“Control Panel gets tricky” Microsoft CVP explains why killing Windows legacy code takes so long, and how it’s evolving its tools to make modernizing apps like File Explorer and Registry Editor faster

In a recent conversation on the Windows Central Podcast, Marcus Ash, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President of Design and Research for Windows and Devices, shed light on the company’s ongoing efforts to refine the user interface of Windows 11. A focal point of the discussion was the ambitious initiative to eliminate outdated elements from the operating system while striving to preserve backward compatibility whenever feasible.

Modernizing the Control Panel

The dialogue began with a deep dive into the Control Panel, a longstanding benchmark for assessing Microsoft’s modernization journey. Ash noted that the endeavor to refresh the Control Panel commenced with Windows 8, over 13 years ago, and acknowledged that the task remains a work in progress even today.

Listeners are encouraged to catch the full interview on YouTube for an in-depth understanding of Microsoft’s vision and the steps being taken to enhance user experience.


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"Control Panel gets tricky" Microsoft CVP explains why killing Windows legacy code takes so long, and how it's evolving its tools to make modernizing apps like File Explorer and Registry Editor faster