goal is to illuminate potential AI-driven functionalities for users and enhance their understanding of Microsoft’s AI capabilities.

We are testing a minor update in the Recommended section of the Start menu that will showcase examples of prompts to use with the Copilot app, such as “create an image with Copilot.”

Fortunately, users can disable the Recommended section in the revamped Start menu. If you prefer a clutter-free experience without ads or promotional material from Microsoft, this option allows you to customize your setup. However, be aware of a full-screen Microsoft 365 prompt that may still appear, which can also be easily turned off.

For those eager to explore these features and changes, stay tuned for further updates from Microsoft as they continue to evolve the Windows 11 experience.

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