Home windows is my desktop working system of alternative, however there’s nonetheless rather a lot I do not like about it. After years of ignoring suggestions about adverts, the taskbar, updates, and different issues, Microsoft says it is lastly listening.
Pavan Davuluri, Microsoft’s president for Home windows and gadgets, lately introduced main upcoming adjustments arriving for Insiders, which a separate Microsoft spokesperson claimed are simply “the start line of a big effort underway to lift the bar on Home windows high quality.”
I need to consider Home windows can enhance, and it seems like Microsoft will lastly settle for that customers need to transfer the taskbar and see Copilot in fewer locations, amongst different issues. However this is not the primary time Microsoft has got down to make us love Home windows once more, and it is nonetheless ignoring a number of the greatest complaints about Home windows 11. Furthermore, the timing of the announcement is suspicious.
Some Fixes Are Coming…However Main Complaints Stay
Microsoft’s plans to enhance Home windows contact on many widespread complaints—however the firm continues to be ignoring a number of the greatest ones.
Its announcement weblog submit leads with a promise to lastly allow you to transfer Home windows 11’s taskbar, a function that vanished with the shift to Home windows 10. This has been one of many prime requests for years, however Microsoft has refused so as to add it till now. It’s essentially the most notable signal Microsoft is taking a distinct method to suggestions.
Past that, Microsoft is fixing “pointless Copilot entry factors,” eradicating AI options from Notepad, Images, and Widgets. Lastly, the corporate says it offers you extra management over Home windows Updates, make File Explorer extra dependable, flip Widgets right into a much less annoying expertise, and extra.
Home windows 11 will quickly allow you to transfer your PC’s taskbar to the highest, left, or backside edges of the display (Credit score: Microsoft)
Nevertheless, the weblog submit does not tackle different widespread complaints, equivalent to browser and search engine alternative. On Home windows 11, the Begin menu’s search function all the time opens Microsoft Edge and searches with Bing. It merely ignores your default browser alternative and search engine—besides in Europe. Microsoft didn’t remark particularly once I requested whether or not it had any plans to make Home windows 11 higher respect customers’ browser decisions. The announcement submit does not point out Edge or internet browsers in any respect. It guarantees solely to make Begin menu file searches “clearly distinct from internet outcomes.”
There isn’t any point out of creating Microsoft accounts much less annoying, both. Home windows 11 all however forces you to sign up with a Microsoft account once you arrange a brand new PC, and Microsoft has steadily been eliminating workarounds. Microsoft’s Scott Hanselman says he’s engaged on eliminating the Microsoft account requirement, so maybe this can change. OneDrive, which generally mechanically begins syncing recordsdata with out asking, is one other widespread ache level that goes with out point out.
AI isn’t going anyplace, both. Microsoft claims it is going to be “extra intentional about how and the place Copilot integrates throughout Home windows,” however that does not imply you will not see it anyplace. Microsoft guarantees to “cut back disruption from Home windows Updates,” but it surely did not promise to sluggish the tempo of Home windows adjustments.
Microsoft’s announcement does not tackle Home windows 11’s stringent {hardware} necessities, both. Current Home windows 10 shopper PCs will cease receiving prolonged safety updates in October 2026, posing a big safety danger. Microsoft punted for a 12 months, however Home windows 10 PCs are nonetheless heading for bother.
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There is a sample right here: Microsoft needs to push Bing, Edge, Microsoft 365, Copilot, and new Home windows 11 PCs. All of those profit Microsoft’s backside line. However Microsoft’s accountants haven’t any drawback letting you progress your PC’s taskbar. The corporate can even get some good PR by eradicating a couple of experimental AI options in Home windows whereas persevering with to combine Copilot extra deeply. In brief, Microsoft did not announce any tough selections that come at the price of its enterprise priorities.
Home windows’ Status Is Slipping—and Microsoft Is aware of It
After I requested my Microsoft contact why the corporate determined to make these adjustments now, I didn’t get a solution—only a assertion concerning the firm’s intention to proceed listening to person suggestions and maintain enhancing Home windows. So, I placed on my analyst hat.
Home windows 11 is profitable—Microsoft says it has a billion customers. However a lot of the temper round Home windows 11 is destructive. The concentrate on Copilot and controversial options like Home windows Recall hasn’t helped its public picture. I’ve heard numerous complaints about adverts, AI options, Home windows Replace issues, and sluggish efficiency within the File Explorer app over the previous few years. Microsoft has launched some buggy Home windows patches these days, too.
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Apple’s MacBook Neo offers Home windows laptops critical competitors at $599 (Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
Extra importantly, Microsoft faces renewed competitors from all sides. At a time when reminiscence shortages are making PCs dearer, Apple simply launched the $599 MacBook Neo to compete with budget-to-midrange Home windows laptops. The MacBook Neo performs admirably with 8GB of RAM, however I wouldn’t advocate you purchase a Home windows machine with the identical quantity of reminiscence. In the meantime, Google is ramping up desktop OS competitors with its forthcoming Aluminium OS that fuses Android with ChromeOS. Valve, after success with the Linux-powered Steam Deck, is making a push into the lounge with the Steam Machine.
Historical past Suggests Skepticism Is Warranted
Again in 2015, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella famously mentioned Microsoft needed to maneuver folks from needing Home windows to selecting and loving Home windows. However the reverse has occurred over the following decade. The general public opinion of Home windows arguably deteriorated, and it grew to become an working system that many individuals simply don’t belief. Though Microsoft didn’t use these phrases, the tone of Microsoft’s newest weblog submit is evident: “We all know we tousled.”
Home windows seemingly goes by means of a perpetual cycle of enhancements and setbacks. Home windows 7 repaired Home windows Vista’s tarnished picture by specializing in efficiency and person suggestions. Then, Microsoft launched Home windows 8, which many individuals hated. Microsoft heard the complaints and launched Home windows 10, which many liked. However that launch was additionally the origin of so most of the issues in Home windows 11 as we speak. As a reminder, Home windows 10 was the model that got here with Sweet Crush Saga within the Begin menu.
Home windows 11’s Begin menu will nonetheless push Microsoft Edge and Bing for internet searches (Credit score: Microsoft/PCMag)
I am pretty assured that the corporate will ship some actual adjustments at this juncture, however how will it method Home windows a couple of years from now? Based mostly on its monitor report, I am involved Microsoft will lose focus and restart this complete cycle once more.
Massive Guarantees, Tight Timeline: Can Microsoft Comply with Via?
Microsoft says all of the fixes it introduced had been “preliminary adjustments” that can seem in Home windows Insider builds in March and April of 2026. The adjustments will arrive on secure variations of Home windows 11 “this month and each month this 12 months,” in line with Hanselman. You gained’t have to attend till Home windows 12 for them. That’s a whole lot of adjustments in an especially aggressive time-frame! The corporate instructed me it could have extra to share as these adjustments roll out, too. I’ll be operating these Insider builds and can maintain an in depth eye on every thing.
I would like Home windows to be higher, and I’m hopeful Microsoft will make an actual dent in some long-lasting issues. However the firm’s announcement additionally looks like a PR train. With stress from Apple, Google, and even Valve this 12 months, Microsoft needs to appear like it is listening and giving PC customers the OS they have been asking for. I am trying ahead to those adjustments, however Microsoft must go additional.
About Our Professional
Chris Hoffman
Senior Author
Expertise
I have been writing about know-how for greater than 15 years and utilizing it in earnest for over twice as lengthy. As a member of PCMag’s software program group, I concentrate on Home windows protection, but additionally write about different key desktop working techniques and system apps. (I used Home windows 3.1 upon its launch and have adopted each subsequent launch intently).
Previous to becoming a member of PCMag, I wrote for How-To Geek beginning in 2011, and my articles amassed over a billion web page views. I went on to run the publication as editor-in-chief for 4 and a half years. I’ve additionally contributed to Computerworld, Quick Firm, PCWorld, Reader’s Digest, The New York Occasions, and plenty of different shops about every thing from AI to PC {hardware} to Home windows. I based and ran my very own direct-to-reader Home windows-focused newsletters, Home windows Intelligence and The Home windows ReadMe, working in partnership with Thurrott.com.
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