Microsoft is experimenting with a new feature in Windows 11 that lets users resize taskbar icons, allowing them to shrink dynamically as more apps are opened or remain small permanently.
This update is currently available in the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Beta.
For those in the beta program, the new options can be found under Taskbar settings > Taskbar behaviors, where users can choose from three settings under Show smaller taskbar buttons:
- Always – Keeps icons small at all times.
- Never – Keeps icons at their default size.
- When taskbar is full – Automatically shrinks icons to fit more apps without pushing them into a secondary menu.
This functionality is reminiscent of macOS, where dock icons shrink as more apps and windows are opened.
Other Changes in the Insider Build
Beyond taskbar customization, Microsoft is also tweaking the Start menu. Insider tester @phantomofearth discovered that the Start menu now features a larger layout and an option to hide recommended recent apps, allowing users to display all installed apps on a single page instead.
However, Microsoft warns that this update might temporarily remove the battery charge status icons introduced in January. The company assures users that these icons will return in a future Insider update.
