Microsoft finally adds a Task Manager link to the Windows 11 taskbar

Microsoft has finally re-added a link to the Task Manager to the taskbar's contextual menu in the latest Windows 11 Insider preview build.

This feature has been a popular entry on the list of user requests since Windows 11 was released almost one year ago, on October 4, 2021.

Redmond also confirmed it made the change based on customer feedback and that it's enabled starting with Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25211 released to the Dev Channel today.

"Based on your feedback, we've added a link to Task Manager when right-clicking on the taskbar," Microsoft's Amanda Langowski and Brandon LeBlanc said.

Support for rearranging System Tray icons is also rolling out to Insiders who have the System Tray updates from Build 25197.

"If your PC does not have these changes, your System Tray experience will remain the same as before," they added.

With today's Dev channel preview build, Microsoft also started rolling out a new settings experience for Widgets allowing users to set the widgets board open on a mouse hover over the taskbar icon.

They'll also see toggles for showing notification badges and showing announcements as rotating updates from widgets on the taskbar.

In a separate Insider release to the Beta channel (Build 22623.730), the company also re-introduced the touch-optimized taskbar that should make it more comfortable to use Windows 11 devices as a tablet.

"Your taskbar will automatically transition to this optimized version when you disconnect or fold back the keyboard on your 2-in-1 device," Langowski and LeBlanc said.

"This feature only works on devices that can be used as tablets. It does not work on laptops or desktop PCs."

In February, Microsoft also brought back taskbar drag and drop support with the release of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22557 to the Dev Channel.

With that change, Windows 11 allowed users once again to drag and drop files between apps by hovering the mouse over their taskbar icons.

Microsoft finally adds a Task Manager link to the Windows 11 taskbar