Microsoft acknowledges complaints about Windows 11, promising a reduction of “unnecessary” Copilot integrations, more control over updates, and more
ZDNET's key takeaways — Microsoft finally acknowledged complaints about Windows 11. — The company is promising sweeping changes to a slew of features.
ZDNET Ed Bott
Related Coverage
- Our commitment to Windows quality Windows Blog
- This is Microsoft's plan to fix Windows 11 The Verge · Tom Warren
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- Microsoft is cutting down Copilot “bloat” in Windows 11 Digital Trends · Varun Mirchandani
- Microsoft CONFIRMS major Windows 11 upgrades - movable Taskbar, less AI clutter, fewer update interruptions, more Pureinfotech · Mauro Huculak
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- Microsoft's New Promise: A Fresh Commitment to Windows Quality (2026 Update) WinCentral · Nayan
- Microsoft promises Windows 11 reset: new focus on performance, reliability and ‘reducing unnecessary Copilot’ AI Tom's Guide · Scott Younker
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- Microsoft keeps insisting that it's deeply committed to the quality of Windows 11 Ars Technica · Andrew Cunningham
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- Microsoft will yank Copilot from some Windows apps and let you move the taskbar again Engadget · Igor Bonifacic
- Microsoft responds to feedback with long-requested Windows 11 features, including taskbar tweaks and improved file explorer XDA Developers · Patrick O'Rourke
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- Microsoft is ending the Windows Update nightmare — and letting you pause them indefinitely The Verge · Sean Hollister
- Microsoft tells Windows Update to chill after years of complaints PCWorld · Mark Hachman
- ‘Unnecessary’ Copilot buttons are being removed from Windows 11. The Verge · Tom Warren
- We're raising the bar on Windows 11 quality - with improvements in performance, reliability, and well-crafted experiences. … Navjot Virk
- I'm so excited about Windows' renewed focus on quality and lived user experience - both as an engineer helping to build it and as a Windows user. … Aria Hanson
- lol the MacBook Neo has been on the market for approximately six minutes and Microsoft is already like “we're SO SORRY about Windows 11! We're trying to delete it! We will murder Copilot with our bare hands!” @anildash · Anil Dash
- I can only guess, from the new Microsoft post “Our commitment to Windows quality” ( https://blogs.windows.com/... that Microsoft, and especially the Windows org, is feeling some competitive pressure again. From the MacBook Neo? I'm guessing not from Linux on the desktop, unless it's Valve specifically. @matt@toot.cafe · Matt Campbell
- Microsoft Lays Out Next Windows Updates: Faster, Lighter and More Flexible CNET · Lori Grunin
- Microsoft wants to know what's wrong with Windows. Tell them! PCWorld · Mark Hachman
- Windows 11 is bringing back a feature users have wanted for years Digital Trends · Varun Mirchandani
- Windows 11 To Get a 2026 AI Tax Break Directions on Microsoft · Mary Jo Foley
- Microsoft promises major improvements to Windows 11 performance, reliability, and updates — lower RAM usage, fewer Copilot interactions, and enhanced File Explorer incoming Tom's Hardware · Bruno Ferreira
- Microsoft will soon let you postpone Windows 11 updates forever if you don't want them Windows Central · Zac Bowden
- Tired Of Windows 11 Bloat? Microsoft Pledges Massive Cleanup For Peak Performance HotHardware · Paul Lilly
- Microsoft finally gives Windows 11 a long-requested feature Digit · Divyanshi Sharma
- Microsoft Got Sloppy with Windows Spyglass · M.G. Siegler
- Microsoft promises to make Windows 11 faster and more reliable OC3D · Mark Campbell
- Microsoft keeps insisting that it's deeply committed to the quality of Windows 11 Beehaw
- Microsoft keeps insisting that it's deeply committed to the quality of Windows 11 Ars OpenForum
Discussion
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@pavandavuluri
Pavan Davuluri
on x
The team and I have spent the past several months analyzing feedback from the community. What came through was the voice of people who care deeply about Windows and want it to be better. Read this blog post to learn more about what we're doing in response as we look to raise the
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@cadenzza_
Mario
on x
I'm cautiously optimistic. I crapped on Windows for the last couple of years not because I hate the product, but because I like Windows and want to see it get better. This is a welcome change, and I hope they'll commit to it further
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@markhachman
Mark Hachman
on x
When I originally reviewed Windows 11, I trashed the lack of two key features. After five years, Microsoft is fixing them. A moveable Taskbar, everyone. https://www.pcworld.com/...
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@withinrafael
Rafael Rivera
on x
Hot take: Microsoft restoring top/side taskbar placement isn't a win for users. It's a quick tiny-but-noisy crowd-pleaser to buy goodwill while the real roadmap catches up.
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@kirbyslastsnack
@kirbyslastsnack
on x
Seems there is a consistent theme in tech of over-pushing AI function into everything and into everyone then needing to backtrack when it's unpopular or causes security/quality issues. Execs looking for quick stock boosts need to cool it.
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@teaanddates
Tali Roth
on x
Since (re)joining Windows a few years ago, I've never seen my team as excited about an initiative as they are about this. Can't wait to get these improvements and fixes to Start, Taskbar, File Explorer, and more out to customers!
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@rfleury
Ryan Fleury
on x
I'm not going to clap for things that we already had 20+ years ago. If they actually clean up their mess (I doubt it), that's great, but let's be clear, this is just reversing course after decades of terrible platform stewardship.
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@sadlyitsbradley
Brad Lynch
on x
When they removed the side taskbar option, it made the Windows Ultra-wide experience so frustrating, that I can only be bitter and cynical Spending YEARS dealing with the OS freaking out from registry hacks to bring it back: wont heal wounds anytime soon HDR is still shit too..
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@edandersen
Ed Andersen
on x
What's incredible about this is that the NUMBER ONE requested change to Windows 11 for over 5 years was moving the taskbar like before and it was aggressively ignored by the previous leadership, dismissing it as ‘not important’. New boss and now they are “listening”.
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@withinrafael
Rafael Rivera
on x
Microsoft: Faster responsiveness in core Windows experiences like the Start menu, by moving more experiences to WinUI3 [...] Hot take: Good luck with MSIDC.
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@zacbowden
Zac Bowden
on x
For those who like to keep track of codenames, this entire effort is codenamed “Windows K2”
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@tomwarren
Tom Warren
on x
it took nearly 5 years, but the movable Windows taskbar is coming back [image]
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@mweinbach
Max Weinbach
on x
Pavan knows what he's doing, the Windows is going to get better. I trust them to do what needs to be done and focus on the users over everything else. Pavan laid out a good list of changes in his post, they will get there!
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@hardwarecanucks
@hardwarecanucks
on x
If this is true, Microsoft is making a massive effort to put things right in Windows 11. Even if 1/2 of these commitments become reality, its big news. Can't wait for this release.
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@kookiz
Kevin Gosse
on x
The taskbar to the side. About fucking time. The best time for it was 5 years ago. The next best time 4 years ago. The next next... well you get it
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@tomwarren
Tom Warren
on x
Windows 11 is finally getting a movable taskbar. You'll be able to move the taskbar to the sides or top of your screen, and Microsoft is also working on a smaller taskbar too. Details 👇https://www.theverge.com/ ...
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@markhachman
Mark Hachman
on x
The biggest Microsoft gaffes and fails usually involve some Windows update that's gone wrong. Microsoft says they're fixing it all, minimizing the amount of updates and giving you much more control of how they're handled. Whew! https://www.pcworld.com/...
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@yusuf_i_mehdi
Yusuf Mehdi
on x
We're turning Insider feedback into real improvements across Windows 11. More focus on performance, reliability, and being thoughtful about where Copilot shows up, so the experience feels simpler, not busier. Appreciate everyone who is giving feedback to make our products the
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@mparakhin
Mikhail Parakhin
on x
So glad Pavan is restarting this push! Back in the day Jeff Johnson and I had this 20/20 project: reducing Windows' idle memory consumption and the fresh install size on disk by 20%. We never got to finish - great to see this focus on fundamentals again.
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@lyalindotcom
Dmitry Lyalin
on x
Go Windows team I'm rooting for you. Solid change list
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@jezcorden
Jez
on x
Microsoft has revealed major changes to Windows 11 with a focus on quality and community feedback. It's a LONG. TIME. COMING. https://www.windowscentral.com/ ...
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@pdropm
@pdropm
on x
Nice seeing the new Windows boss and the team answering real questions from @windowsinsider and talking openly about where Windows is heading. The new direction feels promising — [image]
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@marcusash
Marcus Ash
on x
There's a lot of work underway that Pavan shared earlier today. Something that I know has been at the top of a lot of people's minds is the feeling that feedback goes into a void, without real people to review and see it on the other side. To help with that, I'll be taking on an
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@timsweeneyepic
Tim Sweeney
on x
Great moves by Microsoft!
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@stevesi
Steven Sinofsky
on x
If you tell an enthusiastic customer base “we're listening” the challenge becomes you can never listen to everyone about everything. You can't “take requests.” That isn't a product plan or execution strategy. This has happened before in recent past.
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@vadimyuryev
Vadim Yuryev
on x
PLEASE fix Windows for the sake of the incredible chips from @intel and @Snapdragon. They're so good, but are being held back by Windows software issues.
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@ariaupdated
@ariaupdated
on x
I'm so excited about the renewed focus on quality and lived user experience - both as an engineer helping to build it and as a #Windows user. I'm especially excited to be bringing more control over #updates + fewer reboots! As we keep focusing in here: #BringOnTheFeedback! 🥳
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@djdynamic.ca
Tim Ellis
on bluesky
lol Microsoft committing to being “more intentional” about “AI” integration and the examples given are just all the places they are removing it lolol. Like I'll take it! But yeah maybe some introspection about why everyone fucking hates it is warranted. — blogs.windows.com/wi…
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@edbott.com
Ed Bott
on bluesky
Microsoft finally started paying attention to what its customers are saying about Windows 11. Good news: You will soon be able to move the taskbar to the top or side of the display again!
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@kittywashere
Kitty WH
on bluesky
I'm going to need them to add an off-switch for Copilot that doesn't also shut off autosave. — Copilot is more annoying and less useful than Clippy was. [embedded post]
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@JenMsft@mastodon.social
Jen Gentleman
on mastodon
We're working on adding the ability to move the taskbar in Windows 11 (and more 😊) — Thanks as always for everyone who's been sharing feedback 💙 — https://blogs.windows.com/... #Windows #Windows11 #Tech #News — [image]
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r/indotech
r
on reddit
Our commitment to Windows quality
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r/technology
r
on reddit
This is Microsoft's plan to fix Windows 11
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r/TwoBestFriendsPlay
r
on reddit
Following user feedback, Windows 11 is scaling back Copilot integration and reducing update disruptions, among other changes
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r/pcmasterrace
r
on reddit
Microsoft announces sweeping Windows changes - but no apologies
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@davidgerard.co.uk
@davidgerard.co.uk
on bluesky
spectacular improvements coming to Windows 11! — * more AI — * you can move the taskbar — blogs.windows.com/windows-insi...
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@lewiep
@lewiep
on bluesky
Hilarious to me that Microsoft are like “Oh you didn't like it when we intentionally make Windows worse? Ok maybe we'll stop that” — blogs.windows.com/windows-insi...
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@czechboy0.dev
Honza Dvorsky
on bluesky
Microslop is *removing* AI from at least 4 apps in Windows 11. — The bubble has peaked folks! — The pushback is working. Nothing about LLM slop is inevitable, we can, and will, make these thoughtless corporations remove this garbage again. — blogs.windows.com/windows-insi.…
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r/MicroSlop
r
on reddit
“Our commitment to Windows quality” -> More corpo speak, TLDR they are still shoving Copilot / AI down users' throats, however they are being more “intentional” about it.