Windows 11 was leaked earlier this week and new features of the upcoming operating system are showcased on social media sites and blogs. One screenshot, which you may have seen published everywhere, shows the new centered Start Menu and taskbar layout of the operating system.

It appears that users of the operating system may align the Start Menu to the left and right as well. The classic version has the Start button displayed on the left side, and the icons that are pinned and the programs that are open next to it on its right side.

A centered Start menu and taskbar is not entirely new. Programs like CenterTaskbar or FalconX provide similar functionality to users who install the software programs. A core difference between these third-party applications and Microsoft's Windows 11 taskbar design is, that the Start button is centered as well in Windows 11.

One of the ideas behind displaying the icons on the taskbar in the center is that it improves accessibility. Instead of having to move the mouse cursor all the way to the left, icons are now reachable in the center.

One of the main differences between a centered and a left- or right-aligned layout is that the centered icons are not in fixed positions. When you open a new program, all icons are realigned on the taskbar to keep them in the centered position; this means, that the Start button will not be in a fixed position either, as it will wander from its position on system start to the left whenever programs with taskbar icons are opened, and to the right when programs are closed that are not displayed permanently on the taskbar.

Windows 11 users who open just a few programs during a workday or at home may not see a lot of movement, but this is not the case for users of the operating system who open and close lots of programs.

Granted, this is not a critical change that is going to delay taskbar operations by much, but it may still impact a user's workflow negatively.

Windows 11 users who prefer the left-aligned taskbar layout can restore it easily, at least in the leaked build.

We will know more next week when Microsoft will reveal the next version of the Windows operating system officially.

Now You: what is your preference in regards to the taskbar? Left, centered or right? Small or large buttons? Bottom position, sides, or top?