In March, Pavan Davuluri, the president of Windows, acknowledged the pressing need to tackle significant “pain points” within Windows 11. This initiative aims to restore user trust and counteract the negative sentiment that has arisen from Microsoft’s aggressive foray into artificial intelligence, which some users feel has overshadowed essential Windows features like performance and reliability. According to sources, Microsoft is genuinely committed to transforming Windows 11 into a platform that users can take pride in, with a vision to enhance its standing by late 2026 and into 2027.
To achieve this, Microsoft is setting its sights on steamOS as a benchmark, focusing on optimizing Windows 11 to ensure that gaming performance is competitive with that of steamOS on similar hardware. The company anticipates that foundational changes will enable Windows to compete effectively in gaming performance within the next couple of years.
File Explorer is also set to receive significant upgrades, enhancing file navigation and processing speeds. Users can look forward to features like “instant filename search,” inspired by the capabilities of a third-party application known as File Pilot. Additionally, Windows Update is undergoing improvements aimed at making the system reliable enough that restarts will only be necessary once a month. Under-the-hood changes are expected to streamline the updating process, allowing for updates to display and audio drivers during restarts rather than while the system is in active use.
Moreover, there is a concerted effort to debloat Windows 11, focusing on reducing memory usage during idle times and minimizing the overall footprint of the operating system. This initiative aims to enhance performance on both low-end hardware and high-end systems, including gaming handhelds.
Craft and UI
The K2 initiative is a pivotal focus for Microsoft, addressing user experience concerns and reintroducing beloved features that have been absent since the launch of Windows 11. Among the most anticipated changes is the return of the ability to move and resize the Taskbar, a feature that has garnered considerable user demand.
Under the K2 initiative, Microsoft is encouraging teams to leverage its in-house Windows UI framework more extensively. WinUI 3 is central to this effort, with performance enhancements underway to ensure that these native UI surfaces are not only faster but also more reliable. This will facilitate their use in various system areas, including legacy interfaces like Run and Control Panel.
One notable advancement involves a new System Compositor for WinUI 3, designed to minimize latency and memory overhead across the user interface. This improvement ensures that elements such as the Start menu and Taskbar remain responsive, even under heavy system loads. In fact, Microsoft is completely rebuilding the Start menu using WinUI 3, aiming for a performance increase of up to 60% compared to the current version. Users can also expect more customization options, including the ability to resize the menu and hide certain sections.
The K2 project also addresses concerns regarding “enshittification.” Microsoft plans to eliminate ads from the Start menu, a significant move from a financial standpoint. Furthermore, the company intends to adjust the default settings for the Widgets Board, prioritizing the Widgets Panel while relegating MSN to a secondary role.
K2 evolves
Windows K2 is an ongoing initiative without a defined completion date, shaping the future of Windows by establishing priorities for development. Its primary objective is to refine Windows 11 and reposition it as a platform that users can genuinely appreciate and depend on consistently.
This positive shift is crucial for Windows, helping to establish the platform as a formidable competitor in the long run. Changes stemming from the Windows K2 initiative are already being rolled out, with many more expected to be previewed over the summer.
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