Windows 11, despite being positioned as Microsoft's vision for the future of personal computing, has been met with both praise and frustration from its millions of daily users. For those who spend their working lives toggling between Windows and macOS—or who simply have decades of muscle memory formed by earlier versions of Windows—the latest operating system’s design choices can feel simultaneously familiar and vexingly foreign. This article explores in detail the most commonly criticized aspects of Windows 11’s user experience, analyzing what works, what fails, and where Microsoft could be paying more attention to the needs of its diverse user base.
One of Windows 11’s headline additions is the Widgets panel—a sprawling, dynamic feed of news, weather, calendar events, and more. On paper, this sounds like a productivity enhancer. In practice, for many, it’s anything but.
Hovering over the left part of the taskbar frequently unearths the entire Widgets panel, sprawling across the display and disrupting the workflow. The volume of real estate it commandeers is noticeable; it often obscures what you're working on and doesn’t always retreat with the quickness users would hope. While the panel is somewhat customizable—you can add interests via the Microsoft Edge “My Interests” page and tweak which widgets appear—the reality is more complex. The out-of-the-box experience delivers a stack of MSN news headlines, weather cards, sports scores, and more in a presentation that feels more like a noisy homepage than a focused work tool.
Power users argue that the panel is “begging you to change it” but fails to make that process seamless. Moreover, positioning the panel on the left edge of the taskbar—where the Start button historically lived—leads to accidental activations. Moving the Widgets panel placement isn’t possible without moving the entire taskbar, and the size cannot be adjusted.
Is it possible that Microsoft overestimated the desire for “at-a-glance” information in such an obtrusive manner? MacOS, for instance, has long offered widgets in a collapsible side panel that never dominates the screen. By contrast, Windows 11’s approach feels less integrated, more promotional, and ultimately at odds with the productivity claims it’s meant to further.
Users accessing Task Manager (CTRL + SHIFT + ESC) are now met with a more modern interface, but also a confusing array of tabs, icons, and potentially overwhelming options. Efficiency Mode, designed to curb resource hogs, is hidden away behind context menus rather than front and center. Critics note there’s little explanation of what various processes or features do. Unlike Apple’s Activity Monitor, which provides helpful tooltips and manages to look inviting even to non-experts, Windows’ Task Manager still exudes a “use at your own risk” vibe.
Moreover, for all the keyboard shortcuts Windows 11 touts, there’s no quick toggle for Efficiency Mode. Instead, the user must right-click individual processes and read through dense menus. Missteps here can kill the wrong process, potentially causing data loss.
Unlike macOS, which lets you change the default app for a file type globally, Windows 11 demands you manually set your preferred app for each and every file type. A user wanting Photoshop to handle .jpeg, .png, and .tiff files can’t just “set as default” in one fell swoop; they must click through each extension individually, a process that rapidly becomes tedious. If your default app preference changes months later, there’s no shortcut for mass reconfiguration—you’ll need to repeat the process again.
Web browser defaults provoke another level of annoyance. Even after setting a new browser as default, Edge continues to prompt to reclaim that position whenever it is reopened, pitting Windows’ built-in software against user choice.
Microsoft was fined in the EU in past years for similar tactics around browser defaults, yet the company continues to nudge users towards Edge in ways that feel heavy-handed. Consumer advocacy groups, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, have called out Microsoft for subverting user agency.
Where once toggling Wi-Fi or Bluetooth surfaced a clear, obvious list of options, now a single tap on the Wi-Fi icon simply toggles it off. Accessing available wireless networks requires a second click on the adjacent arrow—an unintuitive paradigm for those accustomed to seeing available networks immediately. For touch users, the experience is even clumsier, as tap targets can be small and the interaction sequence non-obvious.
Other quick settings—like Night Light—are pinned by default, even if unused, crowding out options that heavy users may prefer. Customization is possible but hidden within additional menus. The multiplication of sub-menus and steps undermines any claims of a more streamlined, accessible operating system.
Despite being lauded for the move away from Windows 8’s full-screen Live Tiles, the Windows 11 Start Menu is not as customizable as enthusiasts hoped. Surprisingly, core apps like Settings are not pinned by default—leaving many users to hunt for them or dig through the all apps list. Rearranging icons should be a simple drag-and-drop affair, but only partially fulfills that promise. “Move to Front” is intended to re-order items, but doesn’t always place them where users intend.
Folders for app icons do exist, but creating them takes multiple steps. More advanced customizations, such as changing the Menu’s overall layout or density, require a trip out of the Start Menu to the Settings app—an unnecessary detour, given the function’s central role.
Given how often users reflexively click the Start button, its inefficiencies compound quickly.
Linux distributions like Ubuntu and Fedora provide even more direct customization, often surfacing power tools while keeping basic interactions simple. That Windows 11 lands somewhere in the middle—neither as flexible as Linux nor as elegant as macOS—cements its status as a “compromise” OS for many.
Microsoft has acknowledged some feedback, iterating on the Start Menu and adding more setting options in updates, but major overhauls have yet to appear. For many, Windows 11’s feature design feels as if it was optimized for new devices rather than for the habits of the enormous installed base conditioned by decades of previous Windows iterations.
However, the constant nudges toward Microsoft services (e.g., Edge browser prompts, persistent login requests for Microsoft accounts) raise legitimate privacy concerns and are often interpreted as overreach by privacy advocates. The tension between convenience, customization, and user privacy continues to be a balancing act for Microsoft. Unbundling or providing true opt-outs for bundled services would be a welcome user rights upgrade.
Microsoft faces an opportunity here: listen intently to user feedback and act on it. Most of the issues with Windows 11’s usability aren’t new; they date back to the initial beta releases and have been repeatedly flagged by the community. Streamlining workflow, enhancing discoverability, and providing intelligent defaults do not fundamentally conflict with the drive toward innovation and security.
Yet, beneath these layers lies an operating system still characterized by immense flexibility, a thriving ecosystem, and the promise of ongoing refinement. Should Microsoft take community feedback more seriously and apply best-in-class principles from across the tech industry, Windows can remain the platform of choice for a new generation—one unburdened by the “banes” described here.
In summary, Windows 11 is as much a cautionary tale as a technical achievement. For every bold new idea, there is a usability challenge waiting to be solved. The path to a more harmonious Windows experience runs through the users themselves—those who know, perhaps better than anyone, what makes for productive, enjoyable computing day in and day out.
Source: Pocket-lint These awful Windows 11 features are the bane of my existence
One of Windows 11’s headline additions is the Widgets panel—a sprawling, dynamic feed of news, weather, calendar events, and more. On paper, this sounds like a productivity enhancer. In practice, for many, it’s anything but.Hovering over the left part of the taskbar frequently unearths the entire Widgets panel, sprawling across the display and disrupting the workflow. The volume of real estate it commandeers is noticeable; it often obscures what you're working on and doesn’t always retreat with the quickness users would hope. While the panel is somewhat customizable—you can add interests via the Microsoft Edge “My Interests” page and tweak which widgets appear—the reality is more complex. The out-of-the-box experience delivers a stack of MSN news headlines, weather cards, sports scores, and more in a presentation that feels more like a noisy homepage than a focused work tool.
Power users argue that the panel is “begging you to change it” but fails to make that process seamless. Moreover, positioning the panel on the left edge of the taskbar—where the Start button historically lived—leads to accidental activations. Moving the Widgets panel placement isn’t possible without moving the entire taskbar, and the size cannot be adjusted.
Is it possible that Microsoft overestimated the desire for “at-a-glance” information in such an obtrusive manner? MacOS, for instance, has long offered widgets in a collapsible side panel that never dominates the screen. By contrast, Windows 11’s approach feels less integrated, more promotional, and ultimately at odds with the productivity claims it’s meant to further.
Critical Analysis: Are Widgets Worth the Hassle?
- Strengths: Customization is available for those willing to invest the time; includes timely, aggregated information.
- Risks: Obstructive design, increased cognitive load, unclear value proposition for professionals. May confuse users transitioning from earlier versions.
- Opportunities: Allow finer-grained control over positioning and scale of the panel; enable quick toggling or gestures for faster dismissal.
The Task Manager: Power User’s Tool, Cluttered Interface
Task Manager has always been a Swiss Army knife for diagnosing misbehaving processes, managing startup apps, and monitoring system resource usage. For years, it remained functionally familiar—easy to invoke and easy to browse. Windows 11, however, has given the tool a new coat of paint and some controversial navigation changes.Users accessing Task Manager (CTRL + SHIFT + ESC) are now met with a more modern interface, but also a confusing array of tabs, icons, and potentially overwhelming options. Efficiency Mode, designed to curb resource hogs, is hidden away behind context menus rather than front and center. Critics note there’s little explanation of what various processes or features do. Unlike Apple’s Activity Monitor, which provides helpful tooltips and manages to look inviting even to non-experts, Windows’ Task Manager still exudes a “use at your own risk” vibe.
Moreover, for all the keyboard shortcuts Windows 11 touts, there’s no quick toggle for Efficiency Mode. Instead, the user must right-click individual processes and read through dense menus. Missteps here can kill the wrong process, potentially causing data loss.
Critical Analysis: Task Manager’s Confusing Evolution
- Strengths: Rich feature set, now includes modern visuals and dark mode support. Still powerful for advanced users.
- Risks: Lacks user guidance, with the potential for novice mistakes. Features like Efficiency Mode are buried.
- Opportunities: Add more contextual help for each column or process; surface essential features for less technical audiences.
Assigning Default Applications: A Needlessly Complex Chore
One area where Windows 11’s user-centric claims quickly dissipate is in the assignment of default apps. Want Photoshop to always open JPEGs or PDFs to always open in Foxit instead of Edge? Be prepared to spend some time.Unlike macOS, which lets you change the default app for a file type globally, Windows 11 demands you manually set your preferred app for each and every file type. A user wanting Photoshop to handle .jpeg, .png, and .tiff files can’t just “set as default” in one fell swoop; they must click through each extension individually, a process that rapidly becomes tedious. If your default app preference changes months later, there’s no shortcut for mass reconfiguration—you’ll need to repeat the process again.
Web browser defaults provoke another level of annoyance. Even after setting a new browser as default, Edge continues to prompt to reclaim that position whenever it is reopened, pitting Windows’ built-in software against user choice.
Microsoft was fined in the EU in past years for similar tactics around browser defaults, yet the company continues to nudge users towards Edge in ways that feel heavy-handed. Consumer advocacy groups, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, have called out Microsoft for subverting user agency.
Critical Analysis: Default App Woes
- Strengths: Fine control for those who want it.
- Risks: Erosion of user trust. Friction in basic tasks. Perception of anti-competitive behavior.
- Opportunities: Provide an “apply to all compatible file types” option; honor user default selections consistently across updates and Edge prompts.
Quick Settings and Contextual Menus: Streamlining or Layering Complexity?
Windows 10’s Action Center was lauded for its centralization of notifications and quick actions. With its dissolution, Windows 11 introduces a new approach, splitting quick settings menus from notifications and creating further interface layers.Where once toggling Wi-Fi or Bluetooth surfaced a clear, obvious list of options, now a single tap on the Wi-Fi icon simply toggles it off. Accessing available wireless networks requires a second click on the adjacent arrow—an unintuitive paradigm for those accustomed to seeing available networks immediately. For touch users, the experience is even clumsier, as tap targets can be small and the interaction sequence non-obvious.
Other quick settings—like Night Light—are pinned by default, even if unused, crowding out options that heavy users may prefer. Customization is possible but hidden within additional menus. The multiplication of sub-menus and steps undermines any claims of a more streamlined, accessible operating system.
Critical Analysis: Menu Mayhem in Quick Settings
- Strengths: Expanded customizability allows some users to shape the interface to their needs.
- Risks: More steps to accomplish everyday actions. Frustration for both desktop and touch users. Loss of clarity in notification triaging, a backward step in user efficiency.
- Opportunities: Offer preset menu layouts; allow for easier rearrangement of quick settings; return to the immediacy of the Action Center model.
Start Menu Customization: Pinned, but Not Perfect
The Windows Start Menu is perhaps the OS’s most iconic element. It’s also the area where Microsoft’s design ambitions and user expectations remain most misaligned.Despite being lauded for the move away from Windows 8’s full-screen Live Tiles, the Windows 11 Start Menu is not as customizable as enthusiasts hoped. Surprisingly, core apps like Settings are not pinned by default—leaving many users to hunt for them or dig through the all apps list. Rearranging icons should be a simple drag-and-drop affair, but only partially fulfills that promise. “Move to Front” is intended to re-order items, but doesn’t always place them where users intend.
Folders for app icons do exist, but creating them takes multiple steps. More advanced customizations, such as changing the Menu’s overall layout or density, require a trip out of the Start Menu to the Settings app—an unnecessary detour, given the function’s central role.
Given how often users reflexively click the Start button, its inefficiencies compound quickly.
Critical Analysis: A Start Menu in Need of a Fresh Start
- Strengths: Visual cleanliness, logical grouping, some folder support.
- Risks: Frustration and lost productivity from missing, hidden, or inconvenient app placements. Increased onboarding time for power users.
- Opportunities: Expand in-place customization. Make Settings and other critical apps always accessible by default. Let users configure Menu layouts directly within the Menu.
Comparing Windows 11’s Approach: A Tale of Two (Or More) Operating Systems
For those familiar with macOS, the differences in approach are stark. Apple’s System Preferences are mostly accessible from the Apple Menu. Default app configuration, while not always perfect, is generally more centralized. Task Manager’s direct analog, Activity Monitor, provides user-friendly guidance. And widgets are sequestered to the right side of the display, never intrusive.Linux distributions like Ubuntu and Fedora provide even more direct customization, often surfacing power tools while keeping basic interactions simple. That Windows 11 lands somewhere in the middle—neither as flexible as Linux nor as elegant as macOS—cements its status as a “compromise” OS for many.
Usability Benchmarks and User Feedback
Surveys by outlets such as Windows Central and PCWorld consistently note that Windows 11’s UI changes have not led to major productivity gains for the majority of users. Forums are replete with threads requesting easier ways to revert to Windows 10 behaviors: “Let us group and ungroup taskbar items the way we want,” “Stop moving things that didn’t need moving,” and “Make default app switching one click.”Microsoft has acknowledged some feedback, iterating on the Start Menu and adding more setting options in updates, but major overhauls have yet to appear. For many, Windows 11’s feature design feels as if it was optimized for new devices rather than for the habits of the enormous installed base conditioned by decades of previous Windows iterations.
Security and Privacy: Areas of Undeniable Progress, but Trade-Offs Remain
It’s important to note that some under-the-hood changes in Windows 11—such as mandatory hardware security features, improved sandboxing, and better update hygiene—are genuine upgrades over Windows 10 and competing operating systems. These advancements help reinforce Windows’ suitability for business and secure enterprise environments.However, the constant nudges toward Microsoft services (e.g., Edge browser prompts, persistent login requests for Microsoft accounts) raise legitimate privacy concerns and are often interpreted as overreach by privacy advocates. The tension between convenience, customization, and user privacy continues to be a balancing act for Microsoft. Unbundling or providing true opt-outs for bundled services would be a welcome user rights upgrade.
The Case for User-Centric Design in Windows’ Future
The criticisms of Windows 11 outlined above do not solely represent the voice of a vocal minority. Rather, they reflect the reality that millions of users—be they IT professionals, casual consumers, or power users—find themselves slowed down by interface choices and workflow impediments that need not exist.Microsoft faces an opportunity here: listen intently to user feedback and act on it. Most of the issues with Windows 11’s usability aren’t new; they date back to the initial beta releases and have been repeatedly flagged by the community. Streamlining workflow, enhancing discoverability, and providing intelligent defaults do not fundamentally conflict with the drive toward innovation and security.
What’s Next? A Wishlist for the Next Windows Update
As Windows 12 rumors swirl and Insider Preview builds percolate, here’s what seasoned users are hoping for:- A truly customizable Start Menu with instant pin, grouping, and moving functionality.
- One-click default app reassignment, and respect for user choice in browser and other defaults.
- Resizable, repositionable Widgets panel—or an option to remove it entirely.
- A Quick Settings panel that returns essential networking tasks to one touch or click.
- Contextual help inside Task Manager and everywhere advanced features are introduced.
- Sensible, user-selected opt-outs for bundled Microsoft services and recommendations.
Verdict: Compelling, Yet Conflicted
Windows 11’s most frustrating features remind us that Microsoft’s design journey remains ongoing. While the OS achieves plenty—security improvements, attractive visuals, better touchscreen support—the trade-offs in some user-facing areas are hard to ignore. The Widgets panel, convoluted default app settings, layered menus, and Start Menu frustrations collectively sap productivity and challenge user agency.Yet, beneath these layers lies an operating system still characterized by immense flexibility, a thriving ecosystem, and the promise of ongoing refinement. Should Microsoft take community feedback more seriously and apply best-in-class principles from across the tech industry, Windows can remain the platform of choice for a new generation—one unburdened by the “banes” described here.
In summary, Windows 11 is as much a cautionary tale as a technical achievement. For every bold new idea, there is a usability challenge waiting to be solved. The path to a more harmonious Windows experience runs through the users themselves—those who know, perhaps better than anyone, what makes for productive, enjoyable computing day in and day out.
Source: Pocket-lint These awful Windows 11 features are the bane of my existence