This is Microsoft’s plan to fix Windows 11 | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.This is Microsoft’s plan to fix Windows 11Comments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMicrosoftCloseMicrosoftPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All MicrosoftThis is Microsoft’s plan to fix Windows 11Microsoft is focusing on performance, reliability, and experiences this year.Microsoft is focusing on performance, reliability, and experiences this year.by Tom WarrenCloseTom WarrenSenior EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Tom WarrenMar 20, 2026, 6:56 PM UTCLinkShareGiftImage: Cath Virginia / The VergeTom WarrenCloseTom WarrenPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Tom Warren is a senior editor and author of Notepad, who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years.Microsoft has faced a breakdown of trust in Windows 11 and a backlash over AI additions to its operating system in recent months. After promising to rebuild trust in Windows earlier this year, Microsoft’s Windows chief, Pavan Davuluri, is now revealing the company’s plan to fix Windows 11 — and there are a lot of changes on the way.“Over the past several months, the team and I have spent a great deal of time analyzing your feedback,” says Davuluri in a blog post committing to Windows quality improvements. “What came through was the voice of people who care deeply about Windows and want it to be better.”Windows 11 will start with a first batch of improvements, followed by much broader changes throughout the rest of the year. The initial changes will start being previewed throughout this month and April, and include the ability to reposition the taskbar to the top or sides of a screen, a reduction of “unnecessary” Copilot integration in apps like Snipping Tool, Photos, and Notepad, and changes to make Windows updates less disruptive with “fewer automatic restarts and notifications” and the ability to skip updates during initial device setup.You’ll soon be able to move the taskbar around freely. Image: MicrosoftMicrosoft is also focused on improving File Explorer in its initial wave of Windows 11 fixes. “Our first round of improvements will focus on a quicker launch experience, reduced flicker, smoother navigation and more reliable performance for everyday file tasks,” promises Davuluri. The widgets section of Windows 11 is also getting more personalization features and “quieter defaults” in the coming months.Beyond these initial fixes, Microsoft has even bigger plans to improve Windows 11 quality this year, by focusing on performance, reliability, and “well-crafted experiences.” Davuluri’s fix list, which you can read in full below, focuses on core stuff like how fast Windows 11 starts and responds, how stable it is, and how consistent it is to use.Microsoft is focusing on improving overall system performance to make apps and built-in features feel more responsive. Part of the changes include “reducing resource usage by Windows” to make launch time of apps like File Explorer faster.Memory efficiency is also being improved this year to lower the “baseline memory footprint for Windows and freeing up more capacity for the apps you run.” That’s a particularly important change given the RAM crisis right now, and could open the door to Windows running better on devices with 8GB of RAM. Apple has already shown how the MacBook Neo can handle daily tasks with just 8GB, and Windows OEMs will want to respond with similarly priced systems, but only if Windows can handle the lower specs.Microsoft’s focus areas for Windows 11 improvements. Image: MicrosoftMicrosoft is also planning to reduce the latency of interactions with the Start menu, by moving more core parts of Windows to WinUI3. Microsoft has been promising improvements for its modern native user interface framework for years, but it hasn’t done enough to make Windows 11 feel as responsive as Windows 10. Hopefully, this time is different.File Explorer is also a big focus for the rest of the year, with promises to improve search, navigation, and file operations. “Copying and moving large files will be faster and more reliable,” says Davuluri, and the changes will include “faster launch and responsiveness for common file tasks.”The underlying reliability of Windows is also on the fix list. “Across the operating system, we will focus on improving the baseline reliability of areas such as the Windows Insider Program, drivers and apps, updates and Windows Hello,” says Davuluri. Part of this are promises of fewer OS-level crashes. Interestingly, Davuluri is also committing to “more consistent device wake,” which has been a problem for laptops and handheld gaming PCs for years.If you’ve ever been annoyed by Windows updates, Microsoft is finally listening here by moving to a single monthly reboot and the ability to pause updates for as long as you want. You’ll also be able to restart or shut down without being forced to install updates.Alongside the taskbar finally being able to be moved to the top or sides of a screen, Microsoft is also working on a smaller taskbar option and changes to make the Start menu and taskbar feel more consistent. The search experience that’s part of the taskbar and Start menu is also a big focus for this year. Davuluri is promising “clearer and more trustworthy results, with results from content on your device easy to understand and clearly distinct from web results.”RelatedMicrosoft is working to rebuild trust in WindowsAs Windows turns 40, Microsoft faces an AI backlashDevelopers will be pleased to hear that Microsoft is also focusing on improving the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) experience. File performance between Linux and Windows is set to improve, as well as network compatibility and throughput, and more “streamlined first-time setup and onboarding experience.” Businesses will also get stronger policy controls around WSL, as well as better enterprise management capabilities.Windows Hello biometric authentication is also getting some reliability improvements this year. Microsoft is promising “more reliable facial recognition” and faster “more dependable fingerprint sign-in.” Hopefully that means Windows Hello will once again work properly in dark rooms.Microsoft’s fix list for Windows 11 is pretty broad — and I encourage you to read the full memo below — but one thing that’s missing is a direct commitment to respect browser defaults. A big part of the trust issues with Windows 11 stem from the fact the OS has become very annoying to use, with Microsoft even resorting to using malware-like pop-ups to try and get people to use Edge and Bing. Microsoft isn’t directly addressing this feedback in its fix list today, but there is a promise of improving the experience of the OS.“This year, you will see us invest in raising the bar on the overall usability of the experience, with moreopportunities for personalization, less noise, less distraction and more control across the OS,“ says Davuluri. ”That includes being thoughtful about how and where we bring AI into Windows, leading with transparency, choice and control, so that new capabilities enhance the experience rather than complicate it.“Microsoft’s promises will be tested by its Windows Insider community in the months ahead. Microsoft is rolling out a big redesign to its Feedback Hub today to make it faster and easier to submit feedback on Windows 11.“Thank you for holding us to a high standard,” says Davuluri. “Windows is as much yours as it is ours.”

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Microsoft’s Windows 11 strategy, as detailed by Pavan Davuluri, Chief of Windows, represents a significant shift in response to user feedback and a concerted effort to rebuild trust following a period of criticism and perceived over-integration of AI features. The overarching plan centers on bolstering performance, bolstering reliability, and refining the overall user experience, acknowledging past shortcomings and aiming for a more consistent and satisfying operating system. The initial phase involves a series of targeted improvements, beginning with a preview throughout March and April, focusing on immediate user pain points. Notably, the ability to reposition the taskbar to the top or sides of the screen addresses a long-standing user preference, while a reduction in “unnecessary” Copilot integration in applications like Snipping Tool, Photos, and Notepad directly responds to concerns about intrusive AI prompts within commonly used tools. Furthermore, Microsoft is implementing changes to minimize the disruptive nature of Windows updates, including reducing automatic restarts and notifications and providing a mechanism for users to temporarily skip updates during initial device setup.

A key element of the strategy is a renewed focus on File Explorer, with a commitment to expedite launch experiences, eliminate flicker, optimize navigation, and enhance overall file performance. The widgets section of Windows 11 is also slated for personalization enhancements and reduced default noise, aiming to provide a more tailored and less overwhelming user experience. Beyond these initial fixes, Microsoft’s long-term goals extend to fundamental improvements in system performance, memory efficiency and latency. Davuluri’s stated ambition is to substantially reduce resource usage by Windows, making launch times for applications like File Explorer more responsive, and addressing the current memory constraints prevalent in PC hardware, potentially enabling Windows 11 to run effectively on devices with as little as 8GB of RAM, mirroring Apple’s success with the MacBook Neo. Moreover, the company intends to streamline interactions with the Start menu, moving core Windows components to WinUI3, a framework previously touted for its responsiveness.

Microsoft is also addressing several persistent issues, including the sluggishness of Windows 11’s initial startup and response times, the instability of the Windows Insider Program, and the reliability of drivers and applications. The initiative also incorporates measures to reduce OS-level crashes and significantly mitigate the “consistent device wake” problem that has plagued certain laptops and handheld gaming PCs. By granting users flexibility in restarting or shutting down their devices without being forced to install updates, Microsoft seeks to reduce frustration stemming from update procedures. The taskbar’s design is being refined to offer a smaller option and promote consistency across the operating system. Additionally, improvements are planned for the search experience within the taskbar and Start menu, prioritizing clarity and trustworthiness of search results.

Recognizing the specific demands of developers, Microsoft is investing in enhancements to the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), improving file performance and network compatibility. Enhanced enterprise management capabilities for WSL will cater to business users. Reliability improvements are being implemented for Windows Hello biometric authentication, including enhanced facial recognition and dependable fingerprint sign-in. Finally, Microsoft is acknowledging criticisms surrounding intrusive advertising and AI integration by promising to minimize noise and distractions within the OS, prioritizing personalization and user control, reflecting a recognition of past errors in the implementation and promotion of Windows 11’s features. This includes a redesigned Feedback Hub for easier feedback submission and a commitment to transparency regarding AI integration.