Yes, Windows 11 can finally put the taskbar on the side of the screen. Install the September 2026 update (KB5124008), then go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors > Taskbar position and pick Left, Top, Right or Bottom. If the option isn’t there yet, Microsoft is probably still rolling it out to your PC in stages, and there are ways around that below.
This is new. Windows 11 launched in 2021 without any way to move the taskbar off the bottom edge, so older how-to articles that rely on registry tweaks no longer apply once you have the update.
How to move the taskbar
- Open Settings (Windows key + I).
- Go to Personalization, then Taskbar.
- Expand Taskbar behaviors.
- Next to Taskbar position, choose Left, Top, Right or Bottom.
The Start menu, search and flyouts adjust to the new edge, and icon alignment changes with it. To go back, repeat the steps and pick Bottom.
One thing that trips people up: you can’t drag the taskbar with the mouse the way you could in Windows 10. According to Windows Latest, Settings is the only way to move it.
Which update adds it
BleepingComputer reports that Microsoft shipped the feature in its September 2026 Patch Tuesday release on September 8. The package is KB5124008 for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. Once installed, the PC moves to build 26200.9445 (25H2) or 26100.9445 (24H2).
To install it, open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates, then restart when prompted. Not sure which version you’re on? Our guide on how to check which Windows version you have shows the path under Settings > System > About and the winver command.
You can also download the offline .msu installer from the Microsoft Update Catalog, which BleepingComputer links as an option.
What you give up with a side taskbar
A vertical taskbar has limits. Based on Windows Latest and BleepingComputer:
| Feature | Where it works |
|---|---|
| Search box on the taskbar | Top and bottom only |
| Smaller taskbar size | Top and bottom only (icons shrink in every position) |
| Automatically hide the taskbar | Bottom only |
| Touch optimization for 2-in-1 devices | Bottom only |
So if you rely on an auto-hiding taskbar, you’ll have to give that up to keep the bar on the side. The taskbar search box also disappears in the vertical positions.
A vertical bar takes width and gives back height. To compare before and after, our guide to screenshots on a PC helps you save both layouts. On an ultrawide monitor that trade usually pays off, since width is plentiful and height is what spreadsheets and text editors lack. On a standard laptop screen, try it before you commit.
The option isn’t showing up
Microsoft is releasing the feature gradually, in what it calls a controlled rollout. Installing KB5124008 doesn’t guarantee the option appears the same day. Windows Latest explains that the code may already be on your PC while Microsoft hasn’t switched the feature on for your device, and that newer devices tend to get it first.
Before trying anything else, check three things:
- Is the September update actually installed? Look under Windows Update > Update history.
- Did you restart after installing?
- Are you on Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2?
If all three check out, waiting is the safest route. Windows Latest expects the option to show up on its own within days or weeks.
Forcing it on with ViVeTool
Windows Latest also describes an unofficial method using ViVeTool, an open-source tool that enables hidden Windows features. It isn’t supported by Microsoft, so use it at your own risk, create a restore point first, and only do it if the August and September updates installed cleanly.
- Download ViVeTool from its GitHub releases page and extract it to a folder such as
C:\ViVeTool. - Open Command Prompt as administrator and run
cd C:\ViVeTool. - Run
vivetool /enable /id:61161244,61754985, then restart. - If the option is still missing, run
vivetool /enable /id:61161244,61754985,62353331,62762248and restart again.
The second command also turns on the resizable Start menu and a Bing-free Search, which shipped in the same update.
What else came in the update
BleepingComputer lists a smaller taskbar option (under Taskbar behaviors > Taskbar size), small and large sizes for the Start menu, and a simpler Windows Search with a setting to exclude web and Store suggestions. It’s also a cumulative security update, so it’s worth installing even if you never touch the taskbar.
FAQ
Can I drag the Windows 11 taskbar to the side?
No. Windows Latest says the position can only be changed in Settings, unlike Windows 10.
Does this work on Windows 10?
This option is a Windows 11 feature. On Windows 10 you could already move the taskbar by dragging it.
Will a side taskbar hide itself automatically?
No. Automatically hiding the taskbar only works when it’s at the bottom.
Why don’t I see the option on my PC?
The feature is rolling out in stages, and Windows Latest says newer devices tend to get it first. Confirm the September update is installed, restart, and wait.
