Microsoft is blocking Windows Customization Tools
Microsoft blocks even more customization apps in Windows 11 version 24H2
TLDR: StartAllBack, ExplorerPatcher and some other projects are being blocked on 24H2.
One more reason to switch to Linux
The fact that windows is now becoming Apple 2.0 is kinda crazy ngl lol, thought shouldn’t be surprising cuz every tech company is now doing enshittification at this point.
One tech company said "Hey, I can see the bottom!" and every other tech company replied "Race you there!"
They’re not becoming Apple 2.0, Apple is becoming Microsoft 2.0. If you look into the history of Microsoft and Windows, you’ll see that they’ve always been this way, but have received more pushback in the past. Microsoft is the OG tech giant empire.
They're not exactly "being blocked" but rather the legacy ability to tell explorer.exe to load the older style Taskbar, which those apps load then modify, is going away. I'm not defending this nor do I like it, but it would be like saying some Linux distro is BLOCKING customization because some legacy app dependent on Xorg will not work after they switch to Wayland.
Good news hidden in the article:
Like in the case of StartAllBack, you can bypass the block by simply renaming the executable to something else. If you want to upgrade to a newer build, delete the app, update your system, and then launch it using a renamed executable.
@OP: People who are modifying Windows this deeply are not going to switch to Linux. If you're going through this much trouble, you've already tried Linux several times and left disillusioned every time. Linux does not compete with Windows as a desktop operating system and I doubt it ever will. It simply does not offer the compatibility and ease of use (including for power users) that Windows - for all its faults - has.
People who are modifying Windows this deeply are not going to switch to Linux
Yeah. Not just to avoid a quick file rename.
Although, I started out as someone who modified Windows that deeply, and I ended up on Linux.
One of my reasons for switching was when my favorite Windows mod stopped working, and there was no recourse.
This sounds like it goes beyond that and the Windows team is actively pushing modders out?
I think this will have an effect, and we will get more migrations.
Yep, Microsoft is also blocking some github scripts for disabling telemetry,etc. They are just making it worse for themselves
I switched when a Windows update for the third time in a month forcibly changed the default pdf and html file association to edge.
That was like 5 years ago, and I've never looked back.
This comment is simply wrong. Linux doesn't compete with Windows desktop because it's already ahead of it.
People who are modifying Windows this deeply are not going to switch to Linux. If you’re going through this much trouble, you’ve already tried Linux several times and left disillusioned every time. Linux does not compete with Windows as a desktop operating system and I doubt it ever will. It simply does not offer the compatibility and ease of use (including for power users) that Windows - for all its faults - has.
Well that's a take
I mean, go off about it not competing, that's some BS. But Linux doesn't offer the compatibility and ease of use that Windows has on a day to day basis. There's not really any argument to be made there.
Frustrating antipatterns, poor design decisions, poorly communicated reasons for functionality loss with updates (what this article is about), and settings requiring hoop jumping to touch aren't unique to Windows and magically never present with Linux.
Linux is amazing, neccessary, and I sincerely hope it continues to grow as a valid competitor eventually taking over, but it's still really rough in a lot of areas as a power user.
There are a handful of very user friendly distros for people who just need to do basic stuff on their computer and have it just work. Web browsing, document editing, even playing games that are just semi-popular (instead of only the most popular) all tend to work to a reasonable degree of "it just works" now.
There's also an amazing amount of customizability and power placed in the hands of the user if they're willing to dig into the guts of it. Run your own customized kernel with the specific patches you want, re-code part of a driver to meet your needs. Build an entire distro from source code up, piece by piece, exactly to your wishes. Compatability layers between different desktop environments. Mess with your drivers. It's all open to mess with.
But what often gets left behind are people in the middle. I need a lot more than just basic functionality, and I have no fear about compiling stuff from code or making pull requests. I have the skills to make Linux work. What I don't have is the time in my life to be digging in the guts regularly to get shit working on my computer, which is still far too often a requirement with Linux. Just look at discussions in the Linux communities here to see how absurd it can be to get a RDP or VNC client working, depending on your particular setup and graphics card.
It's like the difference between getting a Honda Civic and working on a project car. You might need to change a tire, brake pads, change the oil on the Civic. You don't need to mess with engine valve timings.
I really enjoy tinkering with Linux when I have the time, but most of my life I need my shit to just reliably work so I can get my shit done. I prefer my computer to be a tool far more than a project, and Linux is still too much of a project for a lot of people.
I think a lot of people have a few killer apps that just don't work on Linux even with WINE. Hell, I've heard that VR is not worth it on Linux. There are edge cases like that, that need to be sorted some way. Hopefully whatever Valve is doing wrt their supposed standalone VR headset helps there.
I think this is the real answer for those that have the knowledge on how to switch but dont. Windows steadily eroding the ability to customize its user experience is actually a driving factor in why a lot of us are getting over our familiarity bias and laziness to switch to Linux
yup
Dude, the fact I like I can customize windows is EXACTLY why I'm switching to linux now that Microsoft wants a piece of that apple pie
People who are modifying Windows this deeply are not going to switch to Linux
I did. I was a heavy Windows customizer and deeply understand it as an operating system and target for application development. I left because, at some point, I realized the OS I (one way or another) paid for was treating me like a product instead of a user, and I resent that. I don't like the feeling of slowly losing grip on the OS as it slides into becoming adtech tooling for marketing interests instead of the thing that runs programs for me. Despite my entrenched Windows knowledge, none of my primary personal computers run it anymore, including my gaming PC. Adaptation is a lot easier than most people expect, in my opinion.
Power users are the exact people who would get the most benefit out of Linux, though. Speaking as one of them who got sick and tired of Windows' bullshit. I'd argue Linux already very much competes with Windows, and has many advantages sourced from it being an open and not profit driven operating system.
Finally do I have an operating system that actually tries to work with me to get what I want, rather than tries to obstruct me every part of the way because "it knows best" or whatever windows tries to do.
A Microsoft representative (?) opened an issue for Explorer Patcher:
Hi Team,
This is to let you know that Win10 taskbar code is removed. And if use continue to use ExplorePatcheron Windows GE Build, they will see a crash. You only need to adjust the setup exe name to get around the block in your new version. We will continue to block ANY version that crashes Explorer.
Please let me know if you have any question.
Thanks Michelle
Makes sense to me.
Didn't know that. Thanks for the info.
Shame somebody removed that code. At least RetroBar will still work. Hopefully.
Why is Microsoft even deciding what programs I can run on my computer in the first place? They're not malware, they shouldn't be doing this at all.
It's the Windows Defender component. Blocking things that interfere with your computer is literally what it was designed and intended to do.
Wow, now I'm really glad I switched to Linux. Windows? Never again.
Micro$oft are being dicks again, film at 11 but here's the thing - if you're interested in customizing Windows - just grab that live distro and get to it man. Linux is here and it's ready for prime time.
At this point Windows is just for businesses who don't know better (or refuse to learn) and people who haven't been told The Good News yet.
Sorry, it's not ready for prime time.
It's great for advanced users who are willing to put in the effort to work for them as a desktop.
It's also great as a host for services.
And is dogshit in a business environment.
As some background - I had my first UNIX class in about 1990. I wrote my first Fortran program on a Sperry Rand Univac (punched cards) in about 1985. Cobol was immediately after Fortran (wish I'd stuck with Cobol). So I was in IT working before Linux existed.
I run a Mint laptop. Power management is a joke. Configured it as best as possible, walked in the other day and it was dead. Windows would never do this, unless you went out of your way to config power management to kill the battery.
There no way even possible via the GUI to config power management for things like low/critical battery conditions /actions.
There are many reasons why Linux doesn't compete with Windows on the desktop - this is just one glaring one. So many run-of-the mill things that take effort to deal with.
Now let's look at Office. Open an Excel spreadsheet with tables in any app other than excel. Tables are something that's just a given in excel, takes 10 seconds to setup, and you get automatic sorting and filtering, with near-zero effort. No, I'm not setting up a DB in an open-source competitor to Access. That's just too much effort for simple sorting and filtering tasks, and isn't realistically shareable with other people.
There's that print monitor that's on by default, and can only be shut up by using a command line. Wtf? In the 21st century?
Networking... Yea, samba works, but how do you clear creds you used one time to connect to a share, even though you didn't say "save creds"? Oh, yea, command line again or go download an app to clear them for for you. Smh.
Someone else said it better than me:
Every time I've installed Linux as my main OS (many, many times since I was younger), it gets to an eventual point where every single thing I want to do requires googling around to figure out problems. While it's gotten much better, I always ended up reinstalling Windows or using my work Mac. Like one day I turn it on and the monitor doesn't look right. So I installed twenty things, run some arbitrary collection of commands, and it works.... only it doesn't save my preferences.
So then I need to dig into .bashrc or .bash_profile (is bashrc even running? Hey let me investigate that first for 45 minutes) and get the command to run automatically.. but that doesn't work, so now I can't boot.. so I have to research (on my phone now, since the machine deathscreens me once the OS tries to load) how to fix that... then I am writing config lines for my specific monitor so it can access the native resolution... wait, does the config delimit by spaces, or by tabs?? anyway, it's been four hours, it's 3:00am and I'm like Bryan Cranston in that clip from Malcolm in the Middle where he has a car engine up in the air all because he tried to change a lightbulb.
And then I get a new monitor, and it happens all damn over again. Oh shit, I got a new mouse too, and the drivers aren't supported - great! I finally made it to Friday night and now that I have 12 minutes away from my insane 16 month old, I can't wait to search for some drivers so I can get the cursor acceleration disabled. Or enabled. Or configured? What was I even trying to do again? What led me to this?
I just can't do it anymore. People who understand it more than I will downvote and call me an idiot, but you can all kiss my ass because I refuse to do the computing equivalent of building a radio out of coconuts on a deserted island of ancient Linux forum posts because I want to have Spotify open on startup EVERY time and not just one time. I have tried to get into Linux as a main dev environment since 1997 and I've loved/liked/loathed it, in that order, every single time.
I respect the shit out of the many people who are far, far smarter than me who a) built this stuff, and 2) spend their free time making Windows/Mac stuff work on a Linux environment, but the part of me who liked to experiment with Linux has been shot and killed and left to rot in a ditch along the interstate.
Now I love Linux for my services: Proxmox, UnRAID, TrueNAS, containers for Syncthing, PiHole, Owncloud/NextCloud, CasaOS/Yuno, etc, etc. I even run a few Windows VM's on Linux (Proxmox) because that's better than running Linux VM's on a Windows server.
Linux is brilliant for this stuff. Just not brilliant for a desktop, let alone in a business environment, or for most users who are used to Windows/Office.
If it were 40 years ago, maybe Linux would've had a chance to beat MS, even then it would've required settling on a single GUI (which is arguably half of why Windows became a standard, the other half being a common API), a common build (so the same tools/utilities are always available), and a commitment to put usability for the inexperienced user first.
These are what MS did in the 1980's to make Windows attractive to the 3 groups who contend with desktops: developers, business management, end users.
As a very advanced user, I just don't have the time to play fuck-fuck with Linux on a desktop - I have work to do with what little time I have.
Here's a question: if Linux truly competes with Windows, why don't massive organizations that have the IT manpower/expertise use it for their desktops? They'd save millions in licensing alone. Why is it they feel those tens of millions are better spent on contracts with MS?
See, ive had Linux problems, but my problem with windows is that I gave to actively fight the system to get anything done. It feels like PvP, and there's fiat bullshit reverts of stuff. And the GUI is runny garbage!
Linux isn't good enough, I agree.
But windows is far enough into enshitification that it isnt either anymore, and its getting worse. So fucking fast; its getting worse. I fucking miss usable windows; I'd still be on 7 if I could. But I can't.
So if at this point Linux isn't adequate, that means computers aren't adequate. I use Linux so I don't lose my computer, so it can do something at least.
There's a bunch of problems with this post, but I'll start by saying that at different times over the last decade I have certainly agreed that Linux just consumes too much of my time to use in a business environment. I'm rocking linux at work over the last few months, but just on Friday for example I booted into Windows because I couldn't get a god damn Teams screen share to work.
Firstly, your post kind of deals with "business" as though all businesses have homogeneous use cases. Of course Linux might be more suitable for some businesses rather than others.
For power management, IDK what you're saying really. I'm running a stock debian environment. I've never looked at these settings before but it took me literally 5 seconds to find the "Automatic Power Saver" options for low battery situations. Perhaps you want something specific that doesn't exist but IDK, I don't think this is really a deal breaker for business.
I'm not really sure what you're getting at with Excel vs LibreOffice Calc. There's 5 people on my team and we all use Calc all day every day. It's fine. The features we use are "moderately complex", as in complex functions, pivot tables, filtering, et cetera. No macros or db connections. Yes I'm sure some people use Excel in ways that Calc might struggle with, but I'm also sure the reverse is also true. Yes Calc has a more humble vibe.
if Linux truly competes with Windows, why don’t massive organizations that have the IT manpower/expertise use it for their desktops? They’d save millions in licensing alone.
This is a complex question. I think part of the answer is simply that this wasn't always the case, a decade ago Linux was much less viable than it is today.
Orgs and individuals have built up a gargantuan amount of knowledge around and within the Windows ecosystem, and that knowledge has value. This means that moving to another platform will have huge training and support and specialist costs, even if the underlying platform is free.
Also, I'm sure you've seen the recent posts about whatever German state migrating 30,000 machines to Linux. You've probably also heard of that other German city that developed LiMux and ran it successfully for a decade and how desperate MS was to win them back.
As I started off by saying, yes there are problems, and I agree that Linux might be out of reach for many businesses for the next few years. However, the compelling issue I encounter regularly is compatibility with the microsoft ecosystem. That's not so much the fault of Linux itself, but really a network effect problem. If everyone started using linux tomorrow microsoft would ensure teams would work without issue.
Curiously, for me it's more or less the other way around, in a sense. I run Linux on both my Desktop and my Laptop, and feel that after setting them up the way I like, I am more productive than under Windows. In Windows, I oftentimes had the feeling that I had to work against the OS whenever I wanted to configure it in a way that wasn't quite standard, while I tend to feel that I can work with the OS when using Linux. Especially Win11 introduced lots of things that detracted from the user experience for me, and where only changeable by editing the registry, which isn't great.
I do recognise that parts, or even most of that probably isn't applicable to the standard user, but as what could reasonably be called a power user, I never really had any problems working with Linux.
I'd also say that for non-power users, people who mainly work within Word processors, or their browser, a stable LTS distros can in some cases be less hassle than Windows.
Regarding Excel - gotta give that to you, I always felt that Excel in isolation was good software, and I am not aware of any replacement that's equally as friendly to non-programmer users, while also being equally as capable.
Regarding your last point - Dunno, I don't work there. I would however raise that inertia can be quite powerful. No one ever got fired for buying IBM, no one ever got fired for licensing Windows. Doesn't mean that there aren't other, possibly good, reasons.
Linux isnt quite ready for prime time.
But neither is windows anymore, and Linux isnt generally shitting itself and taking features, features you might rely on away from you
The fucking precarity of modern windows, man. Plus the amount it must spy on you.
I'll switch to Linux when Visual Studio Community (NOT Code) works on it and I never have to touch the command line ever again.
Just switch to code.
I put in the effort to redesign my work flow from VS (Enterprise license) to VS Code (totally free) earlier this year. I thought it couldn't be done, but it was easier than I thought. I'm super happy with the result as I hated what they did with recent VS versions. Microsoft just can't stop fucking up perfectly fine UIs in the name of "progress".
As someone who genuinely loves the command line - I'd like to know more about your perspective. (Genuinely. I solemnly swear not to try to convince you of my perspective.)
What about GUIs appeals to you over a command line?
I like the CLI because it feels like a conversation with the computer. I explain what I want, combining commands as necessary, and the machine responds.
With GUIs I feel like I'm always relearning tools. Even something as straightforward as 'find and replace' has different keyboard shortcuts in most of the text-editing apps I use - and regex support is spotty.
Not to say that I think the terminal is best for all things. I do use an IDE and windowing environments. Just that - when there are CLI tools I tend to prefer them over an equivalent GUI tool.
Anyway, I'm interested to hear your perspective- what about GUIs works better for you? What about the CLI is failing you?
Thank you!
Good for you I guess but good luck with commercial software development when your whole toolchain is Windows only. Same for video games, and Proton only works properly if you have a new GPU which supports all the Vulkan features.
This will be true when Linux supports anticheat (well, when anticheat supports Linux).
Sure, not everyone uses their computer for gaming, but I'm sure a lot would like the option.
Fixed that headline for ya, big guy.
Hmm. Russia or Russian programmers were not in the article. The only reason was performance:
It is possible that Microsoft blocked those apps due to a higher number of crashes on build 26100, which is allegedly version 24H2 RTM build.
Why is Microsoft trying to shoot itself in the foot once again? One of the big reasons I like Windows more than MacOS is the customizability. When your market share is declining, you shouldn't add more reasons to switch to something else.
Windows 11 development was led by the UI team that led Windows 8, and a team responsible for more of the internal Windows development was responsible for Windows 10. You can kind of tell by Windows 11 being an arbitrary UI change with numerous regressions.
Nah fuck that, call Microsoft out. Fix the fucking Control Panel/Settings nonsense. Stop fucking doing things just because I didn't say not to. Stop adding all Microsoft apps to startup by default. There's plenty of reasons to egg corporations and this bullshit is very light-handed. They have the resources and power to make great things, they chose to chase this dragon and leave their OS a fucken mess. They deserve it. Especially with all these Linux distros that are free popping up left and right. At one point we have to fight back against these huge ecosystems that become complacent, fall into dark patterns, and that point was yesterday.
I mean it's the only viable alternative. And it's unquestionably that Microsoft has been making Windows worse recently.
That said. I'm not convinced Microsoft is doing this to hurt users. I think it's probably the correct assumption that they have seen a high number of crashes with 24H2 and these software packages.
Aaand another reason to stay with 10.
I give until 2027 for win 10 pc that cannot upgrade to become large botnet
Amazing how Windows die-hards will go to literally any lengths not to switch to Linux.
The moment Adobe Creative Cloud works on Linux, I'll switch. Until then I'll have to stick with Windows.
Turns out they don't like people disabling their adware.
I still can't believe Linux only have 5% of OS market share
I can. Do you really think computer savvy people are the majority of computer users?
It's painful that this needs to be mentioned, and that people will actively argue that it's not true...
I can too. A lot of people don't know Linux exists
There is nothing tech savy in linux, if you use the right distro. Moreover, mostly tech savy people customize their OS and not average users. If an user can install an app for customizing, then linux is no more different.
You don't really need any skills to use modern Linux. I would argue that it's easier to use than Windows for someone who has basic googling skills. Windows have an annoying habit of getting in the way of the user and making things much harder than they need to be. For example, needing to use the registry editor for basic configuration options.
While that's true but some DE nowadays make it easier for general consumer to install/using Linux as their main os, I think some people even scared of Linux and didn't wanna touch it and that's a shame
While Mixrosoft produces questionable software, they are really good at ugly marketing strategies.
It is imo literally unbelievable that e.g. the EU is not enforcing an own OS (that the EU and not another country can control) on the EU members administrations and militaries. Microsoft is good with stuff like this.
The volumes of cash that Microsoft throw at retailers (custom builders / big box) is astronomical. Worked for a relatively small retailer with some international buying power. EOFY "MDF" from Microsoft was an absurd figure.
Our builders would belt out 3 - 6 machines per day, depending on complexity of the custom build, the pre-built machines were in the 6+ per day range.
Considering the vast majority of those machines were running windows (some sold without an os), from a quick estimate after too many beers we were out of pocket 10% at most of the bulk buy price for licence keys after our "market development funds" came through.
It's fucking crook.
One reason not to switch to linux: I want to play PCVR with my Quest 2. It has a really bad stutter when moving around using the only tool that works: ALVR, and this makes VR unplayable. I have not found an actual solution, just a handful of speculative issues threads that go silent as to what is the answer if any.
User won't switch to Linux because of lack of software support, company won't support Linux because of lack of user, such a vicious circle
The solution is to probably not use the Quest 2. And that's a pretty crappy solution.
But VR on Linux sucks in general, so if you really need VR, it's probably best to stick with Windows. I really hope things improve because I'd really like to play with VR, but I'm unwilling to use Windows or make a Meta account, so I'm sitting on the sidelines until a reasonably affordable headset ($500-ish) with reasonably good app support on Linux is available.
ALVR works on Linux with Quest 2, BeatSaber works fine, dont know much about other games.
Yeah you should stay on windows and never check out Linux. Hopefully ques too is great.
The irony is that people create these tools mostly because they're frustrated by the limited customisation options provided by default. If Microsoft ever listens to feedback, it's quite limited, and it takes ages for the new stuff get implemented; moreover very often you just about get used to something and the rug gets pulled from under your feet.
The lack of a small taskbar mode was all it took for me to never upgrade. Just shows MS doesn't care about its users.
I can't use win11 without explorerpatcher, if it stops working I won't know what to do
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/ Got a problem with your PC? \
\ Want to make that NaN problems? /
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|o_o |
|:_/ |
// \ \
(| | )
/'\_ _/`\
\___)=(___/
Oh boy, another reason to switch to Linux. Thanks Microsoft
Yet another reason I'm glad I already did.
I've booted into windows twice total since I switched last year. And as such my hardware has remained untainted by W11.
One of us, one of us!
Better to get that year of Linux under your belt where you have the dual boot fallback
Currently my plan is having a Windows VM on my NAS that I can just dial into on my network for the stuff I still need Windows for.
Though I haven't done it yet, it's the goal.
I've been hearing that since windows 7
Shit, if you go with one of the more popular distros, stability is just fine. My mint install on my laptop has never needed any attention or time since install. Same on my main desktop pc, the little box hooked up to the TV, my dad's ancient desktop, and my "junk" box that's just there for general use by the household, and gets whatever parts come off of the others after an upgrade.
I still run Windows 7 on my media pc, because musicbee, but it dual boots and I've had more hassle out of windows than mint on it. And yes, since it always gets asked, the win7 box is air gapped.
Seriously, stability is a non issue now. It wasn't a real issue back when I first said "fuck Microsoft" and set up that dual boot on my media box that used to be a gaming box. The only stability issue I ran into there was after an upgrade, and I'm fairly certain I screwed that up because it's never happened again.
All of that is on mint. Yeah, basic as hell, but that's the point.
Mint is fuckin awesome
It's the distro I primarily use for my Linux systems
I've only had it crash once and that was on a system that was on and logged in for 2 months straight running a 2 video feeds (1 camera for each of my filament 3D printers) via OBS.
10/10 Would recommend
I can see why they'd do it. Windows is a corporate product and MSFT wants everyone's experience to be tailored to exactly how they think is best. Gives some Apple vibes.
I think at this point MSFT knows the average user is just gonna keep using Windows so they don't really care about tailoring to individuals. I expect to see a lot more of this.
A wasted opportunity to natively support these features and make the user base happy.
Remember the days when Microsoft would block ClassicShell the same way they did StartAllBack here, on Win10?
Pepperridge farm remembers :V
.... I don't, actually, I've been using ClassicShell basically since the day Win10 came out and it's always worked perfectly. Don't think I've even updated it actually.
Its something happened waaay back during the technical preview days. Just like with this instance, the workaround was to rename the installer executable.
https://winaero.com/microsoft-to-block-classic-shell-in-windows-10-here-is-why/
And I think you should update to OpenShell at least.
Windows for gaming, Linux for everything else. With the way I use it, I don't see the desktop, much less notice any changes between updates.
Hey OP, may I ask if this is actually news and not an sensanionalized post with an opinion in it.
One more reason to switch to Linux
Isn't this fucking propaganda?
What? You tell me that Windows won't be customisable any.... Sorry can't do it with a straight face. Fuck you Microsoft! Linux ftw
Reply or upvote if you already quit Schindows a long ago
So thee tools need to patch MS Defender now?
Well at least finally after three long years Microsoft added the option to combine icons on the taskbar.
Without that option, explorerpatcher was a forced install on w11
Now it's possible to live without it
I really hate having the taskbar permanently affixed to the bottom of my screen. I've had it on the left side for decades now. They are really throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Someone at Microsoft "Customization is the enemy of progress!"
I’m on 10 and been a top taskbar guy for years. Are you saying 11 forces you to have taskbar only on bottom?
Correct
The taskbar was movable since it was first introduced in Win95. I’ve always had a top taskbar, and will continue to do so in Linux.
I have been missing the ability to split the quick launch and dock it since XP was the last time you could. I had a dedicated auto hiding bar on the right where I put shortcuts to all of my most used folders and applications. I have looked for solutions that brought that functionality back off and on, but never found anything.
Most things are close, but not quite right, and/or very "bloated" (for what I want it to do, not necessarily for what it was designed to do). It's so dumb.
Why? Why even fucking do this? What do they get? And why is their default ux so aggressively terrible?
They want you to use the search instead of a functional interface. That's why they keep making the interface worse.
It lets them spy on you through bing, allows them to fill the results with ads, and lets them hide system applications unless you know exactly how to find them.
It's also them gearing up towards funneling the entire UX through copilot for largely the same reasons.
The entire goal is to flip the operating system from the slave of the user to the master of the content.
We just need to stop using this garbage. Its not going to get better. Migrate to Linux and hope for support.
Same. Not being able to move the taskbar, alongside all the other downgrades to it and the start menu is what got me to check out Linux as a desktop OS for real, and not just out of curiosity. So far, I don't see going back.
And I was even one of the few dozen people who loved Win8. At least there the points that got criticized were due to sweeping and bold changes. Win11 on the other hand feels like the same as 10 but with arbitrary features removed in the core part of the OS.
I've had it up top for years. Windows 11 is unusable in the current state. The new shell is utter garbage. And they messed up the control panel even more than I thourght possible.