Microsoft’s latest optional Windows 11 preview update, KB5120998, is more than a routine maintenance release. Based on Windows Latest’s report, the update brings a collection of user-interface changes that many Windows 11 users have been asking for since the operating system first shipped: more taskbar placement options, a genuinely smaller taskbar mode, a more flexible Start menu, and cleaner local-first Windows Search controls.

For IT teams and Windows enthusiasts, the headline is not simply that new features are arriving. The practical takeaway is that Microsoft is continuing to soften some of Windows 11’s early design decisions and restore options that power users previously relied on in Windows 10. Because KB5120998 is an optional preview update rather than a mandatory Patch Tuesday security release, it is best handled with the same discipline you would apply to any non-security preview: test first, document the user-facing changes, and deploy only where the benefits outweigh the risk of early adoption.

What KB5120998 changes

Windows Latest reports that KB5120998 is available through Windows Update and also via Microsoft Update Catalog offline installer packages. The update appears as a preview update and, according to the report, moves Windows 11 25H2 systems to Build 26200.9278 and Windows 11 24H2 systems to Build 26100.9278.

The most visible change is the return of more taskbar positioning options. Windows 11 launched with a far more restricted taskbar than Windows 10, removing several placement and sizing choices that long-time users had built into their workflows. With this update, users can choose taskbar placement from Settings rather than relying on unsupported registry edits or third-party tools. Windows Latest says the setting is found under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors > Taskbar position.

That matters in real environments. A top taskbar can be useful for users who live in browsers, terminals, remote desktops, and productivity apps where the top edge of the screen is already a navigation focus. Side taskbars can be helpful on ultrawide displays where horizontal space is abundant and vertical space is more valuable. Even if your organization standardizes on the default bottom taskbar, having the option available reduces the pressure to install customization utilities that may complicate support.

Smaller taskbar, not just smaller icons

Another important usability change is a more complete smaller taskbar option. Windows 11 has previously offered ways to reduce the apparent size of taskbar buttons, but that did not always translate into a meaningfully smaller taskbar footprint. KB5120998 reportedly adds a mode closer to the Windows 10 experience, shrinking the taskbar itself rather than only changing the button presentation.

This is especially relevant on 13-inch and 14-inch laptops, compact tablets, virtual desktops, and remote sessions where every line of vertical space matters. A smaller taskbar can make spreadsheets, admin consoles, browser-based dashboards, and code editors feel less cramped without requiring users to change display scaling. For help desks, the key is to know that screenshots and user instructions may begin to vary more after this update, because two Windows 11 PCs on the same build may still have different taskbar layouts.

Start menu customization becomes more practical

KB5120998 also appears to expand Start menu sizing and layout control. Windows Latest reports that users can choose a Start menu size under Settings > Personalization > Start, with options such as Small and Large alongside automatic behavior based on screen resolution.

The more significant change for many users is control over the Start menu’s sections. The update reportedly allows users to hide or reduce areas such as Recommended/Recent, Pinned, or All apps depending on how they want the Start menu to behave. For organizations, this can reduce friction around the Recommended area, which has often been seen as visual clutter in managed environments.

There is also a privacy and presentation angle. Windows Latest notes that the update includes an option to remove the user name and profile picture from Start. That is a small change, but it can be useful for people who frequently present, record demos, share screens during support calls, or stream gameplay. Less identity information on screen means fewer accidental disclosures.

Windows Search gets a cleaner local mode

Perhaps the most administrator-friendly change is the reported ability to turn off Bing and Microsoft Store results in Windows Search. According to Windows Latest, this control is located under Settings > Privacy & security > Search.

If implemented broadly, this is a meaningful quality-of-life improvement. Many users expect Windows Search to find local files, installed apps, settings pages, and indexed content. Web suggestions and Store results can be helpful in consumer scenarios, but they can also make search feel noisy or unpredictable in business environments. A local-first search experience is easier to explain, easier to support, and often faster for task-focused work.

This may also help organizations with stricter browsing, data-handling, or user-experience policies. It does not replace enterprise search governance, endpoint management, or browser policy, but it gives users and administrators a cleaner built-in option without needing workarounds.

Deployment advice for IT teams

Because KB5120998 is optional, do not treat it as an urgent security requirement. Instead, treat KB5120998 as a controlled preview of Windows 11’s next usability baseline. Start with a small group of test machines covering your common hardware profiles: standard laptops, docking stations, multi-monitor desks, touch devices, and any accessibility-dependent setups.

Before broad rollout, check whether your user documentation, onboarding screenshots, and help desk scripts assume a fixed bottom taskbar or a specific Start menu layout. If employees gain new personalization choices, support teams should be prepared to guide users back to defaults or help them understand where the controls live.

For offline installation, be aware of package size. Windows Latest reports that Microsoft Update Catalog downloads may require significantly more bandwidth than Windows Update because the bundles can include AI-related components even when those features are not active on a given PC. In most cases, Windows Update or your normal update management platform should be the preferred path.

Bottom line

KB5120998 is notable because it restores choice. The movable taskbar, smaller taskbar mode, resizable Start menu, and local-focused Search settings all point toward a Windows 11 experience that is less rigid and more adaptable to real workflows.

Enthusiasts may want to install it quickly to try the new controls. IT administrators should be more measured: validate the update, confirm that gradual feature rollout has reached the expected machines, and communicate the changes before users discover them on their own. If testing is clean, KB5120998 could become one of the more welcome Windows 11 usability updates of the year.

Source: Windows Latest source