Microsoft is testing an expansion of the Windows 11 taskbar, which could be ideal for users who like to have multiple apps open on their laptop or desktop at the same time.
Now available in the Dev Channel is a new addition to the taskbar that allows users to access the icons of some inappropriate applications. Clicking the three-dot menu button brings up all of those apps in a section slightly above the taskbar.
Granted, this feature will only be useful to careless Windows 11 users who don’t close their apps when they’re done – a bad idea to preserve battery life. The new feature will replace the current rather cumbersome solution, showing only the most recent app in the overflow area.
In a blog post, Microsoft writes: “We are reintroducing taskbar overflow prevention, with a new experience designed for Windows 11. This taskbar experience has been carefully designed to provide give you a more efficient launching and switching experience when space is limited.
“Your taskbar will automatically switch to this new overflow when it has reached its maximum capacity. In this state, the taskbar will provide an additional menu entry point that allows you to see all your overflowing apps in one space. “
Other features currently available to Windows Insiders include improvements to AirDrop-like Nearby Sharing. It will now use UDP and Bluetooth to allow sharing with other devices on the same network, as long as that network is set to private.
It’s unclear when either feature will roll out to the main Windows 11 operating system, but Microsoft is continuing the process of making small but significant improvements.
