Windows 11 Start menu and taskbar get new features with latest update

Microsoft has started to roll out Windows 11 update for the users who are enrolled in the Dev Channel of the Windows Insider program. The build 22509 comes in the same week the company released a new UI and design for the Paint app. With the latest update, the company has added new features and improvements to the Start menu and taskbar. The update also fixes a few bugs that were reported by users in the last several weeks.

After installing the latest build, users can right-click on Start to quickly access Start settings and choose the "More pins" or "More recommendations" layout option to show an extra row of either pins or recommendations, respectively.

If a secondary monitor is connected, the clock and date will now also be displayed on the taskbars of the secondary monitor or monitors after the update. Earlier, the clock and date were only visible on the primary monitors. According to the company, the change isn't available to all Insiders just yet as it plans to monitor feedback and see how it lands before pushing it out to everyone.

Another feature that the company will be rolled to all Insiders gradually is the high priority notifications. For apps that send notifications for calls, reminders or alarms that leverage Windows notifications in the OS, 3 high priority notifications will now be shown as stacked and shown at the same time. This means at any given time, users might see up to 4 notifications at the same time – 3 high priority notifications and one normal priority notification.

The company has also announced a few changes in the settings app. With the update, the company has moved the advanced sharing settings such as Network discovery, File and printer sharing and public folder sharing to a new page in the Settings app under Advanced Network Settings.

The OS will also now remember if a user turns on Bluetooth or Wi-Fi while in airplane mode. Next time they use airplane mode, the radios will reflect their preference and stay on to make it easier to keep listening to headphones and remain connected while travelling. As of now, the features are limited to users who are enrolled in the Dev Channel of the Windows Insider program but it is expected that the company will roll them out for all users in the coming updates.