On April 24, 2026, Microsoft released Windows 11 build 26300.8289 to the new Experimental channel with official improvements to Windows Update controls. But hidden inside the build, testers and Windows Central discovered early work on four unannounced features—including a taskbar that can finally be moved to the top, left, or right of the screen. The build also contains a redesigned Run dialog, a consistent login spinner, and a unit toggle for resizing storage volumes. These features aren’t ready for public use yet, but their appearance signals a significant shift in how Microsoft is addressing long-standing user requests.

What’s Actually in Build 26300.8289

A Movable Taskbar Reappears

The most significant discovery is early support for repositioning the taskbar. New context menu entries let you dock the bar at the top, left, or right of the display. Windows Central reports that the integration is still buggy—side docking doesn’t work correctly, and the current controls look like debugging tools rather than a polished interface. Still, this is the first concrete sign since Windows 11 launched in 2021 that Microsoft is actively rebuilding taskbar positioning.

For many users, the loss of a movable taskbar was a dealbreaker. Ultrawide monitors, vertical screens, and laptops with limited vertical real estate benefit from side or top placement. The change suggests Microsoft may finally restore a customization option stripped from Windows 11’s original release.

A Modern Run Dialog (That You Can Turn Off)

Pressing Windows + R is muscle memory for countless admins and power users. That dialog has looked nearly the same for roughly 30 years. In build 26300.8289, Microsoft is testing a Fluent Design overhaul: rounded corners, semi-transparent elements, support for light and dark themes, and a larger text field. As you type, recent commands and matching apps appear.

Crucially, this redesign is optional. You’ll be able to toggle it on or off in Settings > System > Advanced > Run dialog. That respects users who depend on Run’s speed and predictability. The modern version is already visible in the Experimental channel without flipping that switch, but the toggle confirms Microsoft intends a gradual rollout.

A Unified Login Animation

The animated dots that appear during sign-in, sign-out, restart, and shutdown are gone. In their place is a solid spinning icon that matches the boot animation. Marcus Ash, Microsoft’s head of Windows design and research, confirmed on X that the change aims for “consistency across most use cases with spinning icons.” It’s a subtle polish that makes Windows feel less fragmented, especially during transitions you see every day.

Storage Volume Unit Toggle

Under Settings > Storage > Disks & volumes, the option to change a volume’s size now includes a toggle between megabytes and gigabytes. Previously, you had to mentally convert or enter values in MB alone. For modern drives where gigabytes are the natural unit, this reduces friction and the chance of errors. It’s a small, practical improvement—the kind Windows still needs in many places.

Official Update Controls Also Matter

Beyond the hidden surprises, Microsoft officially announced several Windows Update enhancements in this build. You can now:
- Skip updates immediately during the out-of-box experience (OOBE), avoiding long setup delays.
- Extend update pauses as many times as needed, giving you more control over when changes reach your PC.
- Always keep shutdown and restart options available without triggering an update—useful when you’re in a hurry or troubleshooting.
- See more detailed information about available updates before installing.

The build also includes a busy print driver update, a fix for Start menu click detection when icons are left-aligned, removal of a Group Policy Editor error, and a font update for Times New Roman to improve Greek and Cyrillic diacritical marks.

What It Means for You

For everyday users: The movable taskbar could finally return natively, no third-party tools required. If the Run dialog redesign ships, you won’t be forced to use it—so your existing workflow remains intact. The login animation is purely cosmetic but contributes to a more polished look. The storage unit toggle makes resizing partitions easier when you need to.

For power users and IT pros: These changes target long-standing pain points. A side or top taskbar on ultrawide or vertical monitors reclaims useful space. The Run dialog modernization respects muscle memory by staying optional. Windows Update controls give you more flexibility, especially when deploying devices or working around critical deadlines.

For Insiders in the Experimental channel: This build demonstrates how Microsoft’s new Insider structure works. Unannounced features may appear before they’re officially acknowledged, and you might need to enable them via Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program > Feature flags. Don’t expect stability—these are real experiments.

How We Got Here

When Windows 11 launched in 2021, Microsoft rebuilt the taskbar and removed the ability to dock it anywhere except the bottom. User backlash was immediate, and many turned to third-party utilities like StartAllBack or ExplorerPatcher. The fixed taskbar became one of the most visible criticisms of the new OS.

The Run dialog is another legacy survivor. It hasn’t seen a major design refresh in decades, even as other Windows surfaces adopted Fluent styling. Power users have kept it alive through sheer necessity.

In early 2026, Microsoft began reorganizing the Windows Insider Program. It introduced a new Experimental channel designed to expose earlier, riskier builds to a subset of testers. Feature flags now give users more control over which preview experiences they see. Build 26300.8289 is one of the first to show how that channel will operate in practice: official features alongside hidden work that may or may not ship.

What to Do Now

If you’re on a stable Windows 11 build: Wait. These features are incomplete and not headed to your PC anytime soon. Installing an Experimental build on your primary machine is risky.

If you’re already in the Insider Program: Check Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program > Feature flags. Some hidden features may become available once enabled. Provide feedback through the Feedback Hub—Microsoft is actively watching.

For enterprise administrators: Note the Windows Update improvements and the print driver changes, but don’t build deployment plans around buried UI tweaks. These are early signals, not guarantees.

Outlook

The movable taskbar is the headline grabber, but it’s also the roughest. Microsoft is likely still solving layout, animation, and accessibility challenges before making it public. If it reaches stable builds, it would reverse one of Windows 11’s most debated design decisions.

The Run dialog looks closer to completion, especially with its Settings toggle. It could set a precedent for modernizing other old dialogs without breaking familiarity. The login animation and storage toggle are lower-risk changes that may arrive sooner.

Keep an eye on future Experimental channel builds. Microsoft’s new Insider approach means we’ll likely see more hidden features surface before official announcements. This build is a preview of possibilities, not a product commitment—but the direction is clear: Windows 11 is becoming more flexible, more polished, and more responsive to feedback.