Ready for download from Windows Insider, the latest Preview Build adds animations to Settings and fixes some bugs.
In a new preview build for Windows 11, Microsoft is taking another crack at redesigning a taskbar optimized for tablets and updating the Settings menu.
Changes to the taskbar on tablets have been in development for a while, as far back as February 2022 (opens in new tab), before being pulled and taken back to the drawing board. Now in Preview Build 25197 (opens in new tab), the taskbar will have two different modes: collapsed and expanded. While in collapsed mode, the taskbar will be hidden giving users more screen space; leaving behind only the most important icons like the battery life and time. Expanded mode shows the full taskbar complete with apps, widgets, and the Start button. You’ll be able to switch between the two modes just by swiping up and down at the bottom of the screen.
Microsoft also points out that the taskbar on 2-in-1 laptops “will automatically transition to this optimized version” when the keyboard is either disconnected or folded back. The new taskbar will be the default in the Preview Build. You can see if you have this feature by going to the Taskbar behaviors section of the Settings menu.
