Windows 11 is the latest operating system from Microsoft, but is it the greatest? Seemingly not, at least to a specific group of users. We recently reached out on Twitter asking, "what are the things you dislike the most about Windows 11?" The replies include comparisons to Windows 10, complaints about how certain features work (or don't work), and the removal of some options.
We've sifted through the hundreds of replies to find some of the most common complaints about Windows 11.
Microsoft made some major changes to Windows when it bumped to Windows 11. Visually, the operating system has a new Start menu, redesigned Taskbar, and several other changes. Perhaps more importantly, Microsoft also changed how it plans to upgrade its OS with the launch of Windows 11.
Microsoft shifted to a new engineering schedule that involves shipping major versions every three years while also pushing out more feature updates. For example, Microsoft added tabs to File Explorer in October and the operating system also got a new Photos app.
The company's approach to Windows 11 has been met with mixed responses. Our senior editor Zac Bowden gave the initial version of Windows 11 a 3.5 out of 5. The ranking bumped up to a 4 out of 5 with the release of the Windows 11 22H2 Update earlier this year.
Windows 11 performance woes
While not the most common complaint, some pointed toward the performance of Windows 11 as its biggest issue. Several problems have been discovered with Windows 11, including a gaming bug that causes stuttering. Our guide on how to fix common problems with Windows 11 serves as both a useful tool and a magnifying glass that illustrates the number of issues the OS has had since launch.
its slower on older pcs that were super-fast on Windows 10. Like Surface Book/Pro/Laptop etc but hey thats life just sucks its so resource intensive on PCs that ran completely fine on 10.November 21, 2022
Windows 11 missing features
Quite a few people highlighted missing features on Windows 11. Microsoft took away some Taskbar features and other options when it jumped from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Some of those features will return to the OS, but others will not.
The controversial Taskbar and Start menu have turned some people to third-party apps like Start11 to "fix" Windows 11. There are also apps for moving the Taskbar to the top and sides of the screen, restoring previous versions of Windows context menus, and adding a clock to both of your displays.
The fact that third-party apps are needed to restore features that were available on previous versions of Windows has caused quite a bit of frustration.
1) Not able to click on date & time on taskbar on secondary monitor in order to open calendar.2) Can't dock taskbar to the left or right side of monitorNovember 21, 2022
Taskbar lacking the option to show labels and never group. They removed this option in w11 and then decided to add tabs to File Explorer (completely bizarre decision).Also new shiny Task Manager is much slower than the old one. Nice to look at, ugly to useNovember 21, 2022
Can't place taskbar at top of screenCan't ungroup taskbar items (thankfully being fixed).More UI inconsistencies than 10Noticably slower file manager (from 7 > 10 > 11).Required MS accountNew context menus are slower and less have power user optionsNovember 21, 2022
Windows 11 UI criticisms
Windows 11 received quite a bit of criticism for its user interface. Both inconsistencies and perceived poor choices filled the replies to our tweet asking about the operating system. These aren't new complaints either. Our senior editor Zac Bowden recently highlighted how incomplete dark mode is on Windows 11.
everything feels different from each other. start menu feels like some web UI, apps feel modern but then the file explorer feels like a legacy component with fake skin on it. other more deeper parts of the UI feel nothing like windows 11.November 21, 2022
I will add forcing taskbar icons on all screens and not just running screens is not useful.I have 3 screens to run different apps not to have the same ones show up on all 3.November 21, 2022
- The taskbar's size that uncustomizable- The taskbar's search bar- The new start menu (I don't use the live tiles on Windows 10 though, just bring back the all apps list, I don't need the pinned and recent apps list)November 21, 2022
Windows 11 and ads
Many pointed their anger toward ads within Windows 11. Microsoft has continued to increase its advertising efforts within the Start menu and other elements of the OS. Suggested apps launched as a feature for Windows 11 and then Microsoft started testing suggested websites in a recent Insider build.
It's not just the Start menu that's had ads appear. At one point, promotional content appeared to Insiders within the File Explorer. Microsoft later clarified that those ads weren't meant to be externally published, but it still worried Windows 11 users that the ads were being tested at all.
Unsolicited recommendations in menu, tip popups, ads, anything that disturbs my workflow and makes me feel like I'm not in full control of my machine.Microsoft updates resetting my changes to config/privacy settings. (Changing my PDF viewer back to Edge from Acrobat recently)November 21, 2022
Windows 11 blocking older hardware
When Microsoft first announced Windows 11, the controversial minimum requirements of the OS drew the ire of many. Microsoft said that the requirement of TPM 2.0 and other minimum specs were set in the name of security. While the required internals to run Windows 11 may improve security, they were met with criticism.
Many older PCs are stuck on Windows 10 or previous versions of Windows. The requirements of Windows 11 drove some PC builders to find ways to upgrade relatively new rigs as well.
Our editor-in-chief Daniel Rubino broke down what TPM is and why Microsoft viewed the module as a necessity for running Windows 11.
Just because Microsoft explained its decision doesn't mean everyone was happy with it.
its slower on older pcs that were super-fast on Windows 10. Like Surface Book/Pro/Laptop etc but hey thats life just sucks its so resource intensive on PCs that ran completely fine on 10.November 21, 2022
Most people won't be able to use window 11 because of hardware incompatibility.Even 4th or 5th generation system are not supported.Not all countries and their people have enough resources to get latest hardware that fulfill the requirements.November 21, 2022
Windows 11 positives?
Of course, the responses to this question were going to be mostly negative, since it specifically asked about things people dislike. There are many aspects of Windows 11 that people do like, so we'll have to visit the flip side of things in the future. But even in response to our tweet, some people took time to compliment Windows 11.
I actually cant find much of anything to complain about! Im flying with my workflow right now...every since they added folders to start and cleaned things up UI wise...im a happy camper.November 21, 2022
While Windows 11 did not have some of the hiccups we saw with previous versions of Windows, it has drawn quite a bit of criticism since launch. The operating system got better with the 22H2 update and will continue to get feature updates, but some concerns that people have raised won't be fixed. For example, Microsoft has said that some Taskbar features will not return to Windows.
Going forward, we'll have to see how the perception of Windows 11 changes. We'll also have to see what people say when we ask what they like about the OS.
