Windows 11 22H2: Microsoft is secretly testing multiple new taskbar animations

Microsoft tends to test out many different animations and designs at the same time, and it looks like the company is secretly developing a new "animation" for the taskbar. Microsoft appears to be testing a different new loading animation for the taskbar in Windows 11 version 22H2 and above.

The designs of the new animations vary, but they are the same. An animation appears on the desktop while you wait for the icon to load. As shown in the GIF below, the new animation features a new "zoom in" effect.

The magnification effect is used to enlarge the size of the icons in the taskbar. This new animation replaces the existing flying animation, where taskbar icons fly out from the bottom. If you carefully compare the old and new versions, this subtle change becomes very apparent, and it's worth noting.

We can't say for sure what kind of animations Microsoft will use, or whether any of these experiments will be successful. Microsoft is currently testing new animations in the Dev and Beta channels, and it's also possible that the company will continue to randomly try different animations, i.e., A/B testing with selected users.

The taskbar won’t be getting new features anytime soon

An important but unpopular tweak to Windows 11’s taskbar isn’t getting better, according to Microsoft officials. The company has confirmed that it is prioritizing animation, design, and other features over features like adding or changing the taskbar position.

Unlike any version of Windows, the taskbar on Windows 11 doesn’t have some really important features that people have been using for decades. This involves functions such as modifying the position of the taskbar, canceling icon grouping, and correctly setting the right-click menu.

Microsoft’s development team previously confirmed that many missing taskbar features will not be restored soon.

The company wants to ensure that the "animation effects" of the taskbar and Start menu remain smooth, so it has taken measures accordingly. Currently, taskbar and start menu animations are not designed to handle different taskbar positions.

"Think about putting the taskbar to the right and all of a sudden rearranging and all the apps or the Start menu have to do," Microsoft noted, justifying the downgraded taskbar experience.

The taskbar has been rebuilt from the ground up, and Microsoft is currently developing features they feel are important, such as overflow UI, drag-and-drop, animations, and deeper integration with other Windows features.

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