Last week, we published an article detailing five exciting features and improvements coming to Windows 11 customers. Now it’s time to take a look at the not-so-impressive or downright irritating changes that Microsoft plans to implement in upcoming releases.
To note: Microsoft is treating the Dev Channel as a testing ground for testing early and experimental features, and the company has made it clear that some of these changes may not see the public release. Send your feedback to Microsoft using the feedback hub if you don’t like some new features or changes that the software giant has implemented in recent preview builds. Finally, articles like this are always subjective – some users might like what I don’t and vice versa. As usual, everyone’s opinions and views are welcome in the comments.
1. Recommended Websites
Microsoft stubbornly refuses to give up and allows users to disable the “Recommended” section of the Start menu. Additionally, the company is pursuing the idea as it displays advertisement-like recommendations from various websites.
Besides being just plain annoying, this change conflicts with the purpose of the Start menu. Why would someone want to click on a website after opening the start menu where users place their handpicked apps? Luckily, you can force disable website recommendations in the Start menu, as our dedicated guide describes.
2. Research Highlights
I like the new Windows Search box in the Start menu, but I wouldn’t say I have the same feelings about Search Highlights (small images representing holidays and other events) that Microsoft places in this box. Besides confusing users with ever-changing graphics, these highlights create an illusion of misaligned extra apps on the taskbar, a place I carefully curate and keep sanitized only for my most frequently used apps. .
Here’s a guide detailing how to disable search highlights in Windows 11 development builds for those who don’t like this feature either.
3. More Attempts to Impose Edge
Microsoft doesn’t want to deal with the fact that some users prefer browsers other than Edge. Therefore, the latest enhancements to the Suggested Actions feature is yet another way to ram Edge down users’ throats. Selecting text in Windows 11 now shows a small banner with a button that lets you search the internet. Of course, Bing only and Microsoft Edge only.
To be fair, Microsoft hasn’t made up its mind yet. Hidden Feature IDs in Windows 11 show that the company plans to allow users to use Suggested Actions in conjunction with other browsers. Yet these credentials are buried deep within the operating system, leaving Edge and Bing the only default option.
4. Warnings in the wrong place
Microsoft thinks it’s a great idea to place various settings-related alerts in the menu that appears on the screen when you click on your profile in the Start menu. It can show ad-like prompts to set up OneDrive, sign in with a Microsoft account, back up files (into OneDrive, of course), or complete your profile.
Including this “feature” in this article might seem a bit far-fetched to some, but I think it’s just another example of Microsoft putting things in the wrong place. Such recommendations can live peacefully in the Settings app, where I’ll most likely change or enable something (like new, properly placed OneDrive alerts). All I want by clicking on my profile in the start menu is to either lock my system or log me out.
Finally, Microsoft tries to make these recommendations look like something critical. They use the same orange dot that appears on the power button when Windows wants to complete the update procedure. Does the operating system want to tell me something important? Oh, nevermind, it’s just a OneDrive ad…
5. Please use our ad-filled search engine
History repeats itself in this one. Remember Microsoft showing banners above the taskbar to promote the new Edge? These are back to draw attention to ad-filled Windows Search. Although Microsoft tries to apologize, saying the change is there to “enhance the value of search shortcuts and reduce friction in the broader Windows search experience”, I think users don’t need magnifying glass icon explained.
It’s sad to see Microsoft desperately trying to get everyone to use Windows Search and push more recommended/promoted content instead of making search less lame. It can’t even find the recycle bin (not to mention most of its features stop working once you leave the US), and I’ll continue to mock Microsoft for this until the company does Something.
What do you think of the features listed below? Do you think Microsoft should keep them, rework them, or remove them? Is there anything else bothering you about Windows 11 preview builds? Let us know in the comments.
#notsogreat #features #coming #Windows