Microsoft Aims to Restore Confidence in Windows

Windows finds itself in a challenging position. Over its four-decade journey, the operating system has faced numerous hurdles, but Windows 11 is pushing user patience to its limits. Ongoing bugs, performance hiccups, intrusive notifications, ads, and unnecessary bloatware have chipped away at the fundamental Windows experience. Initial decisions regarding system requirements have also shaken the trust of Microsoft’s most dedicated users, a decline that’s been exacerbated by the company’s aggressive AI initiatives that often fall short of expectations.

Microsoft is acutely aware of the situation. Insiders indicate that Windows engineers are now prioritizing the resolution of core issues with Windows 11 in a strategy referred to as “swarming.” The goal is to urgently tackle performance and reliability problems, aiming to prevent the operating system from suffering further degradation.

Throughout the remainder of the year, Microsoft plans to address the various pain points associated with Windows 11. “The feedback from our passionate community and Windows Insiders has been clear. We need to enhance Windows in ways that truly matter,” stated a company representative. “This year, we will focus on the consistent concerns raised by users: boosting system performance, reliability, and the overall Windows experience.”

Some of these enhancements will involve fundamental fixes, such as resolving dark mode issues and modernizing neglected features. While Microsoft has made strides in improving driver stability and reducing blue screens of death, it still needs to tackle basic performance problems with File Explorer and the fact that Linux often outperforms Windows when running Windows games.

The performance and reliability challenges in Windows 11 have become increasingly evident over the past year, especially as the need to support a multitude of PC configurations grows. Microsoft took months to resolve Remote Desktop disconnection issues, released an update that inadvertently removed Copilot, and introduced updates that duplicated the Task Manager and caused a frustrating system recovery bug. An update intended to enhance dark mode ended up breaking it, resulting in a white screen flash when opening File Explorer.

As we enter the new year, the bugs in Windows 11 seem to be multiplying. The first update of 2026 has been riddled with issues, including shutdown problems on certain machines that prompted Microsoft to issue an unusual emergency out-of-band update. A week later, another out-of-band fix was released to address crashes involving OneDrive and Dropbox. Additionally, some business PCs have failed to boot after installing the January update due to being left in an “improper state” following a failed December update.

These bugs and reliability issues are compounded by another frustration: Windows 11 is becoming increasingly annoying to use. Microsoft has been aggressively nudging users toward Edge and Bing in unprecedented ways. In the past, there were even instances of malware-like pop-ups pushing users to switch browsers. After some updates, Windows 11 users are still frequently redirected to Edge and Bing, even if they have set Chrome or Firefox as their default browser. The Settings interface also contains links that force users into Edge and Bing.

Moreover, Microsoft has been persistently promoting its OneDrive cloud storage with constant reminders in Windows 11. At one point, users couldn’t even close OneDrive without being prompted for feedback. It often feels like users are battling with Windows 11 to maintain their preferred settings. The requirement to use a Microsoft account has made it increasingly difficult for those who prefer a local account.

This ongoing struggle with the OS, combined with ads and pop-ups, has further eroded trust in Windows 11. Users were already skeptical when Microsoft set system requirements that excluded millions of machines, and the company continues to take actions that undermine any remaining confidence. The introduction of Recall, a feature that captures snapshots of nearly everything on the screen, raised significant privacy concerns alongside existing worries about the telemetry data Microsoft collects.

This erosion of trust has led many Windows 11 users to be wary of AI features, resulting in Microsoft being derisively labeled as “Microslop” when these features are introduced. While Microsoft has made impressive engineering advancements with Windows on Arm for its Copilot Plus PCs, these efforts have been overshadowed by Recall and the relentless push for Copilot AI integration throughout the OS. The Edge browser now includes a Copilot mode, dedicated Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot apps come preinstalled, and Copilot is making its way to the taskbar. Even basic apps like Paint and Notepad now feature Copilot buttons, with Paint introducing AI-generated coloring books. However, there simply aren’t enough compelling AI features to engage users.

Microsoft now faces a significant challenge in regaining the trust of Windows users and rekindling excitement for the OS. After over 20 years of covering Windows, it feels like the community of OS enthusiasts has dwindled in recent years. This is a stark contrast to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s promise to win back Windows fans over a decade ago, when he expressed a desire for users to transition from needing Windows to choosing and loving it.

Microsoft has remained largely silent about the issues plaguing Windows 11, and key members of its Windows Insider team have recently transitioned to different roles within the company. The Windows Insider program, initially established to gather user feedback and test Windows 10 after the backlash from Windows 8, is now more crucial than ever. However, it feels less like a community-driven initiative and more like a faceless operation.

There’s hope that Microsoft’s commitment to improvements will also address the everyday frustrations of Windows 11, especially as more users consider switching to Linux. While there’s a long road ahead, it’s encouraging to see Microsoft finally responding to user complaints.

“Trust is earned over time, and we are dedicated to rebuilding it with the Windows community,” the representative stated.

* Windows 11 has reached one billion users faster than Windows 10. Despite the challenges, there’s some positive news for Windows 11, as it has achieved the milestone of one billion users more quickly than Windows 10 did nearly six years ago. This growth can be attributed to the end of support for Windows 10, which has also boosted Microsoft’s OEM revenues.

* Microsoft reports strong cloud earnings in Q2 as gaming declines. In its fiscal Q2 earnings report, Microsoft noted that its More Personal Computing division, which encompasses Windows, Xbox, and Surface, is becoming a smaller segment of the company. The Intelligent Cloud division, which includes Azure and server products, generated $32.9 billion in revenue this quarter, significantly outpacing the $14.3 billion from More Personal Computing. The latter division saw a 3 percent decline in revenue year-over-year, attributed to a downturn in gaming, with overall gaming revenue down 9 percent, Xbox content and services down 5 percent, and Xbox hardware down 32 percent. The decline in Xbox content and services revenue is linked to stronger first-party content performance in the previous year, indicating that weaker sales of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 have impacted Microsoft’s More Personal Computing business.

* Microsoft gets approval to build 15 data centers in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. Microsoft has received the green light to construct new data centers on land previously owned by Foxconn, following the manufacturer’s retreat from plans to build a massive LCD complex. Local officials have approved Microsoft’s project, which could create jobs for up to 10 years.

* Xbox Cloud Gaming’s new design teases the future of Xbox console UI. Microsoft is testing a revamped web experience for Xbox Cloud Gaming that closely resembles the Xbox console dashboard. This update includes enhanced navigation features, new animations, and a refreshed design. The aim appears to be unifying the Xbox UI across PC, console, and cloud.

* Microsoft’s latest AI chip goes head-to-head with Amazon and Google. Microsoft has unveiled its latest in-house AI chip, designed to support GPT-5.2 and other models for Microsoft Foundry and Microsoft 365 Copilot. The Maia 200 chip is tailored for large-scale AI workloads and will compete with similar AI inference chips from Amazon and Google. The announcement also led to a surge in SK Hynix shares, as the memory maker revealed it is the sole supplier for Microsoft’s new AI chip.

* Microsoft handed the government encryption keys for customer data. Microsoft complied with an FBI warrant last year to unlock encrypted data on three laptops, as the devices contained BitLocker recovery keys stored in Microsoft’s cloud service—a default setting that simplifies device recovery. This incident underscores the importance of not relying on Microsoft’s default cloud storage for BitLocker keys when signing into Windows with a Microsoft account.

* Microsoft Paint can now make AI coloring books. Paint is introducing a new AI-powered coloring book feature on Copilot Plus PCs, allowing users to create blank coloring templates using text prompts. Notepad will also gain the ability to stream AI-generated results for Write, Rewrite, and Summarize features, along with support for additional Markdown syntax, including strikethrough formatting and nested lists.

* Winapp is Microsoft’s new command line utility for developers. Microsoft has launched a public preview of its new Windows App Development CLI (winapp) utility, aimed at simplifying the development process for Windows app creators across various frameworks and toolchains. The open-source utility is designed for any developer looking to leverage native Windows features. Unfortunately, winapp doesn’t whip the llama’s ass.

* The Surface Pro 12 now has better Surface Pen support. Microsoft has rolled out firmware updates for the Surface Pro 12, enhancing stylus support. “We’ve resolved issues where the Surface Slim Pen 2 unexpectedly loses pairing during inking, pen erasing isn’t stable, and the cursor position isn’t aligned to the pen during hovering,” Microsoft stated. The updates also address security vulnerabilities that could lead to unexpected shutdowns and privilege escalation.

* Windows 11’s ability to resume Android apps on your PC is getting closer. Microsoft is preparing to enhance Windows 11’s capability to resume Android apps on a PC. The cross-device handoff feature, introduced last year, will now extend to Spotify playback, browsing sessions, and Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This feature is reminiscent of Apple’s Handoff, which allows users to continue tasks across Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. Microsoft has begun testing these additions with the Release Preview ring of Windows 11, indicating they will soon be available to all users.

* Microsoft illegally installed cookies on school devices, says Austrian data protection authority. An Austrian campaign group has successfully challenged Microsoft over the use of Microsoft 365 Education in schools, with the data protection authority ruling that Microsoft unlawfully placed tracking cookies on devices used by minors. Microsoft has stated that “Microsoft 365 for Education meets all required data protection standards” and is reviewing the authority’s decision.

* Microsoft has patched a zero-day vulnerability in Office. Microsoft has released updates for various Office applications to address a security feature bypass discovered by Google’s threat intelligence group. Affected versions include Office 2016, Office 2019, Office LTSC 2021 and 2024, and Microsoft 365 apps.