It’s been over three years since Microsoft unveiled Windows 11, and while some notable improvements have arrived since its launch, the operating system still seems to carry around a bag of puzzles and peculiarities. Sure, we now have functions like seconds on the taskbar clock, Task Manager at our fingertips directly from the taskbar, and the long-awaited return of the “never combine taskbar labels” feature. But for every winner, there’s a glaring misstep or lingering pain point that persists across updates. Today, let’s dive deeper into what’s holding Windows 11 back for users, enthusiasts, and grumpily resigned power users alike.
One of the most baffling changes in Windows 11 was the decision to lock down the taskbar’s position and behavior. Remember the good ol’ days when you could slap the taskbar on the top, sides, or resize it with the flexibility of a yoga expert? That’s gone. Now, all you can do is align icons to the left while the taskbar stays pinned at the bottom of your screen.
For many, this sacrifices usability and customization. Vertical taskbars or top-aligned ones were life-savers for multi-monitor setups and personal preferences. Solutions like Windhawk and Start11 have stepped in to renew this flexibility for users, but should unofficial apps really be doing the heavy lifting here? Microsoft might see keeping the taskbar static as a way to streamline or modernize the UI, but instead, it has left users longing for the days of Windows 10’s taskbar freedom.
While customizations tools like Windhawk mods can help tweak the Start menu for a more user-friendly setup, this feels like a battle that shouldn’t need fighting. Microsoft’s insistence on keeping this feature—and its stubborn space-wasting design—feels half-baked. Why not give users the option to reintegrate their full list of installed apps or enable users to fine-tune the Start menu layout?
It’s a textbook example of good intentions marred by incomplete design. While manually created tabs still serve their purpose, the feature feels unintuitive and hampers the seamless functionality Microsoft likely envisioned. There’s no overriding reason why this shouldn’t work better—after all, browsers have nailed this down for years. It’s high time Microsoft delivered an experience that just makes sense.
The issue is compounded further by updates that occasionally dredge up the same intrusive prompts yet again. And that pesky OneDrive default behavior—automating folder backups whether you like it or not—feels like a direct assault on user choice. We get it, Microsoft, you believe in OneDrive. But let users configure their machines without greasing the gears of your ecosystem.
The glaring lack of cohesion in dark mode implementation is both an aesthetic and usability oversight. If third-party apps like StartAllBack can enforce consistent dark mode styling across File Explorer and its dialogs, why does Microsoft fall short? A polished OS deserves a polished theme, without jarring visual interruptions.
Windows 11’s aesthetic introduces rounded corners, a minimalist touch, and a coherent design philosophy that feels betrayed every time a classic dialog box rears its head. Consistency across the UI is key to delivering a pleasant experience, and so far, Microsoft hasn’t done enough to unify its heritage with its modern ambitions.
The core problem? Desktop behavior and interfaces do not translate to portable consoles. Manufacturers are left to pick up the slack, creating their own launchers and UI layers to mask Windows’ inadequacies for gaming handhelds. With competition like SteamOS gaining traction on third-party handhelds, the clock is ticking for Microsoft to take this market seriously.
Here’s hoping Microsoft can find balance—addressing long-standing issues from taskbar immobility to dark mode inconsistencies while innovating elsewhere. Until then, third-party tools like Windhawk, Start11, or StartAllBack will remain users' best lifelines for fixing what Microsoft hasn’t.
Let’s hear it, WindowsForum! What’s the most irksome design flaw in Windows 11 you’ve come across? Is Microsoft focusing on the wrong problems? Share your thoughts below!
Source: XDA https://www.xda-developers.com/design-flaws-windows-11-microsoft-still-hasnt-fixed/
1. The Locked Taskbar: Why Can’t We Move You?
One of the most baffling changes in Windows 11 was the decision to lock down the taskbar’s position and behavior. Remember the good ol’ days when you could slap the taskbar on the top, sides, or resize it with the flexibility of a yoga expert? That’s gone. Now, all you can do is align icons to the left while the taskbar stays pinned at the bottom of your screen.For many, this sacrifices usability and customization. Vertical taskbars or top-aligned ones were life-savers for multi-monitor setups and personal preferences. Solutions like Windhawk and Start11 have stepped in to renew this flexibility for users, but should unofficial apps really be doing the heavy lifting here? Microsoft might see keeping the taskbar static as a way to streamline or modernize the UI, but instead, it has left users longing for the days of Windows 10’s taskbar freedom.
2. The Recommended Section in the Start Menu: Who Asked for This?
The Start menu is everyone's go-to for quick navigation, but in Windows 11, part of it gets hijacked by the “Recommended” section—unasked-for and, sadly, unremovable. This portion displays your recently used files, suggested apps, and, on occasion, outright advertisements. Disabling recommendations merely leaves you staring at a shell of wasted space that could better showcase pinned apps or offer a clean look.While customizations tools like Windhawk mods can help tweak the Start menu for a more user-friendly setup, this feels like a battle that shouldn’t need fighting. Microsoft’s insistence on keeping this feature—and its stubborn space-wasting design—feels half-baked. Why not give users the option to reintegrate their full list of installed apps or enable users to fine-tune the Start menu layout?
3. File Explorer Tabs: Why Aren’t They Smart?
When Microsoft rolled out File Explorer tabs with the 22H2 update, it sounded like the dream of more efficient file management had finally come true. But unfortunately, the execution was more like waking up to realize you’re still dreaming. Tabs in File Explorer don’t act like tabs in modern web browsers. For instance, opening a folder from an external UI—whether it's Windows Search or a desktop shortcut—still spawns a new window instead of integrating with your active File Explorer session.It’s a textbook example of good intentions marred by incomplete design. While manually created tabs still serve their purpose, the feature feels unintuitive and hampers the seamless functionality Microsoft likely envisioned. There’s no overriding reason why this shouldn’t work better—after all, browsers have nailed this down for years. It’s high time Microsoft delivered an experience that just makes sense.
4. Stop Nagging Me: Microsoft's Persistent Recommendations
Windows 11’s attempts to "nudge" users toward Microsoft services like OneDrive backups, Game Pass, and even Microsoft 365 fall somewhere between promotional and downright annoying. The initial setup of Windows 11 bombards users with “helpful” suggestions that often serve more as ads. Here's where it gets under your skin: skipping these steps doesn’t make them disappear. Oh no, they’ll come back in what Microsoft calls a “Second-chance out-of-box experience” (or, what we call “advertising deja vu”).The issue is compounded further by updates that occasionally dredge up the same intrusive prompts yet again. And that pesky OneDrive default behavior—automating folder backups whether you like it or not—feels like a direct assault on user choice. We get it, Microsoft, you believe in OneDrive. But let users configure their machines without greasing the gears of your ecosystem.
5. Dark Mode: A Tale of Fragmentation
Ah, dark mode. Introduced with fanfare back in Windows 10 during 2015, it was supposed to be easier on your eyes and modernize user experience. Cue our disappointment when it became—and still remains—inconsistent. In Windows 11, dark mode appears on some UI elements while others stubbornly cling to their light backgrounds from yesteryear. Ever opened the Control Panel or a legacy File Properties dialog box? Yeah, they have not joined the dark side.The glaring lack of cohesion in dark mode implementation is both an aesthetic and usability oversight. If third-party apps like StartAllBack can enforce consistent dark mode styling across File Explorer and its dialogs, why does Microsoft fall short? A polished OS deserves a polished theme, without jarring visual interruptions.
6. Old Menus Refuse to Retire
Speaking of jarring, Windows 11 inherits a ton of legacy UI quirks that make even seasoned users pause. The Control Panel, Disk Management, and Device Manager barely differ from what you’d remember in Windows 7, if not earlier. While elements like the Task Manager have seen attempts at modernization, their underlying components still betray roots in outdated design language.Windows 11’s aesthetic introduces rounded corners, a minimalist touch, and a coherent design philosophy that feels betrayed every time a classic dialog box rears its head. Consistency across the UI is key to delivering a pleasant experience, and so far, Microsoft hasn’t done enough to unify its heritage with its modern ambitions.
7. Windows Just Doesn’t Get Gaming Handhelds
The world of PC gaming has turned portable, fueled by devices like Valve's Steam Deck and competitors running on Windows. Yet, Microsoft seems to lag behind when addressing the obvious—Windows’ UI simply doesn’t work well on small, gaming-oriented handhelds. While Xbox Game Pass is accessible and keyboard tweaks for controllers are in progress, Windows struggles to provide a unified, user-friendly experience for these form factors.The core problem? Desktop behavior and interfaces do not translate to portable consoles. Manufacturers are left to pick up the slack, creating their own launchers and UI layers to mask Windows’ inadequacies for gaming handhelds. With competition like SteamOS gaining traction on third-party handhelds, the clock is ticking for Microsoft to take this market seriously.
Conclusion: Where Are Microsoft’s Priorities?
Windows 11 isn’t a failure—it’s full of promise and undeniable improvements over its predecessor. But it’s hard to ignore the nagging flaws that persist across every update, leaving users scratching their heads in frustration. Features like Copilot AI, nifty though they are, suggest that Microsoft is fixated on headline innovations at the cost of remedying everyday grievances.Here’s hoping Microsoft can find balance—addressing long-standing issues from taskbar immobility to dark mode inconsistencies while innovating elsewhere. Until then, third-party tools like Windhawk, Start11, or StartAllBack will remain users' best lifelines for fixing what Microsoft hasn’t.
Let’s hear it, WindowsForum! What’s the most irksome design flaw in Windows 11 you’ve come across? Is Microsoft focusing on the wrong problems? Share your thoughts below!
Source: XDA https://www.xda-developers.com/design-flaws-windows-11-microsoft-still-hasnt-fixed/
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