Windows 11's September Update Brings Back the Movable Taskbar and Quieter Search
KB5124008 lets the taskbar sit on any screen edge, adds Start menu size options and lets users hide web results from Search. A September 22 preview added 46 more changes.
Microsoft's September 2026 update for Windows 11 fixes one of the operating system's longest-running complaints: the taskbar can finally be moved again. The update, KB5124008 (build 26200.9445), began rolling out on September 8 for versions 25H2 and 24H2, and a follow-up preview, KB5124010, arrived on September 22 with 46 more changes (Pureinfotech, BleepingComputer).
The taskbar is movable again
Windows 11 launched with a fixed bottom taskbar, which annoyed many users used to Windows 10's flexibility. You can now place it at the bottom, top, left or right through Settings, Personalization, Taskbar, Taskbar behaviors. A new small size option shrinks icons and bar height to save space on smaller screens. The search box and the small taskbar only work at the top and bottom positions.
| Feature | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| Taskbar position (bottom, top, left, right) | Settings, Personalization, Taskbar, Taskbar behaviors |
| Small taskbar | Settings, Personalization, Taskbar, Taskbar behaviors, Taskbar size |
| Start menu size (Automatic, small, large) | Settings, Personalization, Start, Start menu size |
| Hide web and Store results in Search | Settings, Privacy and security, Search |
A more customisable Start menu
The Start menu gets a size selector with small and large options alongside Automatic, the Recommended section is renamed Recent, and you can hide your name and profile picture. Users can also remove sections such as Pinned, Recommended or Recents. You still cannot drag the Start menu to resize it, and Windows 10-style options such as full-screen Start are not included (WinCentral). Microsoft is rolling changes out gradually; some sites document a ViVeTool workaround to enable them early, but it is unofficial and best avoided on a work machine.
Search gets quieter, and safer admin rights
Windows Search is simpler, shows the type of each result (app, setting, file, web result or Store suggestion), and indexes your most-used folders automatically. A new option lets you hide web and Microsoft Store suggestions so only local results appear. Microsoft also began rolling out Administrator Protection, which separates everyday use from administrative rights and requires Windows Hello approval when a task needs elevation.
Windows 11 23H2 does not get KB5124008; it receives KB5122880 (build 22631.7582) instead.
What the preview update added
KB5124010 is the final preview update for version 24H2. Its 46 changes include Emoji 17.0, an "Open apps maximized" accessibility setting, extra touchpad gestures, and the ability to remap the Copilot key to Right Ctrl or the Context Menu key. It removes the PC-to-PC Migration tool, with Microsoft pointing users to Windows Backup with OneDrive, and fixes a File History bug that broke backups after the September security updates.
KB5124010 also introduced a bug that crashed some apps and games using AC-3 audio, which Microsoft fixed in the October security update.
Who benefits
The small taskbar and local-only Search help on small laptop screens and slow connections, Administrator Protection changes how elevation prompts behave on shared or office PCs, and the Copilot key remap helps anyone with a newer laptop who does not use Copilot.
What to watch next
The October update brings the preview changes to everyone. If you relied on the removed PC-to-PC Migration tool, back up to OneDrive or an external drive before your next PC upgrade.
