Windows 11, which made its debut in October 2021, has not exactly set the tech world ablaze. Its launch was met with a collective shrug, largely due to its stringent hardware requirements that left many users feeling excluded. Despite its promise of a modern and intelligent experience, the operating system has faced significant challenges in the years since, including persistent bugs, stagnant user adoption rates, and a growing skepticism among its audience.
Even as Windows 11 approaches its fourth anniversary, many users remain loyal to Windows 10, which continues to receive Extended Security Updates for free in the EU and for those linked to a Microsoft account. The experience of Windows 11 has, surprisingly, deteriorated since its initial rollout, with Microsoft’s own actions contributing to user dissatisfaction.
Windows 11’s core features are faltering
An operating system that doesn’t work right
It is indeed disheartening to report that key components of the Windows 11 interface have been unreliable. Recently, Microsoft acknowledged in a support bulletin that “major Windows 11 core features,” including the Start Menu, Taskbar, File Explorer, and Settings app, have been prone to failure following updates. These issues stem from a problematic XAML software component introduced in a July 2025 update, leading to crashes in essential processes like Explorer.exe and ShellHost. Users have experienced critical errors, with the Start menu failing to open and the Settings app refusing to launch altogether. This situation has persisted for months, leaving many users to navigate a daily landscape of broken taskbars and non-functional menus.
Microsoft has provided temporary workarounds, such as re-registering app packages via PowerShell, but the core user interface of Windows 11 remains in a compromised state. This is particularly surprising for an operating system that was intended to be Microsoft’s flagship product. The timing of these issues coincides with the company’s increased focus on AI, raising questions about the impact of this shift on software quality.
Windows 11 has become so fragile
But why?
The fragility of Windows 11 can be traced to several factors, one of which is CEO Satya Nadella’s announcement that up to 30% of Microsoft’s code is now generated by AI. While this may enhance developer productivity, it raises concerns about the quality of the software being produced. Although Windows has had a reputation for bugs long before the AI era, the timing of these recent issues aligns with the company’s AI initiatives, leading to a growing perception that the focus on AI is detracting from the necessary polish of the operating system.
Moreover, Windows 11’s trajectory has been marked by an aggressive push toward features that many users did not request. The integration of Copilot, initially presented as an optional assistant, has become deeply embedded in the operating system, with a persistent button on the taskbar that many find intrusive. Basic functionalities that were standard in Windows 10, such as the ability to move the taskbar or ungroup application windows, remain absent or poorly implemented, further frustrating users.
A growing trust deficit
Users have been burned already
Perhaps the most damaging consequence of these developments has been the erosion of user trust. Windows 11 launched with stringent hardware requirements, including TPM 2.0 and specific CPU generation minimums, which left many capable machines behind. This move, initially justified for security reasons, has fostered resentment among users who felt their hardware was unjustly rendered obsolete. Although Microsoft has since relaxed some of these restrictions, the goodwill lost during this period is hard to regain.
The introduction of advertisements within the operating system has only compounded this issue. What began as simple suggestions in the Start menu has evolved into persistent promotional content throughout Windows 11. Users have encountered ads for Microsoft 365, OneDrive upgrades, and even third-party applications integrated into the OS. For many, this monetization feels like a betrayal of the traditional software model, especially for an operating system that users have already paid for.
As a result, many users have opted to remain on Windows 10, which, despite reaching its end-of-life status in October 2025, still powers approximately 1 billion PCs. This statistic highlights the uphill battle Microsoft faces in encouraging users to migrate to Windows 11. Adoption rates for Windows 11 are lagging significantly behind those of Windows 10 at a comparable stage in its lifecycle, suggesting that users are not feeling compelled to upgrade, especially in light of the current bugs plaguing Windows 11.
What happens next?
Microsoft has a growing problem
The pressing question for Microsoft is whether Windows 11 can recover from this turbulent period, or if the damage to user confidence has become too great. The company stands at a crossroads: it can either continue to push forward with AI-centric features while the foundation of the operating system crumbles, or it can take a step back to focus on stability and reliability. Users are not asking for revolutionary changes; they simply want an operating system that functions reliably, where the Start menu opens consistently, File Explorer does not crash, and updates do not introduce new problems.
This situation calls for a fundamental shift in priorities at Microsoft. It may require a feature freeze on new AI integrations until core functionality is restored to its former state. Transparent communication regarding bugs and realistic timelines for fixes is essential, as is the acknowledgment that an operating system’s primary role is to operate effectively. The irony is that Microsoft possesses the resources and talent to address these issues, having navigated past operating system controversies successfully. However, time is of the essence, as the 500 million users still on Windows 10 may not feel the urgency to upgrade, especially when viable alternatives are becoming increasingly attractive.
