In early August, Insiders didn't get off to a good start with previews, as the company didn't release any Windows 11 builds in the main testing channels, including Experimental and Beta, for more than 15 days. However, on August 17, Microsoft made five preview builds available across different channels and testing versions, with new features and changes.

In this latest wave of previews, the company began public testing of a new fully customizable context menu. It also rolled out improvements for the background image experience, Magnifier, Camera Roll, and Get Started app.

Also, the company announced that starting with this wave of updates, the operating system will no longer ship the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) and the Drag Tray feature.

In the Experimental track, we've seen builds 29648, 28120.2738, and 26340.9212, while in the Beta channel, the company announced 28020.2731 and 26220.9202.

In this recap, I'll highlight the latest and most noteworthy changes available through the Windows Insider Program.

Biggest improvements from the Windows Insider Program in August 2026

In this recap, I'll highlight the latest and most noteworthy changes available through the Windows Insider Program since my last roundup.

Redesigned context menu

So far in August, perhaps the biggest change is the redesigned context menu, which is now fully customizable, simpler, and faster.

The new design reduces the clutter as we have never seen in the menu while keeping common actions easy to access. When you right-click a file or folder to invoke the menu, you'll notice a new "App extensions" submenu that now houses those extra entry points from applications you have installed on your computer.

Also, there's a new "Customize menu" option that opens the new Context menu page in Settings > Personalization.

Under the "File actions" section, you can choose the options that you want to appear in the main context menu, such as "Send to," Print, Create shortcut, Copy as path, and Rotate image.

One thing to point out here is that the "Send to" and Print options are new to the modern menu design.

When you open the "App extensions" section, you can decide whether this submenu appears in the main menu. Also, you can choose which extensions from apps appear in the main menu.

Microsoft notes that it understands that many people have accumulated years of muscle memory from Windows 10. As a result, the new menu adds options to make it easier for those users by letting them arrange primary actions (such as cut and paste) vertically, instead of in the new horizontal view.

Also, you can place the "Properties" option at the bottom of the list, like in older versions of Windows.

Finally, it's also possible to restore the "Show more options" entry, or you can continue accessing the classic menu using the "Shift + Right-click" shortcut.

The new context menu options are available on build 26340.9212 for version 26H2 in the Experimental channel.

Personalization improvements

On Windows 11 build 26340.9212, the company is also polishing the desktop background experience with several fixes and improvements.

For example, on Settings > Personalization > Background, the page should now be more reliable, previews now render at higher resolution and display better on portrait monitors, and desktop slideshow transitions are more dependable, including on newly created accounts.

The system can now also improve the process of changing wallpaper quickly, use Device-Independent Bitmap (DIB) image files as backgrounds, and keep slideshow wallpapers enabled across multiple desktops instead of automatically switching back to Picture.

Camera Roll backup

Also, on build 26340.9212, Microsoft is making it easier to protect your pictures by adding new entry points in Settings > Home and Accounts that let you set up Camera Roll backup, which automatically backs up photos and videos from your mobile device to OneDrive.

Magnifier interface update

Magnifier is getting a cleaner look without changing how the accessibility tool works.

Microsoft has refreshed the toolbar icons to better match the operating system's visual design and refined the spacing and padding for a more polished layout.

This update is currently available only in version 26H2, starting with the release of build 26340.9212.

Windows Recovery Environment changes

Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) is getting a useful networking upgrade that can automatically reuse eligible Wi-Fi profiles saved in the operating system, including supported certificate-based networks.

In the past, this recovery mode could automatically connect to wired unauthenticated Ethernet or separately preconfigured Wi-Fi, while other WPA2/WPA3 networks required manually entering a password.

In this update, recovery workflows such as Quick Machine Recovery or cloud rebuilds can get online without manual interaction, without having to reconfigure Wi-Fi credentials.

The behavior is enabled by default, although technical users can disable it if needed.

Windows 11 features removed

In this wave of updates across all channels, Microsoft is no longer shipping Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) and the Drag Tray feature.

In this release, the legacy Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) tool is no longer included as Microsoft continues its broader effort to phase out WMIC from the operating system, pushing users toward newer management tools.

One thing to point out about WMIC is that Microsoft isn't removing WMI. Only the "wmic.exe" command-line utility will no longer be included in the operating system. WMI remains available through PowerShell and other supported utilities.

Microsoft is also pulling the plug on the Drop Tray experience from this build after hearing feedback from users. The company says it'll continue exploring improvements in this area and plans to share more about a future replacement in a later update.

File Explorer improvements

In Windows 11 build 26220.9202 for version 25H2 (Beta), File Explorer gets a small but noticeable usability boost.

For example, the "Home" page now launches faster and feels more responsive, while the "Recommended" section supports touch scrolling, making it easier to browse files in the carousel.

Microsoft also fixed an issue that caused previews to display an unexpectedly thick band across the middle.

Windows Security app changes

Finally, the company is making small visual adjustments to Windows Security to better align the app with the other Windows 11 experiences.

On Windows 11 build 29648, testers may notice subtle differences as more changes roll out. However, after installing this update on my machine, I failed to notice anything different in the app.

On managed devices with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint enabled, information about the protection will now appear at the top of the "Virus & threat protection" page.

Windows Central's Take

Although Microsoft kept Insiders without preview builds for the first half of August, the latest updates are still worth the wait because the company is finally giving users more control over parts of the experience it previously tried to simplify. The customizable context menu is the most significant change, especially because it acknowledges that users don't necessarily want the company's preferred layout forced on them.

I'm also glad the improvements aren't limited to interface changes. The improvements to desktop backgrounds, File Explorer, and WinRE address small frustrations that can make the experience feel inconsistent over time.

I wouldn't rush to install an Insider build just for these changes, but the direction is encouraging. Microsoft is giving Windows 11 more flexibility while continuing to modernize the parts of the operating system that have fallen behind.

What are your thoughts about these latest Windows 11 changes? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

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• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
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Microsoft claims that Windows 11's built-in security tool is enough for most PC users, but that's only the case if the tool works. An issue affecting some PCs prevents security scans from being completed, leaving systems potentially vulnerable.

The problem was flagged on Reddit by user Huynh_Jovi. Several users in that thread have had issues running scans with Microsoft Defender. Both Full Scan and Quick Scan appear to be affected.

Pinned at the top of that thread is a comment by a moderator that gathers together key information on the situation.

"It appears Microsoft released a bad update to Windows Defender, causing it to crash a few seconds after attempting to perform a Full Scan or Quick Scan," reads the comment by user goretsky. They continue, stating, "Offline scans reportedly stop at around 90-93% of completion." The latest version of the Microsoft Safety Scanner is reportedly affected as well.

The exact cause of the issue has not been determined, though there are several suggested causes. The issue seems to be related to a Microsoft Security Intelligence update. Performing an upgrade to Security Intelligence Update v1.457.236.0 resolves the issue, according to Reddit users Schoonie84 and Master_Pie1940.

You don't need to hunt down that update manually. If you check for updates in the Windows Security app or through Windows Update, the latest version should appear.

There's a chance the issue appeared after Microsoft attempted to mitigate ShieldBreak, a zero-day vulnerability disclosed shortly after August's Patch Tuesday update.

Versions v1.1.26070.7 and v1.1.26080.2 of Defender are said to be affected by the issue when used with any of the following Microsoft Security Intelligence Update versions:

• 1.457.222.0
• 1.457.225.0
• 1.457.226.0
• 1.457.227.0
• 1.457.230.0

Restoring to an older Microsoft Security Intelligence update also reportedly fixes the issue, adding weight to the theory about the cause of the problem.

Many users have spent hours trying to address the issue. At the time of publication, there has not been official word on the problem from Microsoft, so the work of the Reddit users taking a closer look is appreciated.

Performing regular scans is an important step in securing a PC. Hopefully Microsoft can resolve the issue quickly and get word out to affected users.

In the meantime, affected users can still scan a specific folder or drive by right-clicking and selecting "Scan with Microsoft Defender."

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Windows 11 will soon give you greater control over the permissions your apps have. A new feature hidden away in the latest Experimental Insider Build (26340.9212) lets you block access to your camera and microphone on a per-app basis for Win32 apps.

The change was spotted by X user @jakub25050. Well-known Windows sleuth @phantomofearth confirmed that the change appears on their system as well when running build 26340.9212 and after enabling Win32SignatureIdentity (60730253). On X, @jakub25050 noted that they did not have to enable any feature flags.

Microsoft did not discuss the change in the official release notes for the latest Windows Insider build.

This behavior will feel familiar to most people who use a smartphone, since both iOS and Android have fine-tuned privacy controls. Windows 11 has also supported this functionality for other types of apps for a while.

What's changing with Windows 11 privacy settings?

Windows 11 already has an option that allows or blocks desktop apps from accessing things like your microphone or camera. But you can only enable or disable those permissions on a per-app basis for certain types of apps.

The feature in testing right now allows you to toggle camera and microphone permissions on a per-app basis for Win32 apps. That's a massive addition since many popular programs are Win32 apps, such as Discord, Chrome, and game launchers like Steam.

The current way app permissions work means that to use your webcam on a browser like Chrome, you'd also need to have your settings configured to let other desktop apps access your webcam.

I've seen some debate about when the per-app option for Win32 apps rolled out to Windows 11. While Windows 11 has had the option to grant or deny permissions for years, that choice was limited to UWP/MSIX apps and was not available for Win32 apps.

Build 26340.9212 started shipping to Insiders in the Experimental Channel on August 17, 2026. Assuming testing goes well, we could see the expanded app controls roll out to everyone in the near future.

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Fixing Windows may be an impossible task, at least if the goal is to please every user. Because Windows has been around for decades and is used by billions of people, Microsoft has to be careful in how it rolls out changes to its operating system.

One of the strengths of Windows is backward compatibility, but that is a double-edged sword. Because Microsoft values legacy software and compatibility, Windows 11 is basically several operating systems stacked together under a trenchcoat.

I've argued before that unifying the look of Windows should have been a priority for decades. But even if it were, updating Windows would be a challenge. People get used to things and often dislike changes, even if they're considered improvements by many.

With changes like the overhauled Start menu and movable taskbar on the way, I shared a poll recently asking about Microsoft's improvements to Windows 11. That poll was inspired by the recent change to how file sizes are displayed in File Explorer.

40 percent of those who voted said that "Some tweaks are great, but others feel like changes for the sake of change." Another 32 percent of participants said Microsoft should "bring on the modern polish," noting that they adapt quickly and prefer clean interfaces.

Almost 30 percent of voters wanted to ensure some level of consistency, whether that be keeping legacy options (17 percent of voters) or leaving features and layouts alone (12 percent).

The fact that even our readers are split shows how divisive this topic can be. Generally speaking, our readers are tech-savvy and keep up to date with tech and new features, so they should be able to adapt to changes well. But being able to adapt is not the same as favoring the need to adapt.

The comments on that article echoed sentiments about Microsoft not being able to please everyone, such as the quote above by "Q-Less." They also noted that "Microsoft needs to spend significant effort on change management."

Over the years, Microsoft has tried different strategies. Major OS updates such as Windows 7 or Windows 10 bring many changes at once and allow Microsoft to roll out improvements as part of a package.

Incremental updates shipped every few months let Microsoft get improvements to users quickly, but that may not be a good thing. People need time to adapt to changes, even good ones. Having an interface or experience tweaked several times in a year can be jarring.

One route Microsoft could take is adding options.

I like having options, and Microsoft sometimes ships new features with a toggle to go back to the previous interface. But there's a limit on how many choices can be built into Windows 11. If Microsoft kept every option across several OS generations, Windows would be a mess.

Some want Microsoft to take the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach.

Within the Windows Central community, there is debate on how to handle changes and improvements to Windows. Expand the discussion to all PC users and you have an almost deafening amount of noise to sort through.

Even when Microsoft settles on changes to Windows, the company needs to decide how to package those changes. Last week's Windows Wrap asked if the next big update should just be Windows 12.

Windows carries over much of its base when switching between major OS versions these days, so it's more about marketing than a technical definition.

Where do you stand in the debate? Do you want to see Windows modernized even if it means you'll have to adapt to changes? Or do you want Windows to stay largely the same? Let us know in the comments!

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Last year, Microsoft announced a major update coming to the Taskbar on Windows 11 that would allow users to swap out the Windows Search box for one powered by Copilot. Dubbed "Ask Copilot," this new experience would let users interact with Copilot straight from the Taskbar, while maintaining support for searching for apps and files.

Since its announcement, the feature has slowly rolled out in preview to a small subset of users. Most of those users are commercial customers utilizing the Microsoft 365 Copilot app, but a version for consumers was also being developed for the standard Microsoft Copilot app.

At least, that was true until a few months back, when an update to the consumer-facing Copilot app removed support for it. Since then, Ask Copilot has only worked with the Microsoft 365 Copilot app, but with the announcement that the consumer Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot are merging under one app experience, Ask Copilot is disappearing once more.

"As we implement these changes, we're temporarily disabling Ask Copilot on the taskbar to update the new experience and incorporate your feedback," a Microsoft changelog has confirmed. The company doesn't explain what user feedback it's taking onboard, or if the Ask Copilot experience will change in any meaningful way. For now, it's no longer in testing.

If you've been using Ask Copilot on the Taskbar, the latest updates to the Copilot app and Microsoft 365 Copilot app will result in the feature disappearing, restoring the standard Windows Search experience automatically.

The UI between Ask Copilot and Windows Search is different. In fact, the two experiences are handled by entirely separate teams at Microsoft. Windows Search is, naturally, developed by the Windows team, whereas Ask Copilot is built by the Copilot and Microsoft 365 AI teams.

Recent upgrades to the Windows Search experience confirm that Ask Copilot is always going to be a separate, optional experience for users who want it. Windows Search is still the primary search experience on Windows, and is being redesigned to remove clutter, ads, and prioritize more accurate and speedy results.

The Ask Copilot search pane is similarly decluttered, but includes a chat box for initiating conversations with Copilot, along with shortcut buttons in the Taskbar for launching into Copilot Vision. If you're someone who has been looking forward to the Ask Copilot experience, it looks like you're going to be waiting a while longer before it begins shipping.

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Microsoft has today announced a set of major improvements coming to the context menus that appear in File Explorer and the desktop on Windows 11 that are designed to make the right-click experience faster, less cluttered, and more customizable.

I first revealed Microsoft's plans to overhaul the context-menu system on Windows 11 last month, and now the company has confirmed those plans. In fact, it's already rolling out preview builds with the new context menu system in place, ready for Windows Insiders to begin testing and provide feedback on.

Microsoft says that it knows the context menu system on Windows 11 today is not in a good place. "The menu became cluttered and sluggish, and we recognized the need to dramatically reduce the time between right-clicking and having a menu that’s fully ready to use," says Microsoft engineer Michael Novak in a blog post published today.

"Today, we’re excited to announce an updated context menu that delivers a faster, simpler, and more customizable experience. The new design reduces top-level clutter, keeps commonly used actions easy to access, and introduces a new Settings experience that gives you more control over what appears in the menu."

I went hands-on with the new context menu system over the weekend, and I can confirm that the new right-click experience is a major improvement over what is shipping on Windows 11 currently. The new default layout is much less cluttered, with less actions immediately presented to the user in exchange for a much faster response time.

Microsoft is finally letting users customize the context menus too. You can now enable and disable whichever actions you want, as well as show or hide app extensions from third-party apps. This is great for when an app installs itself into your context menus without permission, as you can now hide them from view.

It's even going so far as to allow users to restore the Windows 10 context menu layout within the modern Windows 11 context menu system. Until now, Windows 11's context menu has placed "primary actions" such as cut, copy, and paste into a horizontal view along the top of the menu. Windows 10's context menu placed those actions vertically alongside everything else, and now Windows 11 is letting users restore that layout for users that want it.

"We know many people have years of muscle memory from the Windows 10 menu, so we’ve added options to bring that feel back. You can list the main commands (Cut, Copy, Paste, Rename, Delete, and Share) inline directly in the menu instead of as a row of icons, and you can move Properties down to the very bottom."

These are genuinely good quality of life improvements coming to Windows 11, and Windows Insiders can download the latest Windows 11 preview builds to begin testing them today. Given that they only just entered preview, I expect we won't see them begin shipping to everyone until later in the fall.

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Microsoft has announced that it's disabling its unique Drag Tray file sharing experience on Windows 11 after feedback from Insiders. After initially rolling out to a small subset of users a number of months ago, it appears the company is now scrapping the concept in favor of something else.

"Based on feedback, we're removing the experience in this build," Microsoft says. "We're continuing to explore improvements in this area and look forward to sharing more about a future replacement experience in a later update."

The Drag Tray experience was a unique way of sharing files from the File Explorer on Windows 11. It has been in testing for well over a year, and appeared at the top of the screen whenever a user grabbed a file with their cursor. Users would be able to drag the file to the top of the screen and drop the file into an app to instantly share it.

The feature works well on paper, but users online complained about the feature when it first began rolling out, with some calling it frustrating and annoying. While some users found it useful, most users did not like its implementation and sought out guides to disable it.

Windows 11 features multiple ways of sharing files. Most users share files by right-clicking on the file in particular, and clicking share, which opens a dedicated share UI window that makes it easy to send the file to contacts or apps that are installed. The drag tray was supposed to be a faster and easier to use alternative.

Microsoft hasn't yet revealed what will replace the Drag Tray, if anything. While the company says that it's exploring improvements in this area, there's no guarantee that the Drag Tray in this implementation will survive. Given the pushback it received from users originally, it's unlikely to return in its current form.

If you're using Windows 11 with the Insider Program, you'll notice the Drag Tray is gone as of the latest preview builds. If you're running production builds of Windows 11, Drag Tray is still available, but it's likely only a matter of time before Microsoft removes it from shipping builds of the OS too.

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I'm a big fan of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) not least because I like Linux, and it means I can run it from the same PC as Windows 11 without the need for virtual machines or dual-booting.

It's been around for quite a while now and is a pretty powerful tool for developers, especially, and it's come to light that for Canonical, at least, WSL might soon be the biggest source of users of Ubuntu.

It comes to light from comments made by Canonical's VP of Engineering, Jon Seagar, actually back in April to The Pragmatic Engineer‘s Gergely Orosz spotted by the team over at Windows Latest.

Not only is Ubuntu growth on WSL continuing to increase, it's actually starting to outpace the desktop. So much so that it's expected that Ubuntu on WSL will soon be bigger than native Ubuntu use.

Obviously Linux is more than just Ubuntu, and its overall use is still dwarfed by Windows 11. But Ubuntu is one of the biggest distros, and this is pretty interesting to hear.

WSL does have GUI support for apps, but it's not the same as running a full desktop, but in most cases, developers and system admins don't need a full desktop. The terminal is just fine, and WSL has seamless integration into Microsoft's VS Code as well.

I've written in the past that WSL is a great tool to use to learn about Linux as a beginner since you can fire it up within the comfortable surroundings of your existing Windows 11 PC. But that same principle can apply for professionals who need access to both.

It's convenient and gives access to the Linux tools needed, including nowadays for AI, and some tools are built specifically for or work best on Linux. But with WSL you have integration with your existing Windows 11 file system.

I use probably 5% of the potential of WSL on my own PC, but it's still one of the first things I set up whenever I'm moving on to a new machine. You're not limited to Ubuntu, either, with Fedora my own distro of preference. But there's plenty to choose from.

Microsoft keeps improving it, too. The most recent development is WSL Containers, and it even has its own version of Linux now for users to deploy in Azure Linux. There are still plenty of cases for having a bare-metal Linux machine, but with Windows 11 and WSL working together, you've got a hybrid that's good enough for many.

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Microsoft is finally paying more attention to some of the oldest parts of Windows 11, and I hope it doesn't stop with the obvious ones.

For years, the operating system has had a strange split personality. Some parts of the system look and feel as if they were designed specifically for Windows 11, while others still feel like they were carried over from much older versions. But that's slowly starting to change.

Microsoft has been modernizing parts of Windows 11 for years, gradually updating interfaces that have remained largely unchanged. We've seen this work arriving in the Run dialog, Task Manager, shell controls, parts of File Explorer, and many other areas. Recently, however, Microsoft has been talking more openly about the challenges of modernizing deeply embedded components and developing the tools and frameworks needed to make that work easier without breaking the functionality people still depend on.

That's encouraging because I don't think the operating system needs another redesign just for a new coat of paint. There are much more important parts that deserve Microsoft's attention.

In particular, there are three classic tools I would like to see Microsoft modernize next, including Device Manager, Event Viewer, and Services.

And when the company eventually gets to work on these tools, I don't want "cheap" replacements that hide the advanced options. I want modern designs that preserve everything the existing tools can do while making them considerably easier to use.

In this guide, I'll highlight the legacy tools I want the company to update with a design that aligns with the style of Windows 11.

1. Device Manager

Device Manager is probably the most obvious place for Microsoft to continue.

It remains one of the first places I go when troubleshooting hardware or driver problems. Yet the experience has barely evolved compared with the rest of the system.

The basic workflow still revolves around expanding a tree of hardware categories, right-clicking a device, opening properties, and digging through a collection of tabs.

It works, but it doesn't feel like a modern tool a regular user would use. Microsoft could turn Device Manager into a much more useful hardware management experience without removing any of its existing capabilities.

I would like to see a modern hardware manager with a proper search box, better filtering, and a more useful device overview.

For example, selecting a graphics card could immediately show the device name and manufacturer, the current driver version and date, and the device state, in addition to options to roll back, uninstall the device, and enable controls.

The important part is that Microsoft shouldn't simply move the existing tree into a prettier WinUI 3 window.

It should rethink how the information is presented. If the system knows a device isn't working correctly, I shouldn't have to hunt through several tabs to find out. The interface should tell me.

Something as simple as a clear status indicator saying "This device is working normally" or "Windows detected a problem with this device" would make the tool considerably more approachable.

At the same time, the company should retain the advanced information that administrators and enthusiasts rely on.

2. Event Viewer

Event Viewer is one of those tools that has plenty of useful information, but finding the information you actually need can be difficult, especially for someone who doesn't use the tool every day.

The bigger problem is that Microsoft already has a better way to understand system problems. Reliability Monitor. It gives you a timeline of crashes, warnings, and other problems, making it much easier to see when something went wrong. However, when you need more details, you're sent back to Event Viewer.

That's where I think Microsoft could do better. Instead of maintaining separate experiences, the company could combine the best parts of Reliability Monitor and Event Viewer into one modern troubleshooting tool.

For example, I should be able to see a timeline of Windows 11 and app problems, search and filter events, group related events, and quickly identify crashes, driver problems, and service failures.

3. Services

The Services console is another tool I'd like the company to modernize, but not because it lacks information. The existing tool already gives you a lot.

In the Extended view, I can select a service and see its description, while the main list shows its status and startup type. Opening the properties gives me even more options, including dependencies, recovery settings, and the account used to run the service.

The problem is that the overall experience still feels like a management console from another era. For example, search could be one of the new features that should make it possible to search for Windows Update, Bluetooth, networking, or even an executable name and quickly find the related services.

Dependencies could also be easier to understand. The information is already there, but I have to open the properties and look through another tab to see it. A modern interface could show those relationships more clearly.

That would be especially useful when troubleshooting. If one service isn't working because another isn't running, Windows 11 could make that relationship clear instead of leaving me to figure it out myself.

I don't want the company to simplify Services by removing its advanced options. I want it to keep everything that's already there and make the tool easier to search, navigate, and understand.

And then there's Task Scheduler

Task Scheduler is another example in which Microsoft already has many of the pieces I would want in a modern tool.

The Create Basic Task wizard makes creating a simple task relatively straightforward. It walks you through the task's name and description, when it should run, what triggers it, and what action it should perform. The problem comes when you need to go beyond the basics.

The full Task Scheduler interface offers a large number of options across multiple tabs, making it difficult to understand how everything fits together. Triggers, actions, conditions, settings, history, and security options are all there, but the experience hasn't evolved much. And that's where I think Microsoft could make a difference.

In this case, I wouldn't want the company to change those advanced options. Instead, it could build a modern interface around them, making it easier to understand what a task does, why it runs, what it launches, and whether it's working correctly. All, while keeping the existing advanced configuration available when needed.

Again, the functionality isn't necessarily the problem. The experience is.

If Microsoft isn't sure where to start, there's already an open-source project called FluentTaskScheduler, which I recently covered, that offers a modern take on the Task Scheduler experience.

Some legacy tools don't need a replacement

I'm fine with Microsoft moving Disk Management into the Settings app because it's already heading in that direction with Disks & volumes.

The same applies to Computer Management. I don't think the company needs to create a modern version of the entire console. A lot of the tools inside it already exist separately, including Device Manager, Services, Event Viewer, and Task Scheduler.

The parts that remain particularly useful, such as Shared Folders and Local Users and Groups, could eventually receive their own modern experiences. Or these could become part of the "Accounts" settings.

Microsoft doesn't need to reinvent these tools

I don't expect the software giant to rebuild every classic utility from scratch. I also don't think every legacy tool needs to disappear.

Some of these tools exist because the operating system has accumulated decades of functionality, compatibility requirements, and enterprise dependencies. Microsoft has already acknowledged that replacing deeply integrated components isn't as simple as building a new interface and deleting the old one because of functionality and compatibility.

That's why I like the direction Microsoft appears to be taking. The company recently indicated that it is looking to modernize the Registry Editor, one of the oldest and most recognizable administrative tools in the operating system. At the same time, the company has already been experimenting with a new Print Management app inside Windows 11 Insider builds, showing that some of these long-standing management experiences can be replaced with dedicated modern apps rather than simply being given a new coat of paint.

Microsoft doesn't need to modernize the operating system by throwing away everything that came before it. It can take the functionality people already depend on, put it behind a better interface, and gradually roll these experiences into Windows 11.

Device Manager, Event Viewer, and Services would be a very good place to start.

If the company can modernize those tools while preserving the advanced functionality that makes them useful, I'll take that over another visual refresh any day.

Which classic tool do you think Microsoft should modernize next, and what would you change about it? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Windows 11 has a major update on the way, and that update promises to address some of the loudest complaints about the operating system. August is traditionally a slow month for Windows news, but thanks to some previews of what’s on the way next month, we have a lot to talk about.

Microsoft’s refreshed taskbar, customizable Start menu, and other improvements are all in the final stages of testing. Microsoft confirmed that a major Windows update is on the way very soon. But my question is, should that major update have been Windows 12?

Biggest News of the Week

It’s worth asking what a new operating system even is in 2026. As opposed to historical upgrades, the kernel and underlying code base of Windows stays largely the same when jumping between major version numbers. We’re well past the days of major architectural changes or code based swaps that make old software incompatible, at least when it comes to computers.

Is a new Start menu or a revamped taskbar set of options enough to justify calling a new OS Windows 12? Perhaps a revamped Settings app or an upgraded core experience for connecting your phone to your PC is enough to do it. There’s a fine line between a UI overhaul and a fresh coat of paint when it comes to making a new operating system.

Is the Damage Already Done?

The core question about keeping the Windows 11 name or upgrading to Windows 12 is if the damage has already been done or, in other words, is it even possible to save Windows 11 in the eyes of the public?

Windows 11 launched in controversy. The minimum requirements of the operating system made millions of PCs ineligible for an upgrade. Other decisions from Microsoft, such as rebuilding the taskbar without all of the options available in previous versions of Windows, also drew criticism.

I’m among the critics of Windows 11. I’ve pointed out several of the flaws in the operating system and mistakes I feel Microsoft has made. But I’m also a newswriter for a niche website that focuses on Windows. The general public may not be so passionate.

If Windows 11 is a lost cause, Microsoft should gather together a bunch of the changes from the Windows K2 initiative and package them into Windows 12.

Learning the Right Lessons

If there ever is a Windows 12, I’m worried that Microsoft would have it focused on the wrong things. One of my favorite podcasts often says Hollywood learns the wrong lessons when a movie makes money. I think that could be the case with Windows 12.

Microsoft is trying to be better with Windows 11 and its K2 initiative shows promising signs, but part of me still worries that the higher-ups of Microsoft will think AI PCs are the future and use the sales of Copilot+ PCs to justify a Windows 12 centered around artificial intelligence.

But it’s not that Copilot+ PCs are must-have devices and that consumers are running into stores to find PCs capable of running AI. If you make the models of the best-selling PCs Copilot+ PCs and then those computers continue to sell, that’s not a sign that people want Copilot+ PCs. If you cram AI into every computer on the market, you can’t then justify making Windows 12 AI-focused by saying every PC is AI capable.

A hypothetical Windows 12 should be about moving past the stains that cover Windows 11. It will have been long enough since people bought new PCs that the TPM 2.0 requirement will not be as big of a deal. Additionally, Microsoft will have fixed the major user interface issues that have drawn so many complaints over the years.

Shopping with Sean

My top pick for shoppers this week is the XPS 14 (2025). That laptop is still on sale and is still one of the best bargains available. I love the XPS 14's design and a $1,150 discount on a PC with 32GB of RAM is rare these days.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Last month, I revealed that Microsoft was hard at work on a redesigned context menu system for Windows 11 that's designed to make them faster and more customizable. Now, we've got our first look at the new context menu customization features, discovered hidden in the latest Windows 11 preview builds, and I've been trying them out!

Soon, you'll see a new customize menu option appear at the bottom of the context menu. When selected, you'll be taken into the Windows Settings app where you'll see a wide array of new options that allow you to configure the layout and actions that appear within the context menu.

The toggleable actions presented to the user are:

• Send to
• Prin
• Create shortcut
• Copy as path
• Rotate image
• App extensions
• Arrange primary actions inline
• Keep cloud storage actions in their own section

These options allow users to hide certain actions that they might not often use, speeding up the context menu in the process. Additionally, Microsoft is adding an option that lets you change how actions like cut, copy, and paste appear within the menu.

By default, these primary actions appear at the top of the menu in a horizontal layout. This new option will let users restore how they used to appear on Windows 10 and older, where they are listed vertically alongside the other actions within the menu.

It's also worth noting that by default, the context menu has most actions disabled automatically. That means the context menu will be fast for users automatically when these changes roll out, and you'll have to head into the customization options to add back any actions you find useful.

These new customization options are really great to see, and show that Microsoft is finally listening to feedback when it comes to common UI surface such as the context menu.

The legacy Windows context menu is also still present, and while it no longer appears as an option in the context menu by default, you can still go in and enable that action if that's something you find yourself using. Notably, there's still no option to set the legacy context menu to be the default experience.

In the meantime, we know the new customizable context menu options are imminent, with an announcement from Microsoft expected in the next week or two.

Thanks to phantomofearth for discovering and helping me enable the feature to try out!

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

When Microsoft made the launch of Windows 11 back in October 2021, the company touted it as the biggest visual redesign of the operating system in years. The centered Start menu, redesigned Taskbar, rounded corners, and refreshed interface gave the system a cleaner, more modern look while introducing new productivity features like Snap Layouts and a redesigned Microsoft Store.

Although the operating system now looked fresh and modern, the first release left plenty of room for improvement. A lot of the features that users were familiar with from Windows 10 were either missing or had been scaled back. File Explorer did not have tabs, the Taskbar lost several customization options, and many advanced settings still sent users to the Control Panel.

Furthermore, even the new right-click menu could make simple tasks take an extra step. Also, adding to the mix were some early performance problems and a mix of new and old interfaces, and Windows 11 often felt like an operating system that was still being put together.

Five years later, the operating system has evolved considerably. Microsoft has delivered annual feature updates, dozens of cumulative updates, thousands of bug fixes, and an expanding set of AI-powered capabilities. Along the way, the company has restored requested features, improved performance, modernized more of the interface, and refined many of the areas that drew criticism at launch.

That doesn't necessarily mean every change has been for the better. While the operating system has become faster, more capable, and more polished, Microsoft has also introduced new requirements and experiences that some users view as steps backward, such as a greater emphasis on Microsoft accounts and online services during setup.

So, how different is Windows 11 today compared to the version that debuted in 2021?

In this guide, I'll compare the two side by side to see how much the operating system has really changed over the past five years.

This comparison includes features and changes that Microsoft is still rolling out or developing at the time of this writing. Some features may not yet be available on all devices and could change before they become generally available in future Windows 11 updates.

Windows 11 first impressions

The desktop is probably the easiest place to see how the operating system has changed. When Microsoft introduced Windows 11, it brought a new visual style with rounded corners, updated icons, a centered Taskbar, and a simpler overall look. It was a noticeable change from its predecessor, but some parts of the experience still felt unfinished behind the new design.

Five years later, the desktop remains instantly recognizable, yet it feels far more polished. The software giant has refined the Taskbar, improved the Start menu, modernized more system components, and added new AI-powered experiences, all while making the operating system faster and more consistent.

The transformation isn't defined by a single feature. Instead, it's the result of hundreds of incremental improvements that have gradually turned Windows 11 into a more complete operating system.

In 2026, at first glance, Windows 11 still retains the familiarity of the version released back in 2021. You can see this in the centered Taskbar, rounded corners, and overall design are still there. However, you can notice the changes once you start using it.

The company has also brought back features that were missing at launch, added new options, and made many everyday tasks feel quicker and easier.

Start menu: From basic to more flexible

On Windows 11, the Start menu was one of the most controversial redesigns. In this new version, Microsoft replaced the Live Tiles with a simpler launcher focused on pinned apps and recommended content.

Although the cleaner look matched the new design language, it also removed many of the customization options users had relied on.

Windows 11 (2021)

The original Start menu prioritized simplicity over customization. It introduced a centered layout with pinned apps and recommendations. However, users couldn't resize the menu, hide recommendations completely, or organize the elements as freely as they could on Windows 10.

For many people, it felt more like an app launcher than the central hub users were accustomed to.

Windows 11 (2026)

Today, the Start menu keeps the same visual identity but offers considerably more control. Microsoft has added Small, Large, and Automatic size options, giving users more control over how much space the menu takes up. The company has also improved the organization of pinned and recent content and added more controls for customizing what appears in the menu.

Although it still doesn't replicate the Start menu from Windows 10, the newer design strikes a better balance between simplicity and flexibility.

Taskbar: It had to be rebuilt

The Taskbar quickly became one of the biggest complaints about Windows 11. Although Microsoft modernized its appearance with centered icons and a simplified design, it also removed several long-standing features that many users considered essential.

Windows 11 (2021)

The first version of the Taskbar focused on a cleaner interface but came with significant compromises. For example, features such as drag and drop, app labels, and the never combine option were removed, the right-click menu was reduced to a single shortcut, and the Taskbar could no longer be moved to other edges of the screen.

While the redesign looked modern, it also disrupted the familiar workflows.

Windows 11 (2026)

Microsoft spent the following years restoring many of the missing capabilities and adding more control. Also, the drag-and-drop support was added back, app labels and never combine became available again, and the system tray gained additional refinements and customization options. Microsoft has also brought back the ability to change the Taskbar's position, allowing it to be placed at the top, left, or right of the screen.

The Taskbar still follows the same basic visual design introduced in 2021, but it is now far more practical and customizable for everyday use.

File Explorer: From missing essentials to modern

File Explorer is one of the examples that shows how the operating system matured over the years. The version of the file manager introduced a modern interface with new icons and a simplified command bar, but many of the productivity features users expected were still missing. It looked modern, yet much of the experience remained familiar.

Since then, Microsoft has expanded File Explorer with features that make everyday file management more useful. The company added tabs, Gallery, better cloud integration, improved thumbnails, and several smaller changes that make browsing and managing files easier.

Windows 11 (2021)

At launch, File Explorer received one of the first major visual updates in years. Microsoft replaced the traditional Ribbon interface with a cleaner command bar, updated icons, and a simplified design that matched the rest of the operating system.

However, the redesign was mostly cosmetic. A lot of the improvements users had been requesting were still missing. File Explorer launched without tabs, navigation between folders could feel slower than expected, and the redesigned context menu often required an extra step to access older commands. The experience looked more modern, but it still felt like a transition between the old and new versions of Windows.

For many users, File Explorer represented the broader Windows 11 launch experience. It had a refreshed appearance, but it still needed more time to mature.

Windows 11 (2026)

Five years later, File Explorer has become one of the strongest examples of Microsoft's gradual modernization effort. The company has added tabs, Gallery, a redesigned Home experience, improved thumbnails, better cloud integration, and clearer file-size information. Users can also middle-click to open folders in new tabs, making navigation more convenient.

Performance has also become a major focus. Everyday tasks such as opening folders, switching between tabs, loading previews, and searching through files feel more responsive compared with the original release.

While some legacy elements remain, File Explorer on Windows 11 (2026) feels much closer to the modern file manager Microsoft has been building toward. It keeps the familiar workflow while adding many of the productivity features users had expected for years.

Settings: The long transition

The Settings app has been one of the longest-running modernization projects for the company. When the new version of the operating system launched, Microsoft continued moving options away from the traditional Control Panel and into a redesigned Settings experience. However, the transition was far from complete.

The experience for configuring the system was inconsistent because some settings felt modern and easy to navigate, while others still redirected users to older interfaces. Five years later, Microsoft has continued expanding Settings, adding more controls, improving navigation, and reducing the number of times users need to open legacy tools.

Windows 11 (2021)

Originally, the Settings app received a refreshed design with a new navigation layout, updated pages, and a cleaner interface that matched the operating system's visual changes.

However, the modernization was far from complete. A lot of advanced options still opened Control Panel or older dialog boxes, creating an inconsistent experience. Finding specific options could also be frustrating because some controls were organized differently compared to Windows 10.

The Settings app represented one of the biggest challenges Microsoft faced with Windows 11. The company wanted to create a modern management experience, but decades of legacy components made a complete transition difficult.

Windows 11 (2026)

Five years later, the Settings app has become a much more capable replacement for many traditional Control Panel experiences. Microsoft has continued moving features into Settings, improved search, reorganized pages, and added more controls for managing devices, personalization, accounts, and system features.

The experience is more consistent than it was at launch, especially for everyday tasks such as managing displays, Bluetooth devices, power settings, personalization, and Windows Update.

However, the transition is still not fully complete. For instance, some advanced tools and legacy configuration pages still exist, and that shows that modernizing the operating system is a gradual process that must also maintain compatibility with older features and apps.

Productivity: Smarter Search, multitasking, and Widgets

One of the goals with the release of Windows 11 was to make everyday tasks easier, whether users were looking for files, managing multiple apps, or getting information without opening additional apps. At launch, the operating system introduced features such as Snap Layouts and Widgets, while Windows Search continued the experience users already knew on Windows 10.

However, many of these features were still in their early stages. Search relied mostly on keywords, Snap Layouts offered useful but limited window management, and Widgets focused heavily on news and Microsoft services.

Today, these experiences have improved considerably. Microsoft has expanded Search, refined multitasking tools, and added more controls to Widgets. Together, these changes show how Windows 11 has developed beyond its original desktop redesign.

Windows 11 (2021)

In the original release, Microsoft introduced several features designed to improve productivity, but many were still in their early stages.

Windows Search provided a familiar way to find apps, settings, and files, but it relied mainly on traditional keyword matching and could sometimes struggle to return useful results quickly.

Snap Layouts was one of the more useful additions, giving users predefined window arrangements that made multitasking easier. However, the feature offered fewer layout options and less flexibility than the experience available today.

Widgets introduced a new way to access information from the desktop, but the original implementation focused heavily on news, weather, and Microsoft services. For many users, it felt more like an information panel than a productivity tool.

Windows 11 (2026)

Today, Microsoft has expanded these features and added more ways to get things done.

Windows Search now includes improvements such as better indexing, typo correction, improved local results, and AI-powered capabilities on supported devices. Recent updates have also improved how Search handles short queries and understands what users are looking for.

Microsoft has also introduced AI-powered capabilities for finding and changing settings on supported devices, allowing some configurations to be located and applied more easily.

The company is also working on a new search experience that replaces Windows Search with Ask Copilot in the Taskbar, using AI and natural language to search for files, settings, apps, and virtually anything else.

Snap Layouts has matured with better layout suggestions and improved support for larger displays and multiple monitors, making it easier to arrange several applications.

Widgets have also gained more personalization options and additional integrations. While news and information remain part of the experience, users have more control over what appears in the panel.

Copilot and AI: The biggest change?

Microsoft's decision to integrate AI into Windows 11 is perhaps the biggest difference between the 2026 and 2021 versions. When the company introduced the operating system, AI was not part of the desktop experience. The focus was on a redesigned interface, productivity improvements, and a more modern foundation.

Over the following years, the software giant shifted the operating system into a platform powered by AI. Copilot became part of the operating system, new AI features arrived on Copilot+ PCs, and Microsoft began integrating AI into areas such as search, accessibility, creativity, and system interactions.

The change has been significant, but it has also created a new debate around Windows 11. While some users see AI as the next major step for personal computing, many others question whether these features improve everyday tasks or add more complexity.

The comparison below shows how Windows 11 evolved from an operating system without built-in AI experiences into one designed around the company's vision of intelligent computing.

Windows 11 (2021)

Originally, AI was not a central part of the operating system. The experience focused on traditional desktop features.

Windows Search remained a conventional tool based mostly on keywords and indexing. Voice features, accessibility tools, and system assistance existed, but they were not powered by the newer AI capabilities Microsoft would introduce later.

The original Windows 11 experience also lacked dedicated AI hardware features. There were no Copilot+ PCs, no built-in AI assistant integrated into the desktop, and no local AI models designed to run directly on compatible devices.

At the time, Windows 11 represented a visual and usability redesign. AI would become the next major chapter in its evolution.

Windows 11 (2026)

Several years later, AI has become one of the defining parts of Windows 11. Microsoft introduced Copilot as an integrated assistant and expanded AI capabilities across the operating system, especially on newer Copilot+ PCs with dedicated neural processing units (NPUs).

Modern Windows 11 includes AI-powered experiences such as improved Search, Recall, Click to Do, enhanced voice features, and creative tools designed to help users complete tasks faster. Accessibility has also benefited from AI through improved voice interaction, captions, and other assistive features.

The biggest change is that the operating system is no longer only reacting to commands. Microsoft is building toward an operating system that can understand context and help users complete tasks more naturally.

However, AI has also become one of the most debated parts of Windows 11. Features like Recall and increased integration with Microsoft services have raised questions about privacy, control, and whether every user wants AI built into their everyday computing experience.

Performance: Why Windows 11 feels different

Performance was one of the biggest concerns surrounding Windows 11 in its early days. The operating system looked modern, but some users encountered sluggish animations, slow File Explorer responses, high memory usage, and inconsistent responsiveness. For an operating system built on the same Windows 10 foundation, those problems made the visual redesign feel less convincing.

Microsoft has spent the years since launch improving responsiveness, resource management, and overall reliability. The company has also made performance a major focus of its broader Windows K2 work, with improvements designed to make everyday interactions feel faster without requiring more powerful hardware.

The difference is not always something that can be captured in a screenshot. Unlike the Start menu or File Explorer, performance is something users experience through hundreds of small interactions throughout the day.

Windows 11 (2021)

The original release could feel less responsive than Windows 10 on some systems, particularly during everyday tasks such as opening File Explorer, switching between windows, or interacting with the Taskbar and Start menu.

Some of these problems were related to animations and transitions that could feel sluggish. File Explorer also experienced performance issues in early releases, while memory management and background processes could cause responsiveness issues on systems with limited resources.

The result was an operating system that sometimes looked faster and more modern than it actually felt.

Windows 11 (2026)

Half a decade of updates have made Windows 11 a more responsive operating system. Microsoft has optimized core components, improved File Explorer performance, refined animations, and continued to reduce the delays users experienced in earlier releases.

Recent work under the Windows K2 initiative has placed an even greater emphasis on responsiveness, resource management, reliability, and reducing unnecessary overhead. Microsoft has also introduced improvements designed to make interactive tasks feel faster without simply relying on more powerful hardware.

Windows 11 is not universally faster on every piece of hardware, but the overall experience is considerably more mature than it was at launch. A lot of the small delays that made the 2021 release feel unfinished have either been reduced or eliminated. However, a lot of work still needs to be done.

Security and accessibility: Stronger protection

Security and accessibility have both evolved significantly since the first release of the operating system. In 2021, the company made hardware-backed security a bigger part of the operating system by requiring features such as TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot.

Also, accessibility tools such as Narrator, Magnifier, and Voice Access provided the foundation for a more inclusive experience. Now, in 2026, Windows 11 offers stronger security protections and more accessibility features.

For example, Microsoft has expanded Windows Hello, introduced Enhanced Sign-in Security, improved voice and captioning experiences, added Administrator Protection, and added AI-powered capabilities that can make the operating system easier to use for people with different needs.

Windows 11 (2021)

Security was one of the defining changes in the original Windows 11 release. Microsoft required TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot on supported systems and continued promoting Windows Hello as a more secure alternative to traditional passwords.

The operating system also included a strong foundation for accessibility, with tools such as Narrator, Magnifier, and high-contrast options. Voice Access was available in a more limited form, while features such as Live Captions were still relatively new.

At launch, the focus was largely on establishing stronger hardware-backed security and improving the accessibility features already available in the system.

Windows 11 (2026)

Security has become more deeply integrated into the experience. Microsoft has expanded protections such as Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security, improved support for passkeys, added Administrator Protection, and strengthened defenses against malicious applications and other threats.

Accessibility has also become more capable. Voice Access provides more natural ways to control the desktop experience, Live Captions have become more useful, and newer AI-powered capabilities can help users interact with the operating system in ways that were not possible in 2021.

The biggest change is that security and accessibility are no longer just collections of separate tools. They are increasingly built into the way Windows 11 works, from how users sign in and protect their devices to how they interact with the desktop.

Setup experience: From easier to more connected

The Windows 11 setup experience has changed in an important way since 2021. The original release already encouraged users to connect their devices to the internet and use a Microsoft account. However, it was still possible to find ways around the requirement and create a local account. The option was not always obvious, but users had more control over how they configured a new installation.

By 2026, Microsoft has pushed the setup process further toward a connected experience. Internet access and a Microsoft account have become more central to the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE). In contrast, local account setup has become increasingly difficult to access through the normal setup process.

This makes the setup experience one of the areas where Windows 11 has not simply evolved, but has also changed how people should use the operating system.

Windows 11 (2021)

The original setup process introduced a stronger push toward Microsoft accounts and online connectivity, particularly on Windows 11 Home. However, users could still create a local account by finding the appropriate setup option or using workarounds when the option was not immediately presented.

That gave users more flexibility when setting up a computer without wanting to connect their installation to Microsoft's cloud services.

The setup experience was also relatively straightforward once the initial account and network requirements were handled. The emphasis was on getting the system ready to use rather than introducing users to a growing collection of online services.

Windows 11 (2026)

The setup experience is now much more tightly connected to Microsoft's online ecosystem. The company has continued to make a Microsoft account and an internet connection central requirements for setting up Windows 11, while eliminating the local account option for home consumers.

This approach makes it easier to connect services such as OneDrive, Windows Backup, Microsoft Store, and other account-based features from the beginning. However, it also gives users less choice during setup, particularly those who want a traditional local offline account.

The change is significant because it reflects a different perspective from Windows 11, which launched in 2021. Microsoft is no longer treating the computer as an isolated device. It increasingly sees the operating system as part of a connected Microsoft account and cloud ecosystem.

What Windows 11 still hasn't fixed

Five years of updates have transformed Windows 11, but the operating system is still not completely consistent. Microsoft has modernized many of the areas that felt outdated at launch, yet some of the same problems that frustrated users in 2021 remain in one form or another.

The difference is that these issues are no longer spread across the entire operating system. They are increasingly concentrated in specific parts of Windows 11, particularly areas where Microsoft has to maintain compatibility with decades-old components and applications.

Windows 11 (2021)

The original release exposed many of these inconsistencies. Windows 11 introduced a modern Settings app, but many advanced options still opened in the older Control Panel experience and legacy dialogs. Different parts of the operating system often followed different design rules, making the experience feel like a mix of new and old.

Microsoft also faced criticism over limited customization, aggressive Microsoft account integration, and the reduction of familiar features.

Windows 11 (2026)

Windows 11 is considerably more polished, but some of those issues remain.

Legacy components are still visible in parts of the operating system, particularly advanced configuration tools and older dialogs.

Control Panel has not completely disappeared. Microsoft has moved many settings into the Settings app, but some functionality still depends on legacy interfaces.

Microsoft account integration is stronger. This makes services such as OneDrive, Windows Backup, and Microsoft Store easier to connect, but users who prefer a local account have fewer obvious choices during setup.

AI remains controversial. Microsoft has added AI to more parts of the operating system, but not everyone wants an assistant, AI search, or AI-powered features built in.

Promotions and recommendations remain part of the experience. Start menu recommendations, account prompts, Microsoft service integrations, and other promotional elements can sometimes make Windows 11 feel more like a platform for Microsoft's services.

Updates can still cause problems. Microsoft has improved the update and recovery experience, but system updates can still introduce bugs or compatibility issues.

The important difference is that these problems no longer define the entire Windows 11 experience. In 2021, inconsistencies and missing features were difficult to ignore. In 2026, they are increasingly the remaining pieces of an operating system that has otherwise matured considerably.

Windows 11 (2021) vs. Windows 11 (2026): The verdict

The question isn't whether Windows 11 changed. It clearly did.

The better question is whether Microsoft fixed enough of the problems that made the original release feel unfinished.

Windows Central's Take

In my opinion, Windows 11 is a much better operating system than the one shipped in 2021, but that improvement also says a lot about how rough the original release was. A lot of the familiar features were removed in the name of a cleaner design, and Microsoft ultimately spent years putting much of that functionality back.

What I appreciate more now is that Windows 11 feels less like a redesign layered over Windows 10 and more like its own operating system. File Explorer, the Taskbar, Start menu, Settings, and overall responsiveness have all moved in the right direction. The changes aren't always dramatic, but after using this experience for years, those small improvements add up.

My bigger concern is the direction Microsoft is taking the operating system rather than how it looks. The stronger push toward Microsoft accounts, cloud services, and AI gives Windows 11 capabilities that didn't exist in 2021, but it also makes the experience feel less user-controlled in some areas. I don't think every computer needs to be treated like a gateway to Microsoft's services. Users should have direct control of what they want.

For someone using Windows 11 today, I wouldn't recommend avoiding the operating system because of the problems it had at launch. Five years of updates have made a real difference. At the same time, I wouldn't pretend Microsoft has finished the job. The remaining legacy components, account push, and inconsistent experiences show that Windows 11 is still being rebuilt while millions of people are using it.

However, important to note that through its new Windows K2 initiative, Microsoft has been working to address many of the pain points in the operating system.

What do you think about how much Windows 11 has changed since 2021? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

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Earlier this year, Microsoft announced big updates for the Start menu and Taskbar on Windows 11 that would address users biggest complaints and bring highly requested features and functionality to the OS. Those changes include the ability to move and resize the Taskbar, as well as customize the size and different sections that appear within the Start menu.

Those features have been in public preview ever since, but those outside of the Windows Insider Program are yet to experience these new features. Now however, Microsoft has confirmed that it's now gearing up to ship the updated Taskbar and Start menu to everyone next month, as the features are now in the final Windows Preview Channel before public rollout.

As of yesterday, the movable and resizable Taskbar, along with the customizable Start menu, and other polish and quality of life improvements, made their way to the Windows 11 Release Preview Channel. This is the last stop before features begin shipping in public, non-Insider updates.

Usually, when a feature lands in the Release Preview Channel, it's no more than two or three weeks away from appearing in a public update. Usually, that's with the non-security feature preview update that drops at the end of every month, followed by the security-focused Patch Tuesday which is released on the second Tuesday of every month.

That means if everything goes according to plan, the new Taskbar and Start menu updates will begin rolling out later this month for users with the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" toggle in Windows Update switched on, and next month for everyone else.

This is the big user experience update people have been waiting for on Windows 11 this year. The ability to move and resize the Taskbar made headlines when it was announced that it was coming to Windows 11 earlier this year, with a lot of Windows 10 holdouts claiming that the lack of this feature was one reason why they hadn't yet moved to Windows 11.

Microsoft is slowly but surely ensuring that Windows 10 users feel comfortable with the move to Windows 11, and ensuring that functionality that Windows 10 already has is also available on Windows 11 is one way of doing that. Being able to turn off entire sections of Start, as well as resize the menu itself, will be useful for those who enjoyed tweaking the Windows 10 Start menu too.

If you don't want to wait any longer, you can join the Windows Insider Release Preview Channel today to get access to the new features as soon as possible. The quality of code in the Release Preview Channel is usually representative of the final product, meaning the code being previewed in the Release Preview channel now is what will begin shipping in the next handful of weeks.

If you do choose to enroll in the Release Preview channel, be warned that Microsoft is rolling out the new Start menu and Taskbar in waves, so you may not see it right away. This will likely also be the case when the update is released generally, as Microsoft utilized a phased and measured rollout approach to ensure the new features aren't breaking things.

Microsoft has many more quality of life improvements in the works for Windows 11, many of which are expected to begin shipping towards the end of this year and into 2027. Improvements such as better performance and responsiveness in apps and UI surfaces like the Start menu are still to come, as the OS begins adopting WinUI across more areas of the interface.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

After years of waiting, you will finally be able to move your taskbar on Windows 11. But you still have to wait just a bit longer.

The latest Windows 11 Insider Preview builds include the option to move the taskbar to the top or either side of the screen. Assuming all goes well with testing, that change should ship with the September Patch Tuesday update. But Windows Insiders in the Release Preview Channel can start moving their taskbar right now.

The same update also brings the option to make the taskbar smaller on Windows 11, which maximizes screen space on smaller devices.

These changes should sound familiar to anyone who follows the development of Windows 11. They're among the several improvements that are on the way to Windows 11 this fall.

Other improvements include a more customizable Start menu, improved Windows Search, and a faster File Explorer.

The full change log for the latest Insider builds breaks down everything that's new.

Build 26100.9267/26200.9267

• [Taskbar] This update gives you more ways to customize the taskbar to match how you work and make better use of screen space.
  • New! You can now choose whether the taskbar appears at the bottom, top, left, or right side of your screen. In these other positions, tooltips, flyouts, and animations still come from the taskbar, and most customization settings, such as never combining taskbar icons, work with all locations. The search box and smaller taskbar are currently supported only for top and bottom positions. To change the position of the taskbar, go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors > Taskbar position.
  • New! A smaller taskbar option is now available to help maximize screen space on smaller devices. This experience reduces the size of taskbar icons and the taskbar height while maintaining access to key features such as Start, Search, and the system tray. To change your taskbar size, go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors > Taskbar size. When set to Small, both the icons and the taskbar height become smaller.
  • New! The Taskbar behaviors section of the Taskbar settings page is now expanded by default for improved discoverability.
  • This update improves reliability when loading the system tray area of the taskbar on non-touch PCs.
• [Start menu] This update makes the Start menu more personal with several customizations.
  • New! You can choose between a small or large Start menu, in addition to the Automatic (default) option that's available today. To customize this setting, go to Settings > Personalization > Start > Start menu size.
  • New! The Recommended section is renamed Recent in the Start menu and on the Start settings page (Settings > Personalization > Start).
  • New! You can now hide your name and profile picture in Start by going to Settings > Personalization > Start > Hide your name and profile picture on Start.
  • New! The Start menu settings page is now redesigned with section-level toggles to independently show or hide Pinned, Recent, and All.
• [Windows Search] This update includes improvements that make Windows Search more dependable, easier to scan, and clearer before you select a result.
  • New! Search home is simplified to reduce visual clutter and make it easier to get back to recent searches quickly.
  • New! Search does a better job of showing where a result comes from, such as an app, setting, file, web result, or Microsoft Store suggestion. It's easier to tell what you're looking at and where you'll go before you select a result.
  • New! A new setting in Settings > Privacy & security > Search lets you choose whether web and Microsoft Store suggestions appear alongside local results.
  • New! Windows now automatically indexes your most used folders so that files in those folders appear in subsequent search results. You can control the setting in Settings > Privacy & security > Search > Automatically find additional relevant locations.
• [File Explorer]
  • New! File Explorer Home now launches faster and is more responsive.
  • New! The Recommended section on Home now supports touch scrolling, making it easier to browse files in the carousel.
• [General design] New! This update introduces updated progress indicators across Windows, providing a more consistent and modern experience during startup, sign-in, restart, shutdown, and update installation.
• [Windows Share] New! This update adds the ability for users signed in with a work or school account to discover and install relevant apps directly from the share window. To manage this experience, go to Settings > System > Share and select Show suggested apps in share surfaces.
• [Administrator protection] New! Administrator protection aims to protect free-floating admin rights for administrators. It enables users to perform administrative tasks using just-in-time privileges. Administrator protection isn't classified as a formal security boundary. It hardens security against elevation-of-privilege attacks by introducing profile separation. This feature is turned off by default and can be enabled using OMA-URI in Microsoft Intune or through Group Policy. This feature was previously disclosed in October 2025 (KB5067036) and is now beginning to roll out.
• [Multiple desktops] Switching between virtual desktops is now smoother and more responsive.
• [Display and graphics]
  • This update improves reliability when navigating to and interacting with Settings > System > Display.
  • This update improves the persistence of your previous brightness setting after energy saver turns off.
• [Task Manager] This update improves reliability when displaying app history information in Task Manager.
• [Windows Setup]
  • This update streamlines the experience for selecting a secondary keyboard during Windows setup, making it easier to skip when it isn't needed.
  • This update improves the Get Started app with new App install, Site pinning, and Theme pages to help you personalize your device and discover new features.
• [Windows Update] This update improves restart behavior so PCs that were manually put to sleep return to sleep after completing an update, even when automatic sleep is set to Never.
• [Network]
  • This update improves resiliency and recovery from potential VPN-related background issues that can cause processes to stop responding.
  • This update improves the output of the netsh wlan show wlanreport command for Japanese users.
• [Input]
  • This update improves the reliability of typing with the Japanese IME by reducing potential hangs.
  • This update improves the persistence of voice typing settings for automatic punctuation and the launcher.
• [Cryptography] The post-quantum cryptography algorithm ML-KEM can now be used as a standalone algorithm for TLS key exchange, in addition to the hybrid groups added previously.
• [Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC)] Starting in August 2026, Windows 11, versions 24H2 and 25H2 no longer include the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) utility. WMIC is already removed by default in new installations of Windows 11, versions 24H2 and 25H2, and is no longer available as a Feature on Demand (FoD). This change affects only the WMIC utility. Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) remains supported. To learn more, see Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) removal from Windows.

Almost everything new in these builds is rolling out gradually. The normal rollout only includes "Additional quality improvements," according to the change log.

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Fellow Canadian Dave W. Plummer is a legendary programmer who created some of Microsoft's most recognizable (and lasting) software.

Not only did he create ZIP file support for Windows and get Space Cadet Pinball running on Windows NT, but he also created Windows Task Manager. As the story goes, Plummer began working on Task Manager at home before bringing it into Microsoft. It began shipping on Windows PCs in 1996, and the rest is history.

Well, sort of.

Plummer has been a regular figure on social media and YouTube (check out Dave's Garage) for years, and I particularly enjoy his stories and insights regarding the early days of Microsoft and Windows.

Earlier this year, Plummer shared a mockup of what Task Manager would probably look like if he'd never left Microsoft in 2003 to start his own software company.

The example was bathed in neon lighting for a definitive cyberpunk vibe, and of course it was accompanied by a hard-hitting synthwave soundtrack.

It's been about six months since Plummer showed off the concept, and he's now returned with a working version of what he calls "Task Manager OG," or TMOG for short.

It's not quite as cyberpunk as the original idea. The neon lighting is still there, but it's toned down, and the synthwave soundtrack seems to have been replaced with classic rock tunes.

Plummer explains that he created TMOG to have "the clarity of Activity Monitor" from macOS with "the depth of Task Manager" from Windows. The software has all the main information about CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, temps, etc. up front, with much deeper diagnostics sitting just below.

Perhaps the best part is that Plummer says his OG version of Task Manager is "half the size of the Windows Task Manager."

Here's the rub. Plummer's Task Manager OG is, for now, only available on macOS. But as Plummer states, "Windows support will follow shortly." That's a bit of a bummer because I wanted to test it out myself; alas, I'm fresh out of Macs in my office.

Plummer has a full website set up for TMOG, where you can download the beta for free (currently for macOS only). The upcoming Windows version of TMOG is listed as native Win32, with no browser shell required.

There's another Task Manager alternative I've been enjoying

While I wait patiently to test out Plummer's Task Manager OG on Windows, I should remind readers that earlier this year I made the switch to AppControl.

It's a Windows 11 Task Manager alternative that I found quite capable, and I went so far as to say that AppControl is what the stock Windows 11 Task Manager should have been all along.

AppControl is available to download for free directly from the official website. It doesn't require any registration to use, and it's stated that the app collects "little to no data by default."

What do you think about the cyberpunk-esque look of Plummer's Task Manager OG? Is it something you'll try out on your Windows PC once it's available? Will you test it out on your Mac first? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below!

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Stardock just announced AltTabby, an alternative to the Alt+Tab experience on Windows 11. The app switcher supports customizable layouts, smart grouping, application pinning, and keyboard shortcuts. The app plays nicely with other utilities from Stardock, such as allowing you to customize how Groupy groups behave.

Stardock reached out to me ahead of the release of the app and sent over a code to let me try AltTabby. I've never thought much about the Alt+Tab experience, so I lacked any ideas on how to improve it. I've always just pressed Alt+Tab to switch between apps without thinking.

AltTabby lets you do that, of course, but it has some nice options for customization that are worth a look.

Of the five views in AltTabby, I prefer the carousel. That view feels natural, and switching between apps flows smoothly. I like that I can customize things like window color as well.

I'm not a fan of the icons view or the classic icons view. I find both too crowded and compact. But I can see why people would like the minimal designs. The Icons view has a search box along the top that's handy.

If you want to use the search box in any of the views that support it, I suggest enabling the option to "Keep AltTabby interface open when hotkeys are released." This keeps the AltTabby view on your screen until you click elsewhere.

If you use multiple monitors, you'll want to take advantage of options like having apps from all displays appear or limiting the view to just your current monitor.

AltTabby can learn your most frequently used windows to show those prominently or be set to just show all of your windows sorted by which has been used most recently.

I've never given the Alt+Tab experience on Windows 11 much thought, but it's nice that Stardock did. AltTabby refreshes a classic Windows interface with new looks, expanded functionality, and several customization options.

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Yesterday, Microsoft rolled out the latest Windows 11 updates for all users across version 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1. For users running version 24H2 and 25H2, this latest patch includes a number of nice to see quality of life improvements in the way of performance and reliability upgrades in a number of key areas.

According to the changelog, which includes improvements that began rolling out as part of last month's optional feature update, the KB5101684 update includes reliability upgrades for explorer.exe, which will make opening things like Jump Lists and recent files faster. Additionally, Microsoft says this update will also make sharing files and switching between desktops with Task View faster too.

The reliability improvements don't end there, either. This update also includes reliability upgrades for the Windows lock screen and sign-in screen, which will be most noticeable on PCs with low amounts of RAM available. There are also startup reliability upgrades for the Start menu and Taskbar, which should make those interfaces appear quicker when powering up.

Furthermore, Microsoft says that this update also makes the post-update process less resource intensive, meaning your PC will feel faster to use immediately after an update is installed. Previously, Windows Updates required a clean-up phase after install which could be quite resource intensive on certain PCs.

The good news is all of these performance and reliability upgrades apply regardless of the amount of RAM your system has. You should notice a more responsive system if you have 8GB or 128GB of RAM.

Here's a rundown of the reliability-focused improvements in the latest update:

• This update improves explorer.exe reliability, including when opening Jump Lists and recent files, when sharing files and folders, and when using Task View and multiple desktops.
• This update improves the reliability of the Windows sign-in and lock screens, especially when system memory is low. It also improves the reliability of the Start menu and taskbar during startup.
• This update improves reliability of loading the system tray area of the taskbar when using the taskbar on touch devices in a tablet posture.
• The update improves the reliability of Start menu view preferences, ensuring your selected view is retained.
• This update includes changes to update clean-up logic to improve system performance immediately following an update.
• This update improves app search to better handle typos and partial app names when finding installed apps.

These reliability and performance upgrades are in addition to the many other quality of life improvements shipping as part of the KB5101684 update, including improvements to File Explorer, Windows Hello, Windows Search, system sounds, and more.

Microsoft recently announced a renewed commitment to making Windows 11 better on PCs with 8GB RAM, and it appears we're already seeing the fruits of that labor. While there's plenty of more optimizations to come, it's good to see Microsoft already moving to address this weak point on Windows.

Microsoft has been delivering genuinely nice improvements to Windows 11 over the last few months, all of which have been addressing issues with the OS around performance and reliability. This latest update continues that crusade, meaning your PC will feel better to use as of the latest updates.

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According to a new report from Taiwanese publication United Daily News (UDC,) Microsoft is raising the cost of Windows license fees for hardware makers by a much higher amount than normal. According to the report, certain OEMs are seeing licensing price hikes of between 7% and 10%.

Usually, Microsoft raises Windows license fees for OEMs by a low digit percentage, making this 7% to 10% increase much more significant than normal. "A PC brand executive stated that Microsoft increases licensing fees for Windows OEMs (device manufacturers) every year. In the past, licensing fees mostly increased by single digits each year, but starting in July this year, the average increase has reached 7% to 10%, which is a significant increase compared to previous years," UDC says.

Of course, the cost of the Windows license fee is usually (at least partially) passed onto the consumer buying a computer, and UDC claims that their source says laptop pricing is already being impacted by these recent license fee increases. Microsoft charges different OEMs their own fees for Windows, so the exact increase in cost will differ for each hardware maker.

Regardless, with the ongoing memory component shortage, PCs have already seen astronomical price increases over the last year, with experts claiming that we haven't yet seen the worst of it. With Microsoft raising prices higher than usual on Windows licenses, it feels like the Redmond giant is adding extra fuel to the fire.

Windows Central reached out to Microsoft for comment regarding this story, but the company declined to provide one.

To be clear, the Windows license fee price hikes only apply to OEMs building hardware that ships with Windows. The cost of buying a license for Windows 11 as a consumer remains unchanged, being $99 for Windows 11 Home and $199 for Windows 11 Pro.

The ongoing component crisis has made computing unaffordable for many people. PCs that used to target the $600-$800 price bracket now cost close to $1,000. And flagship Windows laptops that used to cost $1,200-1,500 are now closer to $2,000. Even Apple has been hit by the shortage, being forced to raise prices by hundreds of dollars across its Mac lineup. Microsoft's own Surface line was hit especially hard, with the flagship Surface Pro and Surface Laptop being $400-$500 more expensive than the last-gen models.

(Sources: 1, 2)

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Windows 11 will soon lose a way to log in to a PC. A recent update removes the option to set up a new picture password. If you already have a picture password on your PC, you can continue to use it, but the feature is being phased out.

Microsoft is on a mission to push the world beyond passwords. The tech giant generally recommends a PIN, facial recognition, or a fingerprint to log in to Windows 11. Passkeys are often the top recommendation for authentication, though you cannot log in to a Windows 11 PC with a passkey. But back in the days of Windows 8, Microsoft introduced the option to unlock your PC using a picture.

That feature, which has remained available across Windows 10 and Windows 11, allows you to unlock your PC with a series of touches or gestures, like tapping the eyes of a smiley face then swiping across the face's mouth.

You could use a combination of three types of gestures as part of a picture password: circles, straight lines, or taps.

Picture passwords were a fun way to show off the touch-centric nature of Windows 8, but they aren't as secure as a passkey or even a strong password.

Since people often pick gestures or taps around key objects, hackers can sometimes guess the gestures needed to unlock a PC. People can look at the smudges on your screen to guess where you touch frequently.

A research paper from 2013 that was flagged by Neowin highlights the risks of picture passwords.

If you have a picture password set up now and want to continue to use it, you need to make sure to leave it set up. Once you remove it or disable it, you will not be able to set up a picture password.

Microsoft shared the following in a support document:

"To help enhance security, picture password is no longer available for new enrollment. Users who have already configured a picture password can continue to use it to sign in to Windows. If a picture password is removed, disabled, or not previously configured, it cannot be set up again. We recommend using Windows Hello PIN, facial recognition, or fingerprint recognition where available."

That change arrives alongside the July 2026 security update, which is now rolling out to Windows 11.

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