As careers go, I’ve little to complain about. But I’ve to admit—there are elements of the job I like lower than others. And Windows 11 is a type of issues.
I don’t assume it’s a nasty working system. That (dis)honor goes to Windows ME, with Vista as runner up. (Serving as tech help for my mother and father’ PC with Windows ME ranks amongst my least favourite intervals of my life.) But even after a yr and a half since Windows 11’s launch, I nonetheless discover myself eager for Windows 10 at any time when I make myself use Windows 11.
What makes Microsoft’s newest working system a factor I tolerate between the weekday hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.? It’s the gathering of a number of low-grade annoyances I can’t simply evade. I gained’t bore you with all the small print—sure, the Windows 11 Start menu remains an annoying step backwards—however let me offer you some examples of the most important irritations.
Further studying: How to make Windows 11 look like Windows 10
Buried (or eradicated) controls
Windows 11 buries long-available options in a secondary context menu.
PCWorld
The consumer interface groups at Microsoft apparently didn’t hear any focus group suggestions from my demographic, also called the “Why the [censored] would you ever do that?” cohort. Last yr I wrote about how Windows 11’s right-click menu sucks, nevertheless it’s nonetheless value repeating 12 months later. For a long time (literal a long time), Windows provided motion shortcuts like refresh by means of that context menu. Then in Windows 11, such mainstays abruptly acquired shunted off right into a secondary right-click menu—what took one mouse click on to seek out now takes two. And that is nonetheless the default, as is the neutering of the ribbon in File Explorer, which put a variety of different instructions entrance and heart.
Could I dig into the registry for each Windows 11 PC I spin up for work with a view to “fix” these issues? Yes. Do I like messing with the registry? No.
PCWorld
Windows 11’s Settings menu choices all look alike, and it drives me loopy. Don’t get me fallacious, they’re fairly with these translucent blocks. But scanning them to shortly discover the function I wish to tweak is homicide on my mind, particularly since some parts modified between Windows 10 and Windows 11. I assume I’m supposed to look to seek out issues shortly, nevertheless it’s not truly sooner when I’ve to first Google to establish the proper search time period, then sort it it in.
Bugs
PCWorld
The Windows 11 machine I presently use most will inexplicably throw up a clean begin menu occasionally. The search perform will concurrently go lifeless, too. I haven’t discovered why but—within the grand scheme of issues, rebooting day by day or two isn’t horrific, and it takes much less time than going by means of the usual troubleshooting steps. Still, I can’t all the time reboot instantly when it occurs, leaving me to stew on the issue at the back of my head anyway. Is it Windows? Is it Windows reacting badly to apps I’ve put in? Am I going to should nuke the entire thing and begin over to unravel this concern? The habits is so unusual for a PC that hardly has any software program on it.
You know what by no means does this to me? Windows 10.
Microsoft
Something about that centered cluster of begin menu button and open apps throws me off any time I exploit a Windows 11 PC. I do know that’s now a changeable setting. But I can’t actually flip it off.
In my opinion, a part of my job includes serving to individuals who stick to defaults—whether or not that’s navigating them as-is or altering them to be much less annoying. But I can’t know what these defaults are (and the way they shift) if I’ve configured my machine to go well with my style and go away it that method.
So I go away all the things as introduced by Microsoft. It permits me to immediately expertise what many individuals will, in order that I’m higher outfitted when allotting recommendation. You can name me masochistic—and also you wouldn’t be fallacious—however after I get a textual content message from a buddy or relative asking for help, the very last thing I need is attempting to recollect what I left default and what I tinkered with as I’m speaking them by means of their concern.
Meanwhile, I hold instinctively clicking left on my taskbar, considering the Start menu button is there. Every dang time.
No native accounts
Mark Hachman / IDG
Look, Microsoft, you don’t know my life higher than me. Do I agree that the signing in with a Microsoft account gives good protections? Yes, particularly since laptops are so standard as of late—most individuals will profit from device encryption and different options if their PC turns into misplaced or stolen. But do I wish to check in with a Microsoft account throughout numerous computer systems for work and subsequently ending up with every kind of random issues syncing to it? Nope.
Windows 10 gently pushes customers to check in with an account, however there’s nonetheless no less than that backdoor for folk like me to slide by means of. Windows 11 basically forces you to use a Microsoft account.
Let me dwell on the sting, Windows 11. I do know what I’m doing.
Fixable, however damaged
I’m about to have about fifteen bajillionty folks swarm out of the woodwork and hit my mentions about how I may simply tweak all the things with some registry fixes or paid software program. I do know I technically may.
But let’s simply again up a second. Leaving apart the reputable causes for why I can’t, as outlined above… Why do we have to tinker within the registry to carry again performance that labored for many years? (I can’t stress this level sufficient. We had a few of these consumer interface options for a long time.) Or alternatively, having to pay for a piece of software that makes those adjustments and likewise provides again performance we had been used to?
It’s a philosophical sore spot for me, and one I take into consideration at any time when my Windows 11 begin menu goes clean. Or I transfer my mouse to the left aspect of the taskbar with out considering. Each time, I sigh softly to myself and want for Windows 10. If you, like me, can’t shake its grasp, it’s worth changing these five Windows 11 settings immediately.