user dissatisfaction Archives

Winsage

July 26, 2026

Everything we know so far about Windows 11’s big 2026 (26H2) update arriving this fall, including changes for Start menu, Taskbar, and Search

Windows 11's 2026 update, version 26H2, enhances the Start menu, Taskbar, and Windows Search. Taskbar Changes: - Users can reposition the Taskbar to the top, bottom, left, or right of the screen. - The interface adapts to the Taskbar's position, with the Start menu and Search opening downward when at the top. - Vertical Taskbar layouts have an abbreviated year display and lack a seconds option, but support app ungrouping and labels with the "Never combine" setting. - Users can reduce the Taskbar's size, which will also make icons smaller. Start Menu Changes: - Users can select from various size options for the Start menu, though drag-to-resize and full-screen layouts are not available. - Users can choose which sections ("Pinned," "Recent," and "All") to display. - A new setting allows users to hide their account name and profile picture while sharing screens. Search Changes: - The Search home page emphasizes recent searches and minimizes distractions from trending topics and promotional content. - Web results are prioritized over products or sponsored content when they are the best match. - Users can disable web results and Microsoft Store suggestions for a local search experience. - The ranking system prioritizes local content, ensuring apps, settings, and files appear before web results. - The Search box height has been increased by four pixels for improved usability.

Winsage

July 21, 2026

LG admits its monitor app installs bloatware via Windows Update, and Microsoft is letting it happen

A growing number of LG monitor users have reported that connecting their devices to Windows systems results in the automatic installation of the LG Monitor App Installer, which prompts users with a McAfee trial advertisement. YouTuber Gamers Nexus found that connecting an LG UltraGear monitor led to the installation of LG's driver package and the LG Monitor App Installer, with the McAfee pop-up appearing 31 times over 32 boots. This automatic installation is facilitated by device metadata, which Windows uses to download associated applications without user notification. Users must be signed into the Microsoft Store and connected to the internet for this to occur, leading to frustrations about transparency. Reports of unsolicited McAfee pop-ups have been shared on platforms like Reddit, with users confirming the app's installation was logged as part of a Windows Update. LG has acknowledged the inclusion of McAfee in their app updates, promoting a free trial, which has raised privacy concerns. The app's rating on the Microsoft Store has dropped to around 1 out of 5 due to user dissatisfaction. Users can prevent automatic installations by adjusting Group Policy settings, while macOS requires manual approval for third-party applications. Neither Microsoft nor LG has formally addressed the concerns regarding silent installations and McAfee pop-ups.

Winsage

July 21, 2026

Windows 11 Start menu changes trickle into Beta, movable taskbar still MIA

Microsoft is rolling out updates to the Windows 11 Beta channel, specifically Build 26220.8925, which includes adjustable size options for the Start menu and renames the "Recommended" section to "Recent." Users can select between small and large menu sizes, access a redesigned settings page, and hide their name and picture. The ability to reposition the taskbar is still not available, as it remains in experimental builds, despite user demand. Windows 11 has higher system requirements than Windows 10, needing a minimum of 4 GB of RAM compared to 2 GB for Windows 10. Users are expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of support for older PCs that previously ran Windows 10 effectively.

Winsage

May 30, 2026

Tested: Windows 11’s new Start menu lets you fully customize it, and it works surprisingly well

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Build 26300.8553, featuring a redesigned Start menu that addresses user complaints about customization and performance. The update introduces section-level toggles for managing the visibility of Pinned, Recent, and All sections. The Recommended section has been rebranded as Recent, allowing users to display recently accessed files and customize its visibility. Users can also disable Pinned apps and All apps, leading to a minimalist Start menu. Three size options for the Start menu are available: Automatic, Small, and Medium. The All apps section can be viewed in Grid or List format. Users can hide their name and profile picture from the Start menu. A native Start menu is in development, with plans to use native WinUI 3 frameworks for improved performance. Additionally, a new Low Latency Profile CPU boost is being rolled out to enhance responsiveness.

Winsage

May 26, 2026

Microsoft’s Copilot obsession backfired, and now it’s frantically erasing it from Windows

Microsoft has integrated its AI assistant, Copilot, into various products, including Bing and Windows 11, since early 2023. However, user dissatisfaction has led the company to shift its focus back to addressing core issues with Windows 11. Despite an aggressive rollout of Copilot across multiple platforms, it struggled to compete with specialized AI tools as users preferred solutions that could autonomously complete tasks. This resulted in backlash from users, earning Microsoft the nickname "Microslop." In response, Microsoft has initiated the "Windows K2" project to reallocate resources from Copilot to improve Windows 11, scaling back AI implementations and allowing users to customize their experience.

Winsage

May 20, 2026

Microsoft is fixing one of the most baffling things about Windows 11 — ‘spam’ in search results

Microsoft is enhancing the search functionality in Windows 11 by prioritizing local results over web-based suggestions in response to user frustrations. Previously, searches could yield irrelevant web results, such as movies instead of applications. The taskbar search box will now ensure that files and applications are more prominently displayed when they match the user's query. While web results will still be available, the focus will be on improving search relevance. This change reflects Microsoft's efforts to refine Windows 11 and address user dissatisfaction with the previous search experience.

Winsage

May 6, 2026

Microsoft confirms Windows 11’s File Explorer is sluggish, and preloading isn’t the only fix coming

Microsoft has increased its public relations efforts to highlight enhancements in Windows 11, announcing performance and reliability fixes following an update from Marcus Ash, the Windows Insider lead. Tali Roth, Microsoft’s Head of Product for Windows Shell, addressed user dissatisfaction with the preloading of File Explorer, which is seen as a resource-intensive solution that does not resolve underlying performance issues. Critics argue that while preloading improves initial launch times, it consumes an additional ~35MB of RAM and does not eliminate delays in folder navigation and other functions. In response to the criticism, Roth explained that Microsoft employs a multi-faceted strategy for improving File Explorer, which includes targeted optimizations to the launch sequence, removing unnecessary processes, and addressing deeper foundational issues. These improvements are being rolled out incrementally, with recent Insider builds showcasing enhancements like reduced visual glitches and a modernized Properties dialog.

Winsage

May 4, 2026

Microsoft’s turned Windows into a cesspool, but it wants to do better

Microsoft is experiencing a wave of user dissatisfaction due to its push for the Copilot feature, a confusing out-of-box experience, and buggy patches. Industry experts are discussing the company's challenges and whether it has strayed from its core mission. CEO Satya Nadella and Windows chief Pavan Davuluri have promised to address these issues, raising questions about the effectiveness of these commitments and the possibility of regaining user trust.

Winsage

April 29, 2026

Microsoft is changing the rules of the game: updates are no longer forced in Windows 11

Windows 11 has introduced a new update management model that allows users to pause updates indefinitely, transforming the previous 35-day limit into a flexible option. This change addresses user frustrations regarding unexpected reboots and system instability caused by updates. Users can now choose to restart or shut down their systems without automatic updates being installed. This adjustment aligns with Microsoft's strategy to enhance user autonomy, although the company warns that neglecting updates can increase security vulnerabilities. The new features are currently available in test builds, with a wider rollout expected soon.

Winsage

April 29, 2026

“GitHub is failing me, every single day, and it is personal”: After Xbox and Windows, now GITHUB is in crisis — Microsoft, what are you doing?

Microsoft acquired GitHub in 2018 for .5 billion in stock. As of April 25, 2026, GitHub has failed to meet its service level agreements (SLAs), reporting an uptime of only 90.21%, significantly lower than the promised 99.9%. Developer Mitchell Hashimoto has documented these outages, which have led to user frustrations, including issues like disappearing code commits. GitHub's Chief Customer Officer, Kyle Daigle, acknowledged the concerns but failed to alleviate user dissatisfaction. Hashimoto announced his departure from GitHub, citing ongoing outages that hindered his work. Additionally, the programming language Zig has migrated to competitor Codeberg, criticizing GitHub's engineering culture. GitHub's struggles are linked to Microsoft's focus on artificial intelligence, which has diverted resources and raised concerns about service quality across Microsoft's products.