Like previous versions of Windows, Windows 11 also lets you pin apps from the Desktop or Start to the taskbar by dragging the icon. Microsoft wants to make it even easier to pin apps to the taskbar, and it’s testing an option to drag and drop apps from the search UI to the taskbar.

Whenever you search for an app via the Start menu or the search box and want to pin it on the Taskbar, you can now drag the icon to the Taskbar. You’ll notice a “Link” option appears when you drag the icon, which indicates that pinning is possible. A block symbol will appear if you try to do that with an app already pinned on the Taskbar.

pin apps from the search ui to taskbar in windows 11

PhantomofEarth previously noticed this pinning feature in a recent Windows 11 Canary build. Soon, the feature also began rolling out to the other channels (Beta, Dev, and Release Preview). Surprisingly, the feature is available on Windows 11 23H2 PCs with the August 2024 optional update installed.

Microsoft didn’t announce this new pinning feature in the release notes of any Windows update, including Insider Preview.

Apart from this new app pining improvement, the Start menu will receive more touch-ups in the upcoming feature update.

Companion panel, new app layouts, and more

We have already discussed the endless possibilities of the new companion panel experiment in the Start menu.

Currently, the Phone Link companion panel is live for Windows 11 Insiders to quickly glance at all the recent messages, notifications, and phone vitals.

dual start menu companions in Windows 11
Dual Start menu companions in Windows 11 | Image Courtesy: WindowsLatest.com

Similarly, app developers can create companion panels for their creations. For example, a companion panel for Outlook would be excellent. Windows Latest loves the idea, but many think that these ideas will clutter the Start menu. For now, you can turn off the panel in the Settings app.

After experimenting with the Grid view for the All apps section, a new Category view is available in the Insider builds. It automatically places available apps in pre-defined categories and even supports sub-folders, though that doesn’t work now.

category layout in the Start menu windows 11

Copilot might also integrate into the Start menu, which isn’t unsurprising. The AI assistant is already a part of Microsoft 365 apps and Edge, and you can’t escape it.

About The Author

Abhishek Mishra

Abhishek Mishra is a skilled news reporter working at Windows Latest, where he focuses on everything about computing and Windows. With a strong background in computer applications, thanks to his master's degree, Abhishek knows his way around complex tech subjects. His love for reading and his four years in journalism have sharpened his ability to explain tricky tech ideas in easy-to-understand ways. Over his career, he has crafted hundreds of detailed articles for publications like MakeUseof, Tom's Hardware, and more in the pursuit of helping tech enthusiasts.