Few operating systems ignite as much debate, passion, and, admittedly, frustration as Windows does with each new iteration—and Windows 11 is no exception. Launched amid great fanfare and promising a sleeker, faster, and more integrated experience, Windows 11 has earned praise for its modern visuals, performance optimizations, and improved utility. Yet, ask any long-time fan what bugs them about Microsoft’s latest OS and you’re bound to hear a litany of gripes about features that, in their eyes, simply shouldn’t exist. Some are annoyances, others are workflow disruptors, and a handful even hint at a deeper agenda: making Windows 11 less about being an open, user-first system and more about cementing users in Microsoft’s ecosystem.
Behind the shiny new Task Manager, improved phone integration, and tabs for File Explorer is a collection of design and functionality choices that—depending on your perspective—either reflect a necessary evolution for modern computing or a step backward in user autonomy. Let’s peel back the layers, spotlight what these unwanted features are, and explore how to wrestle back control—while offering critical insight into where Microsoft might have missed the mark.
Proponents argue that a centered Start menu mirrors mobile OS layouts, hinting at a unified vision across platforms. But for desktop users, this shift feels unnecessary, especially since productivity often hinges on habit. Fortunately, Microsoft allows users to restore the Start menu to its original left-aligned spot through a simple settings change (Settings > System > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors). This is a rare example of Microsoft offering both the new vision and the old comforts, though one’s left wondering why such a fundamental piece of the interface was ever shifted by default.
The inclusion of a taskbar search box is divisive. For those who crave minimalist workspaces, it’s an unwelcome occupation of valuable onscreen real estate. Disabling it is thankfully straightforward, but the feature’s default presence suggests a design philosophy aimed less at serving users’ needs and more at pushing certain engagement flows, perhaps nudging people toward Bing and Edge. As with many other aspects of Windows 11, the ability to remove this feature is welcome, but one is left questioning why it couldn’t be opt-in to begin with.
Worse still, the content is not purely informational. Ads and sponsored snippets make a regular appearance, blurring the line between convenience and unwanted distraction. The Widgets board’s easy activation—hovering the pointer often suffices—compounds the irritation, rendering the user ever more susceptible to fleeting interruptions.
It’s possible to disable the widget entirely via settings. Yet, examining the placement and nature of the Widgets board, a more critical view emerges: this feature walks a fine line between being a modest productivity boon and functioning as Microsoft’s own advertising billboard.
For those who relied on alternate taskbar placements—particularly multi-monitor users or those with accessibility needs—this represents a stark reduction in control. To restore such functionality, users are nudged toward third-party tools like Stardock's Start11, or fiddling with registry hacks, both of which require a level of technical comfort that average users may lack. The move hints at a future where deeper customization is either gated behind paid apps or, worse, simply phased out in favor of uniformity. In striving for simplicity, Microsoft runs the risk of alienating power users and those who rely on atypical workflows.
While fine-grained notification controls exist, out-of-box Windows 11 is tuned toward verbosity rather than signal. Striking a balance between informing and bombarding users is delicate, and Microsoft’s current implementation tips the scale unfavorably. Beyond conventional distractions, the endless call for your attention extends to alerts from Copilot, Windows Update, websites, and myriad third-party apps. While Focus Assist (now Do Not Disturb) and customizable app notification settings help, the sheer initial onslaught pushes users into a perpetual cycle of disabling what should have been muted or curated by default.
This is reflective of a broader tech industry trend: then notion that more information is always better. Yet, effective notification design is about context and restraint, not just volume or frequency.
For some, this will be a boon—AI-powered recommendations, automation, and creative help sound enticing. However, Copilot’s implementation across Windows 11 sometimes feels less about assisting users and more about steering them into new Microsoft-centric engagement patterns. There are genuine worries about privacy, the long-term stability of AI-driven features, and the potential for bloat.
Most importantly, Copilot’s integration is not (yet) entirely optional. Though there are ways to turn it off, the future direction points toward AI as an inextricable component of Windows. For those uninterested in generative AI, or who prefer maximal system responsiveness and minimal background processing, this is cause for concern. AI, regardless of its benefits, should always serve users—not become something they must work to disable.
For casual users, perhaps this removes clutter. Power users, admins, and professionals, however, rely on these context menus for quick workflows—from opening file locations to advanced archive options, and more. Needing to “dig” one click deeper for core actions betrays a misunderstanding of how broad and diverse Windows’ user base truly is. While registry hacks exist to revert to the old behavior, such solutions are unofficial, obscure, and carry risk.
Worse still, this change slows down seasoned users dramatically, accumulating untold wasted time over weeks and months. Any boost in visual clarity is dwarfed by the cost to efficiency.
This isn’t mere oversight; it feels like policy. The same goes for web links: even if you set another browser as the default, certain links (like those surfaced through the Widgets board) stubbornly open in Edge. This “sticky” behavior smacks of self-preferencing, a move Microsoft has repeatedly been criticized for, and which arguably fails the user-centric ethos that has long set Windows apart. It also raises regulatory eyebrows, echoing past antitrust campaigns against default apps and browser choice on Windows.
For everyday users, this barrier breeds frustration and, ultimately, resignation—unless you’re determined to dig through every setting, you’re left living inside Microsoft’s handpicked suite of apps.
But just as prominent is a less charitable rationale: ecosystem lock-in. The more users engage with Microsoft apps, the more valuable user data Microsoft amasses and the stickier its platform becomes. Every widget click, Copilot query, and Edge-opened link is an opportunity to cross-promote and collect data. While not unique to Microsoft—every tech giant plays some version of this game—Windows' vast, diverse existing user base is more likely than most to resist such overtures.
This tension between credibility and commercial interest is visible across the OS. New features often carry unstated costs: time spent disabling, moments of lost efficiency, and an increased bluntness in how the OS tries to keep users within its walled garden. As a result, Windows 11, for all its polish, sometimes feels less like a neutral tool and more like an ongoing conversation between what users want and what Microsoft wants them to want.
What’s lost isn’t just productivity or familiarity. It’s the sense that Windows is a truly user-first environment, one that celebrates flexibility, power, and choice. In attempting to compete with the end-to-end ecosystems of Apple and Google, Microsoft risks alienating the very people who made Windows indispensable: those who valued openness, customizability, and a default setting that puts users in the driver's seat.
Moreover, Microsoft’s willingness to provide toggles, if sometimes buried, for most contentious features shows that the company is at least listening, if not always agreeing, with user feedback. The ability to integrate mobile devices, the inclusion of tabs in File Explorer, and generally faster update processes are genuine victories for usability.
The path forward requires that Microsoft recommit to first principles: empower users, offer choice, and recognize when feature creep becomes feature tyranny. Only then can Windows 11—and whatever comes next—reclaim its status as the best platform not because it is the most curated, but because it meets users where they are.
In the meantime, Windows enthusiasts and realists alike will continue the dance: welcoming what’s good, working around what’s bad, and never quite giving up on making their OS their own. For all its missteps, Windows 11 remains deeply customizable at its core, a testament to the enduring power of an open, user-driven platform—and a reminder that, when the OS gets in the way, users nearly always find a way around.
Source: www.xda-developers.com https://www.xda-developers.com/8-windows-11-features-should-never-been-added/
Behind the shiny new Task Manager, improved phone integration, and tabs for File Explorer is a collection of design and functionality choices that—depending on your perspective—either reflect a necessary evolution for modern computing or a step backward in user autonomy. Let’s peel back the layers, spotlight what these unwanted features are, and explore how to wrestle back control—while offering critical insight into where Microsoft might have missed the mark.
When New Isn’t Always Better: The Unwelcome Features of Windows 11
Start Menu Placement: An Unnecessary Disruption
Few things on the desktop are as iconic and universally interacted with as the Start menu. Since Windows 95, users have developed a muscle memory that reaches instinctively toward the lower-left corner of their screens. Windows 11’s default centering of the Start menu, then, represents more than just a cosmetic tweak—it’s a disruption to the behavioral habits of hundreds of millions worldwide.Proponents argue that a centered Start menu mirrors mobile OS layouts, hinting at a unified vision across platforms. But for desktop users, this shift feels unnecessary, especially since productivity often hinges on habit. Fortunately, Microsoft allows users to restore the Start menu to its original left-aligned spot through a simple settings change (Settings > System > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors). This is a rare example of Microsoft offering both the new vision and the old comforts, though one’s left wondering why such a fundamental piece of the interface was ever shifted by default.
Taskbar Search: Wasting Real Estate in the Name of Convenience
The Windows search function is enormously powerful, cutting through files, settings, and web results with ease. But placing a persistent, oversized search box directly on the taskbar—for everyone—is a curious decision. While some users appreciate having search a click away, power users know that pressing the Windows key and typing achieves the same result, and often more quickly.The inclusion of a taskbar search box is divisive. For those who crave minimalist workspaces, it’s an unwelcome occupation of valuable onscreen real estate. Disabling it is thankfully straightforward, but the feature’s default presence suggests a design philosophy aimed less at serving users’ needs and more at pushing certain engagement flows, perhaps nudging people toward Bing and Edge. As with many other aspects of Windows 11, the ability to remove this feature is welcome, but one is left questioning why it couldn’t be opt-in to begin with.
Widgets Board: News at the Expense of Focus
The Widgets board is emblematic of Windows 11’s mixed priorities. Sitting in what was once the default position for the Start menu, the Widgets panel brings news, weather, sports, and a parade of MSN-driven content with a simple hover or click. For those seeking quick insights, this might seem handy. For anyone trying to safeguard their focus, however, the board can become a persistent, accidental intrusion.Worse still, the content is not purely informational. Ads and sponsored snippets make a regular appearance, blurring the line between convenience and unwanted distraction. The Widgets board’s easy activation—hovering the pointer often suffices—compounds the irritation, rendering the user ever more susceptible to fleeting interruptions.
It’s possible to disable the widget entirely via settings. Yet, examining the placement and nature of the Widgets board, a more critical view emerges: this feature walks a fine line between being a modest productivity boon and functioning as Microsoft’s own advertising billboard.
The Static Taskbar: Lost Freedom in Customization
Customizable desktops have long been a hallmark of Windows. Previous versions allowed users to move the taskbar to the top, left, or right edges of their screen, reflecting the diversity of workflows in creative, technical, and multi-monitor setups. Windows 11, by contrast, strips almost all of this freedom away. The taskbar is locked to the bottom, with only alignment (left vs. centered) as a token concession.For those who relied on alternate taskbar placements—particularly multi-monitor users or those with accessibility needs—this represents a stark reduction in control. To restore such functionality, users are nudged toward third-party tools like Stardock's Start11, or fiddling with registry hacks, both of which require a level of technical comfort that average users may lack. The move hints at a future where deeper customization is either gated behind paid apps or, worse, simply phased out in favor of uniformity. In striving for simplicity, Microsoft runs the risk of alienating power users and those who rely on atypical workflows.
Desktop Notifications: Information Overload
With each major update, Windows becomes more communicative—sometimes to its detriment. The notification system, ostensibly designed to keep you informed about system activity, emails, updates, and app events, can quickly devolve into a cacophony of pop-ups and sounds that break concentration and clutter the desktop.While fine-grained notification controls exist, out-of-box Windows 11 is tuned toward verbosity rather than signal. Striking a balance between informing and bombarding users is delicate, and Microsoft’s current implementation tips the scale unfavorably. Beyond conventional distractions, the endless call for your attention extends to alerts from Copilot, Windows Update, websites, and myriad third-party apps. While Focus Assist (now Do Not Disturb) and customizable app notification settings help, the sheer initial onslaught pushes users into a perpetual cycle of disabling what should have been muted or curated by default.
This is reflective of a broader tech industry trend: then notion that more information is always better. Yet, effective notification design is about context and restraint, not just volume or frequency.
Copilot: AI’s Unwanted Ubiquity
Artificial intelligence is the current darling of Big Tech, but its forced integration into core OS functions seems, to many, premature. Windows 11’s Copilot is omnipresent; you’ll find it living in the taskbar, woven into Microsoft Edge, and present across Office apps. Microsoft’s ambitions are clear: make Copilot the digital assistant for all your needs.For some, this will be a boon—AI-powered recommendations, automation, and creative help sound enticing. However, Copilot’s implementation across Windows 11 sometimes feels less about assisting users and more about steering them into new Microsoft-centric engagement patterns. There are genuine worries about privacy, the long-term stability of AI-driven features, and the potential for bloat.
Most importantly, Copilot’s integration is not (yet) entirely optional. Though there are ways to turn it off, the future direction points toward AI as an inextricable component of Windows. For those uninterested in generative AI, or who prefer maximal system responsiveness and minimal background processing, this is cause for concern. AI, regardless of its benefits, should always serve users—not become something they must work to disable.
The Truncated Context Menu: Simplicity at the Expense of Speed
One of the less-discussed but most frustrating shifts in Windows 11 is the right-click context menu. In the quest for clean design, Microsoft aggressively streamlined it—relegating most options to a secondary “Show more options” submenu, accessible only via an extra click or Shift+F10.For casual users, perhaps this removes clutter. Power users, admins, and professionals, however, rely on these context menus for quick workflows—from opening file locations to advanced archive options, and more. Needing to “dig” one click deeper for core actions betrays a misunderstanding of how broad and diverse Windows’ user base truly is. While registry hacks exist to revert to the old behavior, such solutions are unofficial, obscure, and carry risk.
Worse still, this change slows down seasoned users dramatically, accumulating untold wasted time over weeks and months. Any boost in visual clarity is dwarfed by the cost to efficiency.
Complicated Default App Settings: Lock-In By Frustration
Perhaps the biggest sin in Windows 11’s new feature roster is how complicated it has become to change default apps. Gone are the days when installing a favorite photo viewer, music player, or browser and clicking through a few prompts would suffice. Instead, users must now reassign defaults app-by-app, format-by-format. For instance, if you want to ditch the Photos app, you’ll need to manually set your preference for every individual image file type—JPG, PNG, BMP, and so on.This isn’t mere oversight; it feels like policy. The same goes for web links: even if you set another browser as the default, certain links (like those surfaced through the Widgets board) stubbornly open in Edge. This “sticky” behavior smacks of self-preferencing, a move Microsoft has repeatedly been criticized for, and which arguably fails the user-centric ethos that has long set Windows apart. It also raises regulatory eyebrows, echoing past antitrust campaigns against default apps and browser choice on Windows.
For everyday users, this barrier breeds frustration and, ultimately, resignation—unless you’re determined to dig through every setting, you’re left living inside Microsoft’s handpicked suite of apps.
The Broader Picture: What’s Driving These Decisions?
Many of these features—unmovable taskbars, persistent widgets, baked-in AI, and stubborn defaults—can be traced to two motivations. First, there’s the understandable desire to future-proof Windows by making it more modern, unified, and visually appealing. In theory, clean design and AI integration attract new users and keep Windows competitive against macOS and ChromeOS.But just as prominent is a less charitable rationale: ecosystem lock-in. The more users engage with Microsoft apps, the more valuable user data Microsoft amasses and the stickier its platform becomes. Every widget click, Copilot query, and Edge-opened link is an opportunity to cross-promote and collect data. While not unique to Microsoft—every tech giant plays some version of this game—Windows' vast, diverse existing user base is more likely than most to resist such overtures.
This tension between credibility and commercial interest is visible across the OS. New features often carry unstated costs: time spent disabling, moments of lost efficiency, and an increased bluntness in how the OS tries to keep users within its walled garden. As a result, Windows 11, for all its polish, sometimes feels less like a neutral tool and more like an ongoing conversation between what users want and what Microsoft wants them to want.
Workarounds and Remedies: Regaining Control
Still, Windows has not lost all of its flexibility. Most of the discussed features can be tweaked, disabled, or, at worst, circumvented. Recapturing control is a matter of patience and knowledge:- Start menu alignment: Move it left (Settings > System > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors).
- Disable Taskbar Search: Hide it from Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Search.
- Disable Widgets: Set Widgets switch to off in Settings > Personalization > Taskbar.
- Static Taskbar Remedies: Use Stardock’s Start11 or attempt (with caution) registry edits.
- Manage Notifications: Visit Settings > System > Notifications for granular control—including Focus Assist.
- Disable Copilot: This setting is currently available but may become harder to find in future revisions.
- Restore Context Menu: Risky, but possible via registry edits.
- Change Defaults: Laboriously update each file association in Settings > Apps > Default apps.
The Bigger Risk: Eroded Trust and the Slow Drift Toward Enclosure
For Microsoft, the risk in pursuing an aggressively curated Windows experience is not the technical fallout—power users will always find ways to hack and mod their way to comfort—but rather the slow erosion of trust with its most loyal users. Each forced feature, each opt-out rather than opt-in decision, chips a little at the sense that Windows is “your” system rather than “theirs.”What’s lost isn’t just productivity or familiarity. It’s the sense that Windows is a truly user-first environment, one that celebrates flexibility, power, and choice. In attempting to compete with the end-to-end ecosystems of Apple and Google, Microsoft risks alienating the very people who made Windows indispensable: those who valued openness, customizability, and a default setting that puts users in the driver's seat.
The Strengths Beneath the Flaws
It would be unfair to paint Windows 11 as strictly misguided. The OS brings real improvements—snappier performance, better hardware utilization, and a much-needed visual refresh. Its Settings app is far more navigable than legacy Control Panels, and features like Snap Layouts, enhanced security, and robust multi-device support keep Windows at the forefront of desktop operating systems.Moreover, Microsoft’s willingness to provide toggles, if sometimes buried, for most contentious features shows that the company is at least listening, if not always agreeing, with user feedback. The ability to integrate mobile devices, the inclusion of tabs in File Explorer, and generally faster update processes are genuine victories for usability.
Looking Ahead: Demanding the Right Balance
Windows 11’s journey is far from over. As with previous releases, major feature updates and monthly patches will continue to shape, break, and refine the platform, sometimes introducing new must-haves, sometimes delivering new headaches. The broad arc of Windows history suggests that backlash yields compromise if weighed by enough users sticking to older versions or employing third-party fixes.The path forward requires that Microsoft recommit to first principles: empower users, offer choice, and recognize when feature creep becomes feature tyranny. Only then can Windows 11—and whatever comes next—reclaim its status as the best platform not because it is the most curated, but because it meets users where they are.
In the meantime, Windows enthusiasts and realists alike will continue the dance: welcoming what’s good, working around what’s bad, and never quite giving up on making their OS their own. For all its missteps, Windows 11 remains deeply customizable at its core, a testament to the enduring power of an open, user-driven platform—and a reminder that, when the OS gets in the way, users nearly always find a way around.
Source: www.xda-developers.com https://www.xda-developers.com/8-windows-11-features-should-never-been-added/
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