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REDMOND, WA – Microsoft is currently experimenting with a significant UI overhaul for its PowerToys suite, introducing a new feature that could fundamentally change how enthusiasts interact with Windows 11. Dubbed the Command Palette Dock, this optional interface adds a persistent, customizable menu bar to the desktop, offering a level of utility reminiscent of macOS and Linux environments.
The experiment, spearheaded by the PowerToys development team, aims to provide “quick awareness” and instant access to system tools without interrupting a user’s workflow.
A New Way to Monitor and Control
Unlike the traditional Windows taskbar, the Command Palette Dock is designed to be highly flexible. According to Niels Laute, a Senior Product Manager at Microsoft, the dock can be pinned to any edge of the screen—top, bottom, left, or right.
Key features currently being tested in the early prototype include:
Real-time Resource Monitoring: Users can pin live metrics for CPU and memory utilization directly to the bar.
Instant Extension Access: Popular PowerToys tools, such as the Color Picker or Clipboard History, can be launched with a single click.
Media Integration: Dedicated controls for music and video playback.
Visual Customization: The dock supports custom themes, background images, and color tinting to match the user’s desktop aesthetic.
Bridging the Gap for Power Users
The move is being seen by many as a nod to long-standing requests from the Windows community. Since the launch of Windows 11, some users have lamented the removal of the ability to move the taskbar to the top of the screen. While the Command Palette Dock isn’t a direct replacement for the taskbar, it offers a similar “top-of-mind” utility that many power users have previously relied on third-party software to achieve.
“The goal is to have your favorite tools one click away,” Laute explained on the PowerToys GitHub repository. “You’d be able to pin extensions for instant access without even opening the Command Palette launcher.”
Availability and Feedback
As with most PowerToys features, the Command Palette Dock is currently in an early proof-of-concept stage. It is not yet part of the stable release but is available for testing via the project’s GitHub page. Microsoft is actively seeking community feedback to determine if the feature will be refined for a wide release or remain an experimental “toy.”
If the response remains positive, the feature could land in a future PowerToys update later this year, providing Windows 11 users with the most radical layout customization option since the OS debuted.
