Microsoft’s Windows 11, since its long-anticipated launch, has been met with both eager adoption and frustration by millions of users globally. On the surface, it offers a modernized interface, enhanced productivity features, and a vision of seamless integration within the broader Microsoft ecosystem. Yet, beneath the shiny veneer, persistent user demands articulate an undercurrent of discontent—a sense that Microsoft’s vision for the operating system occasionally diverges from that of its dedicated power users. The Feedback Hub, Microsoft’s own digital suggestion box, stands as the most democratic barometer of user sentiment. By combing through tens of thousands of user-submitted wishes and frustrations, five missing features rise as the most requested yet unfulfilled promises of Windows 11. Exploring each illuminates not just the features themselves, but the wider story of where modern Windows still falls short for many.
Perhaps the most vocalized omission is the inability to move the Windows 11 taskbar away from the screen’s bottom edge. For decades—spanning back to the earliest days of Windows XP—users took for granted the flexibility to drag the taskbar to the top, left, or right of their display. Power users, coders, and those with ultrawide monitors in particular leveraged this adaptability to fit their workflows. In Windows 11, the taskbar’s position is locked, non-negotiable, and universally bottom-docked.
This has become the most upvoted feature request in the Feedback Hub, with over 24,000 votes and nearly as many impassioned comments. “The move taskbar feature is missing now for years. Why has this not been changed yet?” asks one exasperated user. In previous attempts to quell criticism, Microsoft claimed technical complexities related to their taskbar reengineering were to blame, but these explanations have rarely satisfied the chorus of user voices pleading for a return to pre-Windows 11 flexibility.
Technical analysis by developers points to Microsoft’s complete rewrite of the taskbar using UWP (Universal Windows Platform) and WinUI code, which stripped away legacy behaviors that supported movement. Yet, critics question whether inflexibility is a deliberate design philosophy: prioritizing a unified appearance and simplifying QA testing over edge-case productivity benefits. For now, Microsoft remains opaque, offering no timeline or direct indication that movable taskbars will return.
Currently, Windows 11 only allows users to reduce the number of recommendations, not to remove them entirely. “No, I don’t want to reduce the size, I want to hide it, forever, for good,” laments one Feedback Hub participant. The most recent Insider builds in Microsoft’s test channels have begun to experiment with an option to truly hide recommendations, suggesting that Microsoft is feeling the pressure. However, as of the latest mainstream releases, this change remains elusive for everyday users.
Critics argue the recommendations system is less about user benefit and more about Microsoft’s broader strategy of driving engagement with its ecosystem, be it through cloud files, OneDrive integration, or productivity reminders. As user resistance grows—backed by thousands of votes and hundreds of clarifying suggestions—it becomes clear that a one-size-fits-all approach in core UI design rarely pleases everyone. While the ability to fully disable Start menu recommendations seems plausible in the near future, Microsoft has thus far refrained from making a public commitment.
This design choice is at stark odds with user expectations and longstanding computing norms around default apps. It is also out of step with regulatory trends, as proven by Microsoft’s compliance with European Economic Area (EEA) requirements. In those regions, new Windows 11 installs prompt users to choose a default browser and search engine, offering a taste of genuine choice. But elsewhere, Bing remains the sole option, a situation Microsoft shows little interest in changing.
Third-party utilities like ‘MSEdgeRedirect’ and ‘EdgeDeflector’ have cropped up as workarounds, but these are fragile and occasionally blocked by Microsoft updates. Legal pressure in additional regions may ultimately force Microsoft’s hand, but until then, users who prefer Google, DuckDuckGo, or any non-Bing service must rely on unofficial solutions or accept being shepherded into Microsoft’s data ecosystem.
The anger is tangible. Many users only recently adopted Windows 10 and find themselves on the precipice of Windows 10’s end-of-life, unable to upgrade without costly new hardware. Microsoft’s public-facing rationale centers on security: TPM 2.0 empowers a range of security features, including secure boot, drive encryption, and ransomware protection. Industry insiders and independent security experts largely agree TPM does fortify systems, but critics charge that Microsoft’s safe-by-default approach writes off a sizable segment of the global installed base as unworthy.
Unlike most policy or UI issues, Microsoft’s stance on hardware requirements appears fixed. Company representatives have repeatedly indicated that relaxing minimum specifications would undermine the foundations of Windows 11’s “secured-core” vision. The only official answer for users with unsupported hardware is stark: buy a new PC. This reality is compounded by concerns about the environmental impact of forced hardware turnover and the digital divide that more rigid requirements may fuel. While enthusiast workarounds exist for installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, these risk system stability and forfeit future support. The likely outcome, for now, is a fracturing ecosystem in which millions face loyalty tests: upgrade, remain on a legacy OS, or move off Windows altogether.
User requests focus on two areas. First, the desire for granular “combine” settings, such as allowing combination only when the taskbar is full, or only for certain types of windows. Second, improvements in icon resizing and spacing options, crucial for compact taskbars on high-resolution or ultrawide displays. Power users in particular feel hampered by a lack of control over one of the core navigation elements of the operating system.
To its credit, Microsoft has begun iterating on these requests through Windows Insider builds, but the inconsistencies and occasional regressions that result from ongoing tweaks have led to continued distrust. Seasoned users lament that the once-mature taskbar functionality continues to experience growing pains more than three years after launch.
Start menu performance is snappier than in Windows 10, system-level search is more context-aware, and battery life on supported laptops has improved thanks to better power management. The commitment to a Zero Trust security baseline has tangible benefits for organizations fighting ransomware and phishing attacks. In fast-moving Insider channels, user feedback has directly catalyzed polishing of Snap layouts, drag-and-drop for the taskbar, and (potentially) deeper control over Start menu elements. These areas demonstrate that user agency, while often slower than many desire, is not entirely lost under Microsoft’s stewardship.
There is also a reputational risk. Regulatory scrutiny, especially in the European Union, foreshadows a harsher stance on baked-in defaults and anti-competitive design. The appearance of indifference to widely requested features erodes goodwill and provides oxygen for third-party alternatives—whether rival operating systems or ecosystem add-ons.
For users unable or unwilling to upgrade hardware, the countdown to Windows 10’s end-of-support deadline feels like a forced choice between financial outlay and cybersecurity risk. In the absence of flexibility, some may cling to an unpatched Windows 10, rely on open-source projects for extended support, or be drawn to platforms like Linux, where user control is more sacrosanct. Such drift, even among a minority of enthusiasts, could have cascading impacts on Microsoft’s developer community and app ecosystem.
Four of the five features are theoretically feasible, and user pressure has already prompted movement in Insider builds around Start menu customization and taskbar improvements. But with each unacknowledged or delayed change, Microsoft risks deepening the fissure with its biggest fans. System requirements, the lone fundamental change, is unlikely to see any concession—underscoring an era when security, hardware partnerships, and strategic control appear to take precedence over inclusivity and backward compatibility.
For now, Windows 11 remains a work in progress. Microsoft faces a delicate balancing act: deliver a vision of security and coherence that is future-proof, while also honoring the diversity of workflows, hardware, and philosophies that sustain its enduring user base. Whether the next chapter involves more listening and adaptation, or further retrenchment behind locked-down defaults, will determine much about the fate of personal computing’s most ubiquitous platform. As the Feedback Hub fills with votes and voices, the hope is that Microsoft remembers its fortunes have always been entwined with those of its users, and that the best version of Windows is one shaped by both vision and responsive stewardship.
Source: PCWorld 5 missing Windows 11 features that PC users are begging for
The Anchored Taskbar: A Small Detail, a Major Frustration
Perhaps the most vocalized omission is the inability to move the Windows 11 taskbar away from the screen’s bottom edge. For decades—spanning back to the earliest days of Windows XP—users took for granted the flexibility to drag the taskbar to the top, left, or right of their display. Power users, coders, and those with ultrawide monitors in particular leveraged this adaptability to fit their workflows. In Windows 11, the taskbar’s position is locked, non-negotiable, and universally bottom-docked.This has become the most upvoted feature request in the Feedback Hub, with over 24,000 votes and nearly as many impassioned comments. “The move taskbar feature is missing now for years. Why has this not been changed yet?” asks one exasperated user. In previous attempts to quell criticism, Microsoft claimed technical complexities related to their taskbar reengineering were to blame, but these explanations have rarely satisfied the chorus of user voices pleading for a return to pre-Windows 11 flexibility.
Technical analysis by developers points to Microsoft’s complete rewrite of the taskbar using UWP (Universal Windows Platform) and WinUI code, which stripped away legacy behaviors that supported movement. Yet, critics question whether inflexibility is a deliberate design philosophy: prioritizing a unified appearance and simplifying QA testing over edge-case productivity benefits. For now, Microsoft remains opaque, offering no timeline or direct indication that movable taskbars will return.
Start Menu Recommendations: The Battle for User Attention
The Start menu has always been a sacred space for launching apps and accessing files. In Windows 11, Microsoft infused it with “recommendations”—algorithmically suggested files and recently used documents—prominently occupying real estate beneath the app grid. For privacy-focused users, minimalists, and those who simply prefer a clean look, these recommendations feel more invasive than helpful.Currently, Windows 11 only allows users to reduce the number of recommendations, not to remove them entirely. “No, I don’t want to reduce the size, I want to hide it, forever, for good,” laments one Feedback Hub participant. The most recent Insider builds in Microsoft’s test channels have begun to experiment with an option to truly hide recommendations, suggesting that Microsoft is feeling the pressure. However, as of the latest mainstream releases, this change remains elusive for everyday users.
Critics argue the recommendations system is less about user benefit and more about Microsoft’s broader strategy of driving engagement with its ecosystem, be it through cloud files, OneDrive integration, or productivity reminders. As user resistance grows—backed by thousands of votes and hundreds of clarifying suggestions—it becomes clear that a one-size-fits-all approach in core UI design rarely pleases everyone. While the ability to fully disable Start menu recommendations seems plausible in the near future, Microsoft has thus far refrained from making a public commitment.
The Bing Dilemma: Choice vs. Ecosystem Lock-In
Search remains a cornerstone of the desktop experience, and yet in Windows 11, every search conducted from the Start menu is forced through Microsoft’s Bing search engine—while results open in the company’s Edge browser. For users in the United States and elsewhere, there is simply no supported way to alter this behavior from system settings. In practical terms, this means that even if a user sets their default browser to Chrome, Firefox, or any other option, Windows 11 will ignore that preference when surfacing web results from desktop search.This design choice is at stark odds with user expectations and longstanding computing norms around default apps. It is also out of step with regulatory trends, as proven by Microsoft’s compliance with European Economic Area (EEA) requirements. In those regions, new Windows 11 installs prompt users to choose a default browser and search engine, offering a taste of genuine choice. But elsewhere, Bing remains the sole option, a situation Microsoft shows little interest in changing.
Third-party utilities like ‘MSEdgeRedirect’ and ‘EdgeDeflector’ have cropped up as workarounds, but these are fragile and occasionally blocked by Microsoft updates. Legal pressure in additional regions may ultimately force Microsoft’s hand, but until then, users who prefer Google, DuckDuckGo, or any non-Bing service must rely on unofficial solutions or accept being shepherded into Microsoft’s data ecosystem.
High Barriers: System Requirements Preventing Upgrades
Of all the complaints circulating within the Feedback Hub, none carries more daily impact than Windows 11’s steep hardware requirements. Most notably, Windows 11 demands a compatible CPU and enforced hardware security via TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module). This has the practical effect of locking millions of otherwise functional, relatively modern computers—including scores of business, education, and personal devices—out of the Windows 11 upgrade path.The anger is tangible. Many users only recently adopted Windows 10 and find themselves on the precipice of Windows 10’s end-of-life, unable to upgrade without costly new hardware. Microsoft’s public-facing rationale centers on security: TPM 2.0 empowers a range of security features, including secure boot, drive encryption, and ransomware protection. Industry insiders and independent security experts largely agree TPM does fortify systems, but critics charge that Microsoft’s safe-by-default approach writes off a sizable segment of the global installed base as unworthy.
Unlike most policy or UI issues, Microsoft’s stance on hardware requirements appears fixed. Company representatives have repeatedly indicated that relaxing minimum specifications would undermine the foundations of Windows 11’s “secured-core” vision. The only official answer for users with unsupported hardware is stark: buy a new PC. This reality is compounded by concerns about the environmental impact of forced hardware turnover and the digital divide that more rigid requirements may fuel. While enthusiast workarounds exist for installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, these risk system stability and forfeit future support. The likely outcome, for now, is a fracturing ecosystem in which millions face loyalty tests: upgrade, remain on a legacy OS, or move off Windows altogether.
Taskbar Icon Behavior: Customization Still Lacking
Taskbar experience is a linchpin of personal productivity on Windows. While Windows 11 marks the return of a long-missed “never combine” option—letting users see every open window as a separate taskbar button—it arrives with caveats. Feedback reveals frustration with “quirks” in the implementation: grouping and ungrouping doesn’t always behave as it did in Windows 7 or 10, pinned and unpinned apps can act inconsistently, and limited drag-and-drop support leaves window management feeling awkward.User requests focus on two areas. First, the desire for granular “combine” settings, such as allowing combination only when the taskbar is full, or only for certain types of windows. Second, improvements in icon resizing and spacing options, crucial for compact taskbars on high-resolution or ultrawide displays. Power users in particular feel hampered by a lack of control over one of the core navigation elements of the operating system.
To its credit, Microsoft has begun iterating on these requests through Windows Insider builds, but the inconsistencies and occasional regressions that result from ongoing tweaks have led to continued distrust. Seasoned users lament that the once-mature taskbar functionality continues to experience growing pains more than three years after launch.
Strengths and Progress: Where Microsoft’s Approach Delivers
For all the discontent, Windows 11’s evolution has not been without merit. Since launch, the OS has become markedly more polished, reliable, and visually coherent. Microsoft’s ongoing cadence of “Moment” updates and Insider previews shows some willingness to act on community feedback, even if change happens at a glacial pace. Accessibility features, integration with cloud services, and system-wide security enhancements are lauded—particularly by enterprise buyers.Start menu performance is snappier than in Windows 10, system-level search is more context-aware, and battery life on supported laptops has improved thanks to better power management. The commitment to a Zero Trust security baseline has tangible benefits for organizations fighting ransomware and phishing attacks. In fast-moving Insider channels, user feedback has directly catalyzed polishing of Snap layouts, drag-and-drop for the taskbar, and (potentially) deeper control over Start menu elements. These areas demonstrate that user agency, while often slower than many desire, is not entirely lost under Microsoft’s stewardship.
Risks of User Disenchantment and the Fragmented Future
Still, frustration with Windows 11’s missing features is more than just noise—it signals real risks to Microsoft’s long-term desktop supremacy. By anchoring the taskbar, enforcing strict requirements, and walling off search customization, Microsoft risks losing the trust and engagement of its most loyal, tech-savvy fans. Such users historically serve as influencers, IT decision-makers, and evangelists within broader organizations and homes.There is also a reputational risk. Regulatory scrutiny, especially in the European Union, foreshadows a harsher stance on baked-in defaults and anti-competitive design. The appearance of indifference to widely requested features erodes goodwill and provides oxygen for third-party alternatives—whether rival operating systems or ecosystem add-ons.
For users unable or unwilling to upgrade hardware, the countdown to Windows 10’s end-of-support deadline feels like a forced choice between financial outlay and cybersecurity risk. In the absence of flexibility, some may cling to an unpatched Windows 10, rely on open-source projects for extended support, or be drawn to platforms like Linux, where user control is more sacrosanct. Such drift, even among a minority of enthusiasts, could have cascading impacts on Microsoft’s developer community and app ecosystem.
Will Microsoft Listen? The Uncertain Path Ahead
The five most wanted missing features in Windows 11—movable taskbars, true opt-out of Start menu recommendations, non-Bing web search, relaxed upgrade requirements, and customizable taskbar icons—represent more than nitpicks. They are the clearest articulations of where power users diverge from Microsoft’s design and business imperatives.Four of the five features are theoretically feasible, and user pressure has already prompted movement in Insider builds around Start menu customization and taskbar improvements. But with each unacknowledged or delayed change, Microsoft risks deepening the fissure with its biggest fans. System requirements, the lone fundamental change, is unlikely to see any concession—underscoring an era when security, hardware partnerships, and strategic control appear to take precedence over inclusivity and backward compatibility.
For now, Windows 11 remains a work in progress. Microsoft faces a delicate balancing act: deliver a vision of security and coherence that is future-proof, while also honoring the diversity of workflows, hardware, and philosophies that sustain its enduring user base. Whether the next chapter involves more listening and adaptation, or further retrenchment behind locked-down defaults, will determine much about the fate of personal computing’s most ubiquitous platform. As the Feedback Hub fills with votes and voices, the hope is that Microsoft remembers its fortunes have always been entwined with those of its users, and that the best version of Windows is one shaped by both vision and responsive stewardship.
Source: PCWorld 5 missing Windows 11 features that PC users are begging for
