A small change is on the way to Windows 11, but it will make a big difference to a select group of users. Windows Insiders can now test the option to make the taskbar smaller on Windows 11.

Windows 11's taskbar has always been controversial. Microsoft rebuilt the taskbar when creating the operating system, but the company did not include every feature from the Windows 10 taskbar.

As a result, options like being able to move the taskbar to the side or top of the screen never made it to Windows 11. Microsoft is addressing some of the most frequently shared complaints. Soon, you'll be able to move the taskbar and resize it. Progress!

Windows Insiders have been able to move the taskbar around since earlier this year, but until recently have had limited options for resizing it. Insider builds presented the option to "show smaller taskbar buttons" but enabling that feature only shrinks the buttons. The actual taskbar remains the same height.

Windows 11 Experimental Preview Build 26300.8758 adds a toggle to change the size of the taskbar. Switching the taskbar to "small" reduces the height of the taskbar and also enables smaller icons.

It's also possible to enable small icons while keeping the taskbar its default height.

Build 26300.8758: Changes

Taskbar

• Taskbar customization just got easier. As we continue to make improvements to the Taskbar experience mentioned last month, we've introduced a dedicated Taskbar Size setting, making it simpler to find, understand, and personalize your ideal taskbar experience.
• We've also made refinements to the transitions between taskbar sizes for a smoother overall experience.

File Explorer

• We've improved the reliability of thumbnail previews for cloud files in the Details pane. The pane has also been reorganized so file properties are easier to find and review at a glance.
• Fixed an issue where the OneDrive shortcut in File Explorer stops working when File Explorer is run in administrative mode.
• Fixed an issue where the confirmation dialog might display an internal Recycle Bin file name instead of the original file name when permanently deleting a file.

Sounds

• Improved system sounds when using Windows in dark mode.

Microsoft released a bunch of builds recently, but most of them were rather minor. An unnoted change is that Xbox mode is now called XBOX mode.

An initiative to improve Windows 11 known as Windows K2 will include changes large and small. Microsoft plans to address serious "pain points" across Windows 11. Performance, design, and reliability are all being worked on by the tech giant.

Tiny details like taskbar resizing help Windows 11 feel more polished and personalized.

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"Linux is a cancer that attaches itself in an intellectual property sense to everything it touches," indicated former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in 2001. At the time, the executive considered Linux users to be communist thieves and viewed the open-source operating system as a "malignant cancer" on Microsoft's intellectual property.

In 2016, Ballmer seemingly changed his stance on Linux after Microsoft ported its SQL Server to Linux. He didn't redact his statement about Linux as he saw fit at the time. The executive revealed that going to war with open-source helped generate a ton of money, which greatly contributed to Microsoft's revenue.

Interestingly, he believed the threat from Linux had passed. The executive said he loved the SQL on Linux announcement, so much so that he emailed Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to congratulate him on the move.

In 2020, Microsoft President Brad Smith admitted that the company had been on the wrong side of history when open source exploded. "The good news is that, if life is long enough, you can learn … that you need to change," Smith added.

Consequently, Microsoft has seemingly warmed up to open-source over the years, from PowerShell to Visual Studio Code to Microsoft Edge's JavaScript engine. And perhaps more recently, the company unveiled its own Linux distribution, Azure Linux 4.0, to the public.

It's worth noting that Azure Linux 4.0 isn't new; Microsoft has been running the open-source Linux distro across its infrastructure for years now. The only difference is that the platform is now expanding into broader server workloads. The operating system is built on Fedora and runs on Azure virtual machines.

The RAM crisis, mounting AI bloat, and Windows 10's death are all tipping the scales in Linux's favor

While this might seem like a stretch, it's increasingly becoming difficult for users to upgrade to Windows 11. Critics have referred to Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 as programmed obsolescence, designed to force working hardware into early retirement.

Groups like the public interest research group (PIRG) have petitioned Microsoft to reconsider its decision and extend Windows 10 support, citing the potential for the single biggest jump in junked computers (up to 400 million PCs).

Microsoft didn't necessarily leave Windows 10 users in the lurch when it ended support for the operating system on October 14, 2025. It extended support for an additional year through its extended security updates (ESU) program to October 14, 2026, though critics claimed it felt like a last-minute snooze button, only a band-aid on a bleeding system.

More recently, the company extended support for Windows 10 through its ESU program through 2027. It didn't disclose the reason for extending Windows 10 support, but recent events can offer a vague picture of some possibilities.

The rising cost of RAM and NAND, primarily driven through the roof by AI's insatiable appetite for computing power, has made it difficult for users to buy new hardware. In that sense, it's practically impossible for Windows 10 users to upgrade to Windows 11 because their devices don't meet Microsoft's stringent hardware requirements.

There's also the argument of flawed Windows 11 design elements. However, Microsoft already started addressing some of these issues as part of its broader Windows K2 initiative. The company has already started reducing the places where Copilot and its integrations appear across the operating system.

Groups like End of 10 have been pushing users to transition to Linux following Windows 10's end of support. The campaign encourages Windows 10 users to ditch the Windows ecosystem entirely and switch to a version of Linux on any outdated devices, using a lack of ads and telemetry tracking as the key selling points to get users to switch camps.

For context, a recent HP survey found that 3 out of 10 HP PCs are still running Windows 10. This was a slight decrease from September 2025, when HP and Dell indicated that up to 50% of PCs were still running on the operating system. As such, there's a chance the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 could roll over into 2027 and even 2028, especially after Microsoft's new lifeline for the OS.

I recently polled Windows Central readers about the current state of affairs and whether they plan to upgrade to Windows 11. Out of 321 participants, 68% (217 readers) said they intend to stick with Windows 10 through 2027.

According to a Windows Central reader:

"Linux has gotten way better, and perhaps with some install help it does everything the common folks want to do (read: not gamers or others reliant on some very specific tailored app).

The way Microsoft has been talking about their future makes every conscious consumer know this is only the beginning, and regular os subscription payments, more surveillance etc is coming.

I might buy win 11 based pc in the future when the current one stops working, but I already know it will run Linux just fine, so MS has opened Pandora's box."

I’ll go out on a limb and suggest that, while it may sound far-fetched, Windows 10 holdouts could abandon Microsoft’s ecosystem in favor of open-source alternatives like Linux — especially if the RAM crisis continues to spiral out of control.

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June is closing out, making it a good moment to recap the latest Windows 11 changes Microsoft delivered in the second half of the month. While there are no headline-grabbing feature drops, the updates continue to refine the overall experience with a steady set of improvements across the system. Microsoft also confirmed active development of Windows 11 version 26H2, the next major release on the roadmap.

During the final two weeks of June, preview builds in the Experimental channel transitioned their versioning from 25H2 to 26H2, signaling the formal shift toward the next development cycle.

At the same time, Taskbar customization gained more flexibility, allowing users to adjust its size independently of button scaling, offering finer control over the desktop layout.

Meanwhile, the Future Platforms channel received a broader set of enhancements, including Screen tint, reduced reboot requirements for Windows Update, improved Magnifier zoom options, and refinements across Personalization, Storage, and Audio settings.

In the Experimental channel, we've seen builds 29617, 28120.2374, 26300.8758, 28120.2315, and 26300.8697. In the Beta channel, the company released builds 26220.8754, 28020.2366, 28020.2308, and 26220.8690.

In this recap, I'll highlight the latest and most noteworthy changes available through the Windows Insider Program.

Biggest improvements from the Windows Insider Program in June 2026

These are the most significant changes Microsoft has unveiled since my last roundup.

Windows 11 version 26H2

Although it's not a feature, starting with build 26300.8697 in the Experimental experience, Microsoft officially changed the version number from 25H2 to 26H2.

You will find the change in Settings > System > About, under the "Windows Info" section. Also, the version number can be found when running the "winver" command. However, the "Windows Insider Program" still reports this channel as "Windows 11, version 25H2."

This means that everything that the company makes available in the Experimental channel will become part of the version 26H2.

However, another point to note is that versions 25H2 and 26H2 share the same core file system, meaning that even though the company has announced the development of the new version, virtually all the changes intended for version 26H2 will also be available for version 25H2.

Privacy & security page redesign

Build 26300.8697 also updates the "Privacy & security" page with a new header that includes an entry point to the Windows Security app and a glance at details for various features, including location, camera, and microphone features.

On the rest of the page, the development team is also reorganizing the items into new sections, including "Your info," "Communication," "File access," and "System."

Other new entry points include "Custom Dictionary" and "Passkeys."

Although it's not officially available, it has been found that on the "Search" page, Microsoft is updating the "Show suggested results" setting to include options to disable web searches and Microsoft Store apps from search results in the Windows Search feature.

Mobile Devices changes

As part of the change for version 26H1, in the Beta and Experimental channels, builds 28120.2374 and 28020.2366 update the Mobile Devices page in the Settings app and add the ability to configure and manage mobile devices.

Emoji panel changes

Also, in version 26H1, the company is changing the GIF provider to GIPHY, replacing the Tenor API to improve the experience for browsing and sharing GIFs.

Taskbar resize option

Microsoft also made available build 26300.8758 for version 26H2, which updates the Taskbar settings with a new dedicated option to make the Taskbar smaller.

The setting is called "Taskbar size," and it features two options, including "Default" and "Small."

If you use the "Small" option, this action turns off the "Show smaller app icons" feature.

The description under the "Automatically hide the taskbar" option is also new in this release.

Sounds in dark mode

This isn't a flashy improvement, but it's worth pointing out that build 26300.8758 improves system sounds when using the system dark mode.

XBOX branding

In the Gaming section, the Xbox mode page is being rebranded to "XBOX mode" as the company refreshes the brand based on feedback.

Screen tint new feature

On Windows 11 build 29617 for the Future Platforms version, Microsoft introduced a new accessibility feature called "Screen tint." It's a system-wide color overlay designed to reduce eye strain and soften overly bright or saturated displays.

Unlike the Night Light feature, which primarily reduces blue light for nighttime use, Screen tint changes the overall intensity and color tone of the display during the day. The software giant notes that the two features solve different problems and can work together.

The feature is available in Settings > Accessibility > Vision > Screen tint, with six preset tint colors and an option to create a custom color.

In addition, you can also adjust the intensity with the available slider. However, one thing to point out is that enabling Screen tint disables Color Filters, and vice versa.

Magnifier new zoom controls

The Magnifier feature is receiving several enhancements for the Future Platforms version.

For instance, it's now possible to enter a specific zoom percentage directly in the interface instead of repeatedly clicking the zoom-in and zoom-out buttons.

Also, in the Magnifier settings, you can now find additional zoom presets, including 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 400 percent.

Personalization changes

The company has also improved the personalization experience by enhancing the accuracy of automatic accent color selection. This allows the operating system to better match the chosen accent color to the colors in your desktop wallpaper.

In addition, Microsoft has fixed a problem to improve how background images are preserved across restarts and upgrades.

These improvements are already available in other channels, but they won't arrive in the Future Platforms version until build 29617.

Windows Central's Take

I like the direction Microsoft is taking with these Insider builds. There isn't a single feature that completely changes how I use Windows 11, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Some of the best updates are the ones that quietly make the operating system more polished over time. A dedicated Taskbar size setting, a cleaner "Privacy & security" page, and accessibility improvements may not grab headlines. However, they're the kinds of refinements people notice after using the operating system every day.

The official move to version 26H2 is also significant. Based on Microsoft's recent release strategy, I expect the next feature update to focus more on improving what already exists than on introducing major new experiences. If that's the case, I'd much rather see the company continue investing in performance, consistency, and usability than chase flashy features that don't solve real problems.

Of course, these are still preview builds, so I wouldn't recommend installing them on a primary computer unless you're comfortable testing unfinished preview builds.

What do you think about these latest Windows 11 changes? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

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Microsoft has issued a warning to all Windows 11 Home and Pro users still running the now two year old 24H2 release that support for this version of the OS is ending in just a few months.

All new versions of Windows 11 ship with a support window that lasts 24 months for consumers and 36 months for commercial customers. As 24H2 first launched in 2024, it's now coming to the end of its support window for consumers.

"Windows 11, version 24H2 Home and Pro editions will reach end of updates on October 13, 2026," Microsoft says in a recent update changelog. "Devices running these editions will no longer receive fixes for known issues, time zone updates, technical support, or monthly security and preview updates containing protections from the latest security threats."

The good news is everyone running 24H2 today should be fully compatible with 25H2, which is the current shipping version of Windows 11 and fully supported, based on the exact same codebase as 24H2. In fact, they're so similar, the 25H2 upgrade is very small and comes with no compatibility issues or complex update processes. It's essentially the flip of a switch.

That's the easiest fix for those still on 24H2 and worried about losing support. Once you upgrade to 25H2, you'll be fully supported once more until October 2027. If you want to wait until October this year, you can jump straight to 26H2 when that begins rolling out in the fall.

25H2 and the upcoming 26H2 release are based on the same platform release as 24H2, codenamed Germanium. This means the underlying OS doesn't change between the releases, only surface level features and changes are present between them. If you've been hanging onto 24H2 because you're worried about the upgrade breaking anything, there's really nothing to be concerned about. 25H2 is basically 24H2 part 2.

For commercial customers, there's not anything to worry about just yet. Windows 11 version 24H2 for commercial customers will continue to be supported until October 12, 2027, so over a year to go before those devices will need to be updated.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Last week, Microsoft quietly announced that it will extend support for Windows 10 through 2027, even though the operating system officially reached the end of support on October 14, 2025. Initially, the company had planned to offer just one additional year of updates under its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, but the new decision gives Windows 10 a longer lifeline.

However, critics and groups like The Restart Project, which helped co-develop the "End of 10" toolkit to support Windows 10 users who can't upgrade to Windows 11, claimed that Microsoft's move to continue pushing security updates to Windows 10 beyond its end-of-support feels like a last-minute snooze button, which only acts as a band-aid on a bleeding system.

They argued that the move would force up to 400 million working PCs into early retirement, prompting many users to brand it as programmed obsolescence rather than anything else. It also seems like an outright, blatant attempt designed to make users transition to Windows 11.

However, if previous complaints lodged are anything to go by — Microsoft's stringent hardware requirements for the operating system, coupled with arguments of flawed design elements, including unnecessary AI and Copilot integrations, will only widen the digital divide, making the jump even harder.

Currently, users enrolled in Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program will continue receiving critical security patches for one additional year, extending coverage beyond the original end-of-support date of October 14, 2025, through October 14, 2026.

Windows 10

As highlighted in the poll results, a clear majority of participants (68%) indicated they plan to continue running Windows 10 on their devices following Microsoft’s support extension. Interestingly, 19% of respondents said they have already upgraded to Windows 11, highlighting a smaller but notable shift toward the newer operating system.

Granted, only 321 people voted, so we need to take the results with a pinch of salt.

If you are still running Windows 10 on your PC, you can take advantage of the extended lifeline by enrolling in the ESU program for free by signing in with a Microsoft account, or pay for access via 1,000 Microsoft reward points or $30.

Last week, I wrote an article attempting to capture the overall sentiment from the community and tech enthusiasts following Microsoft's decision to extend support for Windows 10 through 2027. It quickly became apparent to me that many people are still running Windows 10 on their devices, with some outrightly calling for Microsoft to extend Windows 10's shelf life to 2028 because 2027 won't cut it.

The conversation about alternative operating systems like Linux also popped up. According to an avid Windows Central reader:

"Linux has gotten way better, and perhaps with some install help it does everything the common folks want to do (read: not gamers or others reliant on some very specific tailored app).

The way Microsoft has been talking about their future makes every conscious consumer know this is only the beginning, and regular os subscription payments, more surveillance etc is coming.

I might buy win 11 based pc in the future when the current one stops working, but I already know it will run Linux just fine, so MS has opened Pandora's box.

Though frankly I'm surprised MS cares so much. corporate world has been their sole focus for over a decade, and they still have a good stranglehold there. ofc one piece of wisdom might be that if people use Linux at home, eventually they'll start asking why we are using MS products at work. We are used to Linux and more competent with apps there."

"What they are admitting is that they are afraid of letting part the 25% Windows base go for Linux or worse, to become botnets for cybercrime after they get infected for lack of security patches, creating havoc," another reader added.

Some users came up with interesting ideas, painting a picture where Microsoft continues to support Windows 10 and Windows 11 simultaneously.

While it seems inevitable for users to eventually upgrade to Windows 11, the current RAM crisis due to AI's heavy appetite for computing power isn't making the jump any easier, as hardware prices are steadily increasing and becoming unaffordable for most people. According to another Windows Central reader:

"That people don't have the money to upgrade at today's prices.

Let's not make too much of this: MS OSes have always run a bit ahead of entry level hardware and conversely, people have always stayed with trailing edge software longer than safe. There are probably still people running Windows XP out there.

The security rationale of W11 over W10 can be debated but in the end, everybody will have to upgrade the hardware...

...when they can afford it. At least MS is being understanding that it's not just parsimony holding people back."

That said, it will be interesting to see if Microsoft will continue to hold its massive dominance in the desktop landscape with Windows.

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On October 14, 2025, Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 10, despite widespread pleas from millions of users still relying on the operating system. The move risked leaving nearly 400 million PCs without updates, effectively rendering them obsolete. However, Microsoft ultimately extended Windows 10’s lifespan through its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, giving users continued access to critical patches beyond the end-of-support date.

The Restart Project group, which helped co-develop the "End of 10" toolkit to support Windows 10 users who can't upgrade to Windows 11, claimed that Microsoft's move to continue pushing security updates to Windows 10 beyond its end-of-support feels like a last-minute snooze button, which only acts as a band-aid on a bleeding system.

It's no secret that Microsoft has been pushing users to upgrade to Windows 11, but soaring RAM prices have driven hardware costs sky-high, making the transition even more difficult. This is on top of the operating system's strict hardware requirements and arguments of flawed design elements.

In France, critics even staged a symbolic “funeral” for Windows 10, protesting Microsoft’s push toward Windows 11 and what they see as planned obsolescence. Yet, as recent developments suggest, the company may finally be listening.

Microsoft quietly extended Windows 10's ESU program by another year. As a result, users enrolled in the program will continue receiving support until October 14, 2027. The extension is free for those who sign in to Windows 10 with a Microsoft account, ensuring critical updates remain available beyond the original cutoff.

What does the community think about Windows 10's extended lifeline?

"People might start switching to Linux and using open source software for replacements if this RAM/storage issue doesn't get resolved in the next year," a Windows Central reader indicated.

Groups like End of 10 have been pushing users to transition to Linux following Windows 10's end-of-life. The campaign encourages steadfast Windows 10 users to ditch the Windows ecosystem entirely and switch to a version of Linux on any outdated devices, using a lack of ads and telemetry tracking as the key selling points to get users to switch camps.

"I said a year ago that this was going to happen, and I'll say it again, it's going to happen next year too," another reader added. "Windows 10 will be supported till October 2028. This has nothing to do with prices. This was planned since the beginning. But like last year, Microsoft did not say until late this was happening for free, so that people did not plan accordingly and as many as possible move to 11. Same this time. Same next year."

"Windows 10 to Windows 11 is like when you need new running shoes, but Nike discontinued the kind you’ve been buying new versions of for years, and the other kinds are fine but don’t measure up," another user commented in the r/technology subreddit on Reddit. "So you’re like “f*** it, I’ll just wear these until they fall apart.”

For context, a recent HP survey found that 3 out of 10 HP PCs are still running Windows 10. This was a slight decrease from September 2025, when HP and Dell indicated that up to 50% of PCs were still running on the operating system, prompting the PC makers to suggest that users won't upgrade to Windows 11 overnight, and the process could even roll over into 2026.

Some even claimed that Microsoft's decision to extend Windows 10's support beyond 2026 is an outright admission that it's better than Windows 11. "So are they finally admitting that Windows 11 isn't good enough almost 5 years later?"

To that end, it remains unclear how Microsoft extending support for Windows 10 via its ESU program to 2027 will impact Windows 11's market share. The operating system had just started gaining some momentum and even surpassed Windows 10 as the most dominant desktop operating system in the world in July, 2025.

In the interim, you can take advantage of Microsoft's extended support for Windows 10 by enrolling in the ESU program for free by signing in with a Microsoft account, or pay for access via 1,000 Microsoft reward points or $30.

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