When comparing modern desktop operating systems, it's clear that both Windows 11 and Ubuntu bring their own strengths to the table, yet each harbors unique features that, if adopted by the other, could dramatically improve the overall user experience. While Ubuntu is widely lauded for its open-source ethos, powerful customization options, and security, there are several aspects of Windows 11 that could be considered for “borrowing” to help close the gap in convenience, productivity, and mainstream appeal. These are not the superficial, headline-grabbing innovations, but rather the nuanced, everyday usability features that—when absent—can make the switch to Ubuntu feel less seamless for users accustomed to Windows’ polish and administrative tooling.
For many professionals, managing digital distractions is an ongoing battle. Windows 11’s Focus Sessions feature directly tackles this problem. More than just a “Do Not Disturb” toggle, Focus Sessions integrates several productivity boosters into a unified hub. This includes the automatic suppression of notifications (with Do Not Disturb), intelligent management of taskbar badges and icon flashing, and the ability to set Pomodoro-style work timers that prompt you to take regular breaks—a technique shown to boost productivity and mental well-being.
Perhaps the most significant component, however, is integration with user goals and to-do lists. By consolidating productivity tracking, reminders, and even music integration through Spotify, Windows 11 transforms the operating system from a passive environment into an active participant in focus management.
Verifying the feature, Microsoft documentation and How-To Geek’s reviewed summary confirm that Focus Sessions can be activated from the Clock app and includes the aforementioned integrations as of early 2024. This is something Ubuntu largely lacks. While third-party applications (such as GNOME Pomodoro or custom notification controls) exist, they are fragmented solutions requiring user initiative to install, often without tight desktop environment integration. For Ubuntu to compete, a native, unified distraction management toolkit inspired by Windows’ Focus Sessions would bridge this everyday productivity gap, especially for remote workers and frequent multitaskers.
Windows leverages Windows Hello as a foundational layer, allowing users to authenticate with biometrics or PINs. Microsoft’s integrated approach means that, after initial setup, users are nudged to generate or access passkeys during web sign-ins and can manage them centrally in the system settings (Settings > Accounts > Passkeys). Importantly, this works across major browsers, including Chrome and Firefox, ensuring flexibility.
Ubuntu, on the other hand, currently offers no first-party support for passkeys. While FIDO2 security keys and third-party workarounds are possible (often via browser extensions or command-line utilities), there’s no seamless, native passkey management experience within the default Ubuntu stack. The lack of this feature could deter security-conscious users or those looking to stay at the forefront of consumer authentication.
For power users, Microsoft’s PowerToys suite introduces “Fancy Zones,” letting users design custom grid layouts for optimal multitasking and window placement. According to both Microsoft and independent reviews, these tools provide superior flexibility and least-effort productivity for desktop workflows.
Ubuntu’s desktop environment (notably GNOME Shell, used by default) allows for basic edge snapping—a window can be assigned to half the screen with a drag or shortcut. Multi-window layouts (quarters, grids) are possible with extensions, but lack out-of-the-box polish and flexibility. Canonical’s developers are reportedly reviewing improvements to GNOME’s window management in future releases, but as of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, advanced snapping is not at parity with Windows’ approach.
Linux-based environments offer considerable power to those willing to tinker—OBS Studio, SimpleScreenRecorder, and audio routing utilities abound. However, there is no pre-installed, all-in-one overlay that matches the ease or discoverability of the Game Bar for new users. This results in a steeper learning curve, especially for casual gamers migrating from Windows and those who prioritize frictionless media capture over advanced configuration.
Verified by both Microsoft and multiple tech journalism outlets, clipboard history can sync across devices (if using a Microsoft account) and offers secure, on-device storage. Images and formatted data are both supported. Ubuntu users can mimic this with GNOME extensions (such as Clipboard Indicator) or third-party clipboard managers, but, critically, it’s not a default part of the Ubuntu experience. Many novices never discover these add-ons and thus miss out on the productivity boost.
It must be acknowledged, however, that Ubuntu and the Linux ecosystem at large operate under a different set of development incentives and philosophies compared to proprietary Windows. Integrating features like clipboard history or passkey management at the desktop environment level would require not just technical effort, but consensus among upstream projects (GNOME, KDE, etc.), careful attention to privacy, and perhaps rethinking certain user experience paradigms.
In an era increasingly defined by hybrid work, security threats, and complex multitasking, these “small” features make the difference between a desktop that feels accommodating and one that feels merely functional.
Ubuntu would need to proceed cautiously—ensuring features are optional and privacy-respecting by default, offering clear user control, and avoiding proprietary lock-in. The Windows Game Bar, while convenient, is sometimes criticized for being difficult to disable or uninstall, an approach that would not sit well with Ubuntu’s user base.
Moreover, the decentralized nature of Linux development, with its focus on user autonomy, means features must be designed for modularity and transparency. Community engagement—through upstream GNOME or KDE projects, transparent bug-tracking, and privacy audits—would be essential for success.
At the same time, these upgrades should be offered with Ubuntu’s hallmark choice: enable what you need, disable what you don’t, and always inspect the code if privacy or security is a concern. The challenge—and opportunity—is in balancing the polish and integrated feel of Windows 11 without compromising the principles that have kept Ubuntu at the forefront of desktop Linux innovation for nearly two decades.
Source: How-To Geek 5 Features Ubuntu Should Steal from Windows 11
Focus Sessions: Mastering Work-Life Boundaries
For many professionals, managing digital distractions is an ongoing battle. Windows 11’s Focus Sessions feature directly tackles this problem. More than just a “Do Not Disturb” toggle, Focus Sessions integrates several productivity boosters into a unified hub. This includes the automatic suppression of notifications (with Do Not Disturb), intelligent management of taskbar badges and icon flashing, and the ability to set Pomodoro-style work timers that prompt you to take regular breaks—a technique shown to boost productivity and mental well-being.Perhaps the most significant component, however, is integration with user goals and to-do lists. By consolidating productivity tracking, reminders, and even music integration through Spotify, Windows 11 transforms the operating system from a passive environment into an active participant in focus management.
Verifying the feature, Microsoft documentation and How-To Geek’s reviewed summary confirm that Focus Sessions can be activated from the Clock app and includes the aforementioned integrations as of early 2024. This is something Ubuntu largely lacks. While third-party applications (such as GNOME Pomodoro or custom notification controls) exist, they are fragmented solutions requiring user initiative to install, often without tight desktop environment integration. For Ubuntu to compete, a native, unified distraction management toolkit inspired by Windows’ Focus Sessions would bridge this everyday productivity gap, especially for remote workers and frequent multitaskers.
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strength: Seamless user experience due to baked-in integration with system notifications and task management.
- Risk: Over-customization of focus tools may clutter or confuse workflows if not carefully designed, as seen in mixed user reception of less popular digital wellness features.
Passkey Support: Paving the Future of Authentication
As headlines warn of never-ending password breaches, the shift towards passwordless authentication is no longer a niche tech enthusiast trend. Windows 11 is frontlining this change with robust native support for “passkeys”—cryptographically secure alternatives to passwords that are not only easier to use, but also significantly more resistant to phishing.Windows leverages Windows Hello as a foundational layer, allowing users to authenticate with biometrics or PINs. Microsoft’s integrated approach means that, after initial setup, users are nudged to generate or access passkeys during web sign-ins and can manage them centrally in the system settings (Settings > Accounts > Passkeys). Importantly, this works across major browsers, including Chrome and Firefox, ensuring flexibility.
Ubuntu, on the other hand, currently offers no first-party support for passkeys. While FIDO2 security keys and third-party workarounds are possible (often via browser extensions or command-line utilities), there’s no seamless, native passkey management experience within the default Ubuntu stack. The lack of this feature could deter security-conscious users or those looking to stay at the forefront of consumer authentication.
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strength: Strong security through native support, ease of use, and compatibility with leading browsers.
- Risk: Native integration on Windows is limited by hardware support and initial user setup complexity; on Ubuntu, the fragmented approach could be a security risk due to inconsistent implementations.
Advanced Window Snapping: More Than Just “Windows” in Name
The name “Windows” could easily refer to its powerful window management system—a feature often underestimated until it’s absent. Windows 11 pushes this tradition forward with its advanced snapping options. Users can drag windows to sides or corners, quickly splitting the screen for rapid multitasking, and “snap layouts” appear when hovering over the maximize button, offering presets for complex tiling (2x2, grid, vertical splits, etc.).For power users, Microsoft’s PowerToys suite introduces “Fancy Zones,” letting users design custom grid layouts for optimal multitasking and window placement. According to both Microsoft and independent reviews, these tools provide superior flexibility and least-effort productivity for desktop workflows.
Ubuntu’s desktop environment (notably GNOME Shell, used by default) allows for basic edge snapping—a window can be assigned to half the screen with a drag or shortcut. Multi-window layouts (quarters, grids) are possible with extensions, but lack out-of-the-box polish and flexibility. Canonical’s developers are reportedly reviewing improvements to GNOME’s window management in future releases, but as of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, advanced snapping is not at parity with Windows’ approach.
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strength: Intuitive, flexible layouts boost productivity and are highly discoverable by new users.
- Risk: The degree of window management customization may overwhelm novice users; ensuring accessibility without sacrificing power is a key balance.
Windows 11 Game Bar: Unified Media Tools
For gamers, streamers, and content creators, in-built screen capture and audio mixing is no longer a luxury—it is a baseline expectation. Windows 11’s Game Bar (accessible via Win+G) elegantly consolidates video capture, screenshotting, and audio control into a single overlay. The interface is modern, responsive, and hooks into third-party tools where needed. Microsoft’s documentation and reviews show that the Game Bar now supports GPU monitoring and performance analytics as well.Linux-based environments offer considerable power to those willing to tinker—OBS Studio, SimpleScreenRecorder, and audio routing utilities abound. However, there is no pre-installed, all-in-one overlay that matches the ease or discoverability of the Game Bar for new users. This results in a steeper learning curve, especially for casual gamers migrating from Windows and those who prioritize frictionless media capture over advanced configuration.
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strength: Out-of-the-box functionality makes advanced recording and streaming accessible.
- Risk: Tight hardware integration can limit extensibility; advanced users may find it lacking compared to specialized tools, though novices benefit.
Clipboard History: The Productivity Multiplier
Perhaps the most underrated feature of Windows 11 is clipboard history. Invoked by Windows+V, clipboard history maintains a running log of copied items—text and images—for future recall. This is more than a convenience: for anyone writing code, compiling research, or juggling complex workflows, clipboard history can save precious time and prevent repetitive actions.Verified by both Microsoft and multiple tech journalism outlets, clipboard history can sync across devices (if using a Microsoft account) and offers secure, on-device storage. Images and formatted data are both supported. Ubuntu users can mimic this with GNOME extensions (such as Clipboard Indicator) or third-party clipboard managers, but, critically, it’s not a default part of the Ubuntu experience. Many novices never discover these add-ons and thus miss out on the productivity boost.
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strength: Freedom from repetitive copying tasks, cross-device potential, and privacy-preserving local cache.
- Risk: If poorly designed or without adequate security controls, clipboard caches can leak sensitive information—careful vetting is essential for any Ubuntu implementation.
A Comparative Table: Features at a Glance
| Feature | Windows 11 (Native) | Ubuntu (Default) | 3rd Party on Ubuntu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus Sessions | Yes (Clock app) | No | Partial (Pomodoro tools) |
| Passkey Support | Yes (with Hello) | No | Partial (manual setup) |
| Advanced Window Snapping | Yes (snap layouts, zones) | Limited (halves) | Advanced (extensions) |
| Game Bar | Yes (Win+G overlay) | No | Yes (OBS, SSR, manual) |
| Clipboard History | Yes (Win+V) | No | Yes (Clipboard Indicator) |
The Case for “Borrowing” Productivity Features
None of the features above are, on their own, revolutionary—but together, they form the “glue” that holds a modern productivity-oriented desktop environment together. Ubuntu’s focus on flexibility, openness, and control has long been its calling card, but to lower the barrier for mainstream adoption—especially among power users and those transitioning from Windows—thoughtful adoption of these quality-of-life enhancements is worth serious consideration.It must be acknowledged, however, that Ubuntu and the Linux ecosystem at large operate under a different set of development incentives and philosophies compared to proprietary Windows. Integrating features like clipboard history or passkey management at the desktop environment level would require not just technical effort, but consensus among upstream projects (GNOME, KDE, etc.), careful attention to privacy, and perhaps rethinking certain user experience paradigms.
In an era increasingly defined by hybrid work, security threats, and complex multitasking, these “small” features make the difference between a desktop that feels accommodating and one that feels merely functional.
Risks in Feature Adoption: Learning from Windows
Adopting any feature from another platform is not strictly additive; trade-offs are involved. Overly aggressive or poorly integrated features risk bloat, unexpected bugs, or conflicts with user expectations in the open-source community. For example, Microsoft’s tight integration between the OS and web-based settings (such as Edge browser defaults or account login requirements for passkey sync) has drawn regulatory scrutiny for limiting user choice.Ubuntu would need to proceed cautiously—ensuring features are optional and privacy-respecting by default, offering clear user control, and avoiding proprietary lock-in. The Windows Game Bar, while convenient, is sometimes criticized for being difficult to disable or uninstall, an approach that would not sit well with Ubuntu’s user base.
Moreover, the decentralized nature of Linux development, with its focus on user autonomy, means features must be designed for modularity and transparency. Community engagement—through upstream GNOME or KDE projects, transparent bug-tracking, and privacy audits—would be essential for success.
What Would This Mean for Ubuntu’s Future?
If Ubuntu were to implement a unified focus management suite, native passkey handling, advanced window snapping, integrated gaming tools, and a seamless clipboard history—while respecting its core values of openness and user empowerment—it could expand its appeal far beyond current users. Such features would diminish friction for newcomers, especially those leaving proprietary operating systems for philosophical or practical reasons, and help establish Ubuntu as not just “the Linux for humans,” but “the OS for everyone.”At the same time, these upgrades should be offered with Ubuntu’s hallmark choice: enable what you need, disable what you don’t, and always inspect the code if privacy or security is a concern. The challenge—and opportunity—is in balancing the polish and integrated feel of Windows 11 without compromising the principles that have kept Ubuntu at the forefront of desktop Linux innovation for nearly two decades.
Conclusion
In the ongoing OS features arms race, it’s the finely tuned, workflow-enhancing details that set apart good from great. Windows 11’s Focus Sessions, native passkey support, advanced window snapping, Game Bar, and clipboard history are not simply luxuries—they’re subtle enablers of productivity, security, and user satisfaction. For Ubuntu to thrive among the broader desktop audience, these are the features it should consider—thoughtfully, openly, and always with the user’s freedom front and center. As both platforms evolve, the future of computing will not be won by the biggest headline features, but by the small refinements that make daily life just a little bit easier.Source: How-To Geek 5 Features Ubuntu Should Steal from Windows 11
