Windows 11 taskbar can move, but still cannot be dragged

Windows 11 now lets users move the taskbar to the top or either side of the screen, but it still cannot be repositioned by dragging. Users must choose its position in Settings.

The rollout began with the September 2026 update. Before then, the taskbar was fixed to the bottom of the screen. The change has drawn criticism from some power users who want to move the bar directly with a mouse.

Microsoft’s Diego Baca, vice president of Design for Windows, explained that the company saw many accidental taskbar movements when Windows 10 allowed dragging. He also argued that a lock or auto-lock setting would add friction: users would have to unlock the taskbar before moving it, even though repositioning is an infrequent task for most people.

Baca said the decision is not final and cautioned against interpreting his explanation as a declaration that dragging will “NEVER” return. A previously tested option to put taskbar-position controls in its right-click menu was also mentioned by Windows Latest.

For now, users seeking drag functionality can turn to third-party options, including Taskbar Location Options on GitHub or a Windhawk mod. The source notes that Windows updates can disrupt such customization tools until their developers update them.