Windows 11 users want these five features back

When Windows 11 made its debut, a wave of nostalgia swept through long-time users who felt the absence of beloved features. Fast forward three and a half years, and the echoes of those complaints still resonate within the Microsoft Feedback Hub, where they continue to gather tens of thousands of votes.

The most wanted requests in Windows 11

“Bring back the ability to move the taskbar to the top and sides of the screen on Windows 11”

Currently, the taskbar remains anchored to the bottom of the screen, leaving users yearning for the flexibility to reposition it. A post on the Feedback Hub has amassed a staggering 24,046 votes and 2,086 comments, yet the feedback remains largely unchanged since the initial rollout of Windows 11.

No option to change taskbar position

One frustrated user lamented, “The move taskbar feature has been missing for years. Why has this not been changed yet?” Another user humorously questioned whether Microsoft’s stock response, “We’ve got it,” actually translates to “We’re ignoring it.” Meanwhile, Microsoft’s automated reply simply states, “We’ll be continuing to evolve Windows 11 and its features based on feedback like this, so thank you so much for taking the time to give us your feedback.”

“I would like to be able to turn off the Recommended section in the Start menu and have the whole area disappear in Windows 11.”

With 17,479 votes and 794 comments, the second most requested feature highlights a persistent frustration: users do not want the Recommended section cluttering their Start menu. Many feel this feature is redundant, as recent activities are already accessible through File Explorer.

Start menu personalization settings

One user expressed a desire for a complete removal, stating, “No, I don’t want to reduce the size; I want to hide it, forever, for good.” Others echoed similar sentiments, fearing that the pane might evolve into an advertising space. While Microsoft acknowledged the feedback, they noted that full removal isn’t currently an option, offering instead a series of toggles to minimize the content.

“Add an option for Windows search to use my preferred search provider”

Windows search remains tethered to Bing, directing web queries to Edge unless users reside in the European Economic Area, where regulations compel Microsoft to respect users’ default browsers. This proposal has garnered 11,007 votes and 101 comments, with users advocating for a global switch.

One user remarked that the EU rule “should apply in the United States, heck, everywhere in the world.” Meanwhile, European Insiders have begun testing builds that allow for this choice, but Microsoft has yet to extend this option beyond the EU.

“The CPU/Processor requirements for Windows 11 are too high and I think you should lower them”

Initially raised in 2021, this feedback has accumulated 8,483 votes and 1,025 comments, reflecting widespread discontent among users whose capable PCs are rendered incompatible with Windows 11.

Windows 11 TPM requirement

One user lamented owning a high-end gaming rig with an unsupported processor, calling it another “Vista/8.1” moment. Another echoed the sentiment, warning that “millions of PCs are going to end up in the landfill for no good reason” as the deadline for Windows 10 approaches.

“Update the Windows 11 taskbar to support never combining app icons and hiding labels”

In Windows 10, users enjoyed the option to keep app windows separate and hide labels. Although Windows 11 introduced a “never-combine” mode, many feel it remains incomplete. Opening multiple apps leads to a cluttered taskbar, with icons collapsing into a “…” block and width adjustments causing disarray.

In the Feedback Hub, one tester described the situation as “horrible,” urging Microsoft to “please finally fix this,” while another questioned the necessity of forced labels when opting for never-combine, stating it consumes valuable screen space.

As observed by BleepingComputer, these five feedback posts alone account for over 75,000 votes, with fresh comments continuing to pour in weekly. The demand for improvements in Windows 11 is unmistakable, yet the question remains: is Microsoft truly listening to its users?

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Windows 11 users want these five features back