user complaints Archives

Winsage

January 6, 2026

Windows 11 Is A Broken Mess (And Microsoft Knows)

Microsoft's Xbox division has undergone significant cuts, and Pavan Davuluri, the president of Windows + Devices, has faced criticism on social media. User dissatisfaction with Windows 11 is rising due to stringent hardware requirements like TPM 2.0, design flaws, and unresolved bugs. Many users feel locked out of upgrading to Windows 11, leading to frustration. Reports indicate a 70% increase in Linux installations compared to the previous year, as some users abandon Windows 11. Despite declining user engagement with Copilot since 2024, it is still marketed as the fastest-growing product within Microsoft 365, though this growth may be artificially inflated. Microsoft is prioritizing AI integration, which has not resonated well with users. The company risks a significant decline in valuation if it does not address user feedback and improve Windows 11.

Winsage

January 4, 2026

Windows 11 Is A Broken Mess (And Microsoft Knows)

Microsoft's relationship with customers is deteriorating due to dissatisfaction with Windows 11's rollout, particularly over strict TPM 2.0 hardware requirements, design flaws, and persistent bugs. Users are frustrated with the integration of unwanted AI features, and there is concern about an AI bubble. Despite a reported decline in Copilot usage since 2024, Microsoft claims it is the "fastest-growing" Microsoft 365 product, a narrative potentially skewed by business incentives. There has been a 70% increase in Linux installations compared to 2022, with some users abandoning Windows 11 for extended support of Windows 10. Microsoft is perceived as out of touch with customer feedback, and its reliance on external AI models rather than developing proprietary technology has led to further frustration. Without addressing these issues, Microsoft risks a significant drop in valuation.

AppWizard

January 1, 2026

Vietnam’s dominant messaging app faces regulatory scrutiny over data policy update

Vietnam’s National Competition Commission (NCC) has ordered VNG Corporation to revise its updated service terms for the Zalo messaging app due to user privacy concerns. The NCC emphasized that users should not be forced to consent to personal data collection as a condition for using the app and that consent mechanisms need to be voluntary and clear. The updated terms require users to accept all data management provisions or face account deletion within 45 days, which has led to significant user complaints and a decline in app ratings. Zalo's average rating on Apple’s App Store has fallen to around two out of five stars, and it has slipped to 59th place in download rankings, while international apps like WhatsApp and Viber have become more popular. Zalo has around 78 million active users and operates over 17,000 official accounts used by government and businesses. The NCC intends to meet with VNG to discuss the updated policy, as part of a wider regulatory trend against coercive data practices in digital firms globally.

AppWizard

December 19, 2025

Google preps a fix for what’s probably the Phone app’s most annoying trait

Google is testing a significant update for its Phone app on Android devices, which includes a new "Controls" toggle in Display settings to maintain portrait mode during calls. This feature addresses user complaints about the app's inconsistent adherence to auto-rotation preferences. The beta also introduces an option to mark calls as "urgent" and refreshes the user interface by removing the Favorites tab and consolidating frequently contacted individuals into a horizontal row in the "Recents" section. Additionally, the dedicated "Frequents" list has been removed, encouraging users to actively favorite their most-called contacts. Another feature, "Expressive Calling," allows users to select a "call reason" when dialing, enhancing communication awareness.

Winsage

December 18, 2025

Microsoft Eases Windows 11 Smart App Control with Toggle Option

Microsoft's Smart App Control feature in Windows 11 is designed to evaluate and block potentially harmful applications by cross-referencing them against a database of known safe software. Initially, it required a clean installation to enable or disable, which hindered its adoption. Recent updates have removed this requirement, allowing users to toggle the feature on or off directly through the Windows Security app without a system reset. This change addresses user complaints and enhances usability, particularly for developers and IT professionals managing multiple devices. The feature employs artificial intelligence for real-time decisions on app safety and integrates with other Microsoft security tools. Feedback from the tech community has been positive, highlighting the update as a significant improvement in balancing security and user flexibility.

Winsage

December 2, 2025

I accepted all of Microsoft’s suggested Windows 11 setup settings with a fresh ISO, forced online accounts and extra telemetry included — can any of it be bypassed?

The latest version of Windows 11, 25H2, has been released with minimal changes from 24H2. Windows 11 is gaining market share as Windows 10 approaches its "End of Life" phase, but user satisfaction remains a concern. Many users express frustration over the TPM 2.0 hardware requirement, which raises e-waste concerns for incompatible PCs. Setting up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account has become challenging, as Microsoft has removed popular workarounds, and a mandatory Internet connection is required during setup. Users also express apprehension about Microsoft Copilot and its data collection practices, which include gathering "Optional diagnostic data" and location services information. Although users can disable tracking features after setup, initial selections are not permanent. Windows Recall, a feature that tracks user activity through visual snapshots, is now available for compatible Copilot+ PCs but is not enabled by default. Users can disable Windows Recall in the Settings app.

Winsage

November 29, 2025

Where has Windows 11 gone wrong? Windows 10 users are stalling or defecting – so Microsoft needs to fix this one glaring issue

Windows 11 has faced user dissatisfaction due to perceived similarities with Windows 10, bugs, missing features, and a sluggish interface. Complaints have intensified regarding Microsoft's focus on integrating artificial intelligence rather than addressing fundamental issues within the OS. Despite the end of support for Windows 10, many users are choosing to remain on it or switch to alternatives like Linux due to Windows 11's stringent hardware requirements and ongoing support for Windows 10 until October 2026. Users have expressed concerns about the performance of basic applications, particularly File Explorer. Microsoft has started addressing some performance issues but needs to prioritize user feedback and resolve existing problems to improve perceptions of Windows 11.

Winsage

November 29, 2025

Tested: Windows 11’s ‘faster’ File Explorer (preloaded) is still slower than Windows 10, and uses additional RAM

Microsoft is testing a new feature for Windows 11's File Explorer that involves preloading the application in the background to improve performance. This preloading aims to address user complaints about File Explorer's sluggishness compared to Windows 10. Preloading involves pre-caching necessary data to facilitate quicker launches. Testing showed that RAM usage increased slightly from 32.4MB to 35MB with preloading enabled, resulting in a total of 67.4MB during background preloading. While there was a slight improvement in launch times, it was not significant without close examination. Under full load conditions, preloading demonstrated clearer advantages in launch speed. However, the overall sluggishness of File Explorer, particularly with context menu interactions, remains an issue. Users can optimize their experience by disabling transparency and animation effects and changing default folder settings. The performance disparity between Windows 10 and Windows 11 File Explorers is attributed to additional rendering layers in Windows 11. The preloading feature is available for testing in the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7271 (KB5070307), with a broader rollout expected in early 2026.

AppWizard

November 25, 2025

Android users report Reddit app won’t save their settings after latest update

Reddit's Android app is experiencing a significant bug that resets user preferences each time the app is closed and reopened, leading to widespread user complaints. Users report that their online status reverts to "active" despite attempts to change it, and the "show mature content" toggle also malfunctions. Nearly all user preferences, including theme settings, text size, and privacy settings, are being reset. The issues appear to be specific to Android devices, with users from various models reporting the problem. Standard troubleshooting methods, such as clearing the app cache and reinstalling the app, have not resolved the issue. Reddit has not officially acknowledged the bug, but it may have been introduced by a recent app update.

AppWizard

November 18, 2025

Is Minecraft facing an outage? Gamers report login and server issues

On November 18 at 1:57 AM, many Minecraft players experienced difficulties accessing the game due to a significant network outage affecting Microsoft’s networks. Downdetector recorded over 250 user complaints, with 80% related to server issues, 10% to login errors, and 10% to gameplay challenges. This incident is the second occurrence of server issues for Minecraft in a few weeks, following a previous outage linked to Microsoft Azure. Microsoft transitioned Minecraft hosting from Amazon to its own Azure platform in 2020 to enhance Azure's growth. Minecraft, developed by Mojang Studios and launched in 2011, was acquired by Microsoft for .5 billion in 2014.