If you're sick of glitches, bugs, and slow performance in Windows 11 – you're not alone. Microsoft has decided to focus on quashing the most persistent issues in the desktop operating system over the course of the next year. The decision was purportedly made following feedback from PC owners about performance issues with the software.
The process is referred to as "swarming" in the industry — pulling talented engineers away from other work, like new functionality or apps, to tackle a mountain of long-standing complaints in the current version of Windows 11.
Following the decision to ditch support for Windows 10 at the end of last year, Windows 11 is the only version of the operating system that's actively supported by the US technology giant.
Windows 11 issues that have been piling up for some time will be dealt with as a priority, sources confirmed to The Verge’s Tom Warren in his weekly newsletter, Notepad.
Microsoft Corporate Vice President for Windows and Devices, Pavan Davuluri, pictured on-stage speaking about Recall and other AI-powered features exclusive to Copilot+ PCs during a May 20, 2024 briefing event for the media
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In a statement to the subscriber-only newsletter, President of Windows and Devices, Pavan Davuluri said: "The feedback we’re receiving from our community of passionate customers and Windows Insiders has been clear. We need to improve Windows in ways that are meaningful for people.
"This year, you will see us focus on addressing pain points we hear consistently from customers: improving system performance, reliability, and the overall experience of Windows. Trust is earned over time, and we are committed to building it back with the Windows community."
If you're one of the 1 billion users worldwide who rely on Windows 11, then you're likely be familiar with the types of issues that Microsoft's Pavan Davuluri is referring to. It's been a rough start to the year for Microsoft, with the first major update to Windows 11 breaking some PCs from shutting down.
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While engineers at Microsoft have some improvements to the stability of drivers and reducing Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) crashes, there are still parts of the operating system that feel like they haven't been touched in years. Users often cite the poor performance of File Explorer as an example of Microsoft taking its eye off the ball. In some cases, video games perform better on Linux, instead of an operating system created by the same company that owns Xbox.
But it's not just the overall performance.
Windows 11 users have become increasingly frustrated by Microsoft's aggressive push of its Copilot AI features across the desktop operating system. Designed to be the flagship feature of a new breed of Copilot+ PCs, this functionality has slowly started to creep into all aspects of the operating system.
Default applications that you might not associate with cutting-edge AI features, like Microsoft Paint, are now deeply integrated with Copilot AI
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Basic apps like Paint and Notepad now boast a shiny new Copilot button to summon the ChatGPT-like assistant to advise on artwork or notes. Complaints about the persistence of these AI additions got so bad that in November, Pavan Davuluri disabled comments on an AI-focused post about Windows 11.
Some have even started comparing it to the notorious failures of Windows Vista and Windows 8. The latter was so poorly received that Microsoft launched its Windows Insiders beta scheme to work with the community on upcoming features to ensure they would be well received.
Microsoft will purportedly release two feature-packed updates over the course of the next 12 months. If the latest whispers from inside the Redmond-based firm are accurate, we'd hope that a good number of the everyday headaches, bugs, and reliability issues that currently plague a good portion of Windows 11's billion-strong users will be resolved before the next batch of AI features, new apps, and interface redesigns roll-out.
With any luck, we'd hope that Microsoft manages to make good on CEO Satya Nadella’s promise to win back disillusioned Windows fans more than a decade ago. Speaking at the time, he said: "We want to move from people needing Windows to choosing Windows, to loving Windows"