The PowerToys team at Microsoft is considering adding a top menu bar to Windows 11, similar to what can be found on Linux, macOS, or older versions of Windows. This menu bar, known as the Command Palette Dock, would offer a new optional user interface for quick access to tools, system resource monitoring, and more.
Concept images of the proposed Command Palette Dock have been shared by Microsoft, and feedback is being sought from Windows users on the potential utility of such a PowerToy. Niels Laute, a senior product manager at Microsoft, explains that the dock is designed to be highly customizable, with options to position it on the top, left, right, or bottom edge of the screen. Extensions can be pinned to three different regions of the dock: start, center, and end.
Should Microsoft move forward with this project, the Command Palette Dock will come with customization features that allow users to change the background, style, and theme. Users will also have the ability to easily rearrange extensions between the various dock regions and freely pin them.
The Command Palette Dock is intended to complement Microsoft’s existing Command Palette launcher, which was introduced last year. This launcher, similar to Apple’s Spotlight in macOS, enables users to swiftly access commands, applications, and development tools.
Microsoft is currently seeking input on this proposal, and developers can test an early version of it by importing a project from Microsoft’s PowerToys GitHub repository into Visual Studio.
