TL;DR: Microsoft just released a new build for Windows Insiders, and while it may not seem significant on paper, it brings two notable upgrades to the taskbar. Build 26120.1542 for the Dev Channel enhances the Widgets icon by giving it more prominence and introduces new keyboard shortcuts for quickly navigating between apps and windows. Windows 11 Insider build adds a slick taskbar shortcut for speedy app juggling
The first change introduces a new entry point for the Widgets feature on left-aligned taskbars. Instead of being tucked away in the corner, the Widgets icon will now move to the left side of the system tray area. Microsoft says this new positioning gives it more room to showcase “richer content” previews directly on the taskbar.
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Additionally, when you hover over this newly aligned icon, the full Widgets board will slide out from the right side of the screen instead of the left.
The standout feature in this build, however
is the new keystroke navigation for switching between taskbar apps. After pressing the Win+T shortcut to focus on the taskbar, you can press a letter key to instantly jump to any open or pinned app whose name starts with that letter. If you have multiple apps starting with the same letter, you can continue tapping that key to cycle through them one by one.
This shortcut works a bit differently if you’re using an uncombined taskbar. In that case, it jumps between window titles instead of app names. Either way, it’s a quick and efficient trick for rapidly switching between your most-used programs without taking your hands off the keyboard.Windows 11 Insider build adds a slick taskbar shortcut for speedy app juggling
As a bonus, this build also adds Home and End key functionality to taskbar navigation. A quick tap of the Home key will instantly focus on the first item on the taskbar, while pressing End will shift the focus to the last one.
As usual, Microsoft is cautious about making promises, noting that features and experiences in these builds “may never get released.”
Microsoft seems to be on a roll with Start menu and taskbar upgrades, and this fresh pair of features joins several other enhancements currently being tested.
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