Microsoft Windows 11: Difference between revisions

*In order to use the operating system, it is required to link a Microsoft account. Since October 2025 local accounts cannot be created and Microsoft has blocked ways to bypass the Microsoft account requirement.

*Updates are forced and cannot be disabled, only postponed by default. They can only be disabled with third-party tools. Some settings and preferences set by the user are modified after applying updates. A very known case of this happening is the modification of the default browser preferences to [[Microsoft Edge]] if the user has set another default web browser instead.

*Like with Windows 10, [[OneDrive]] synchronization is active by default. The File Explorer redirects the local file shortcuts to the OneDrive file addresses.

|When users tried switching from Windows 10 to 11, they sometimes couldn't due to the strict hardware requirements. One peculiar instance of this is the TPM 2.0 requirement. Older hardware that could run Windows 11 fine without this requirement was suddenly locked out, even the more recent hardware released before 2018 was suddenly incapable of running Windows 11, either entirely or just without a BIOS update. Due to most users not knowing about this specific requirement and due to most users not knowing how to meet this requirement, a lot of perfectly fine hardware got tossed out.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Enable TPM 2.0 on your PC - Microsoft Support |url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/enable-tpm-2-0-on-your-pc-1fd5a332-360d-4f46-a1e7-ae6b0c90645c |url-status=live |website=Microsoft Support}}</ref>

TPM 2.0 only protects users from advanced physical attacks that an every day user would never encounter in real life, due to the hardware needing to be stolen for such hacks to be feasible. For an every day user, this requirement made good hardware unusable on modern Windows without having a good reason for doing so. As TPM 1.2 was supported by most older hardware and had encryption that met most peoples security needs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brant |first=Tom |date=21 Jan 2025 |title=What Is a TPM, and Why Do I Need One for Windows 11? {{!}} PCMag |url=https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/what-is-a-tpm-and-why-do-i-need-one-for-windows-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/85hhk |archive-date=25 Feb 2024 |access-date=9 May 2026 |website=PCMag}}</ref>

In recent releases of Windows 11, Microsoft has decided to integrate its AI assistant, '''Copilot''', directly into the operating system through a dedicated Copilot key, a Copilot shortcut combination and through direct integrations into system apps and Microsoft's Office suit.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 May 2026 |title=Unlock Productivity with the Copilot Key {{!}} Microsoft Windows |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/learning-center/unlock-productivity-with-the-copilot-key |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260309164316/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/learning-center/unlock-productivity-with-the-copilot-key |archive-date=9 Mar 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |website=Microsoft Support}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 Sep 2023 |title=Welcome to Copilot in Word - Microsoft Support |url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/welcome-to-copilot-in-word-2135e85f-a467-463b-b2f0-c51a46d625d1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260516011535/https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/welcome-to-copilot-in-word-2135e85f-a467-463b-b2f0-c51a46d625d1 |archive-date=16 May 2026 |access-date=22 May 2026 |website=Microsoft Support}}</ref>

|In 2024, Microsoft unveiled ''Recall'' for ''Copilot+ PCs'', marketed as a way for users to search through what they have done on their computer by recording their screen. This sparked controversy,<ref>[https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsofts-controversial-recall-feature-for-windows-11-could-already-be-in-legal-hot-water "Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature for Windows 11 could already be in legal hot water"] - techradar.com - accessed 2025-01-29 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251002141424/https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsofts-controversial-recall-feature-for-windows-11-could-already-be-in-legal-hot-water Archived])</ref> especially among security experts<ref>[https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/feature/Privacy-and-security-risks-surrounding-Microsoft-Recall "Privacy and security risks surrounding Microsoft Recall"] - techtarget.com - accessed 2025-01-29 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251209084156/https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/feature/Privacy-and-security-risks-surrounding-Microsoft-Recall Archived])</ref> who worried about the security of screenshots,<ref>[https://news.sky.com/story/microsoft-ai-feature-investigated-by-uk-watchdog-over-screenshots-13141171 "Microsoft AI feature investigated by UK watchdog over screenshots"] - news.sky.com - accessed 2025-01-29 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251002141809/https://news.sky.com/story/microsoft-ai-feature-investigated-by-uk-watchdog-over-screenshots-13141171 Archived])</ref> since it could easily document private information like social-security numbers, bank-account information, and passwords, as well as user browsing behavior. A ''Python'' script was developed, called "''TotalRecall''", that collects the screenshots and descriptions of these recordings,<ref>[https://github.com/xaitax/TotalRecall "TotalRecall - a 'privacy nightmare'?"] - github.com - accessed 2025-01-29 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251202013433/https://github.com/xaitax/TotalRecall Archived])</ref> proving the danger of ''Recall''.

This feature was delayed after backlash from users.<ref>[https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2024/06/microsoft-recall-delayed-after-privacy-and-security-concerns "Microsoft Recall delayed after privacy and security concerns"] - malwarebytes.com - accessed 2025-01-29 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251229124341/https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2024/06/microsoft-recall-delayed-after-privacy-and-security-concerns Archived])</ref>

In 2025, Microsoft re-released ''Recall'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davenport |first=Corbin |date=Apr 25, 2025 |title=Windows Recall Is Finally Rolling Out After Controversial Reveal |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/windows-recall-is-finally-rolling-out-after-controversal-release/ |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |work=How to Geek |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260218203614/https://www.howtogeek.com/windows-recall-is-finally-rolling-out-after-controversal-release/ |archive-date=18 Feb 2026}}</ref> with claims that the tool has resolved the security flaws and it coming disabled by default.<ref>{{Cite news |last=LeClair |first=Dave |date=Apr 11, 2025 |title=Microsoft Recall is rolling out following major controversy — what you need to know |url=https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/microsoft-recall-is-coming-for-real-this-time |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |work=Tom's Guide |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251119223853/https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/microsoft-recall-is-coming-for-real-this-time |archive-date=19 Nov 2025}}</ref> However, despite integrating better security, having this feature enabled continues to pose privacy risks for consumers, as it is only a matter of when a vulnerability is discovered for the problems both consumers and businesses initially had with the tool to resurface,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Nick |date=May 5, 2025 |title=Turn Off Windows' Recall to Protect Your Privacy |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/how-to-disable-recall/ |access-date=Jun 20, 2025 |work=How to Geek |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260110141040/https://www.howtogeek.com/how-to-disable-recall/ |archive-date=10 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Piltch |first=Avram |date=2025-08-01 |title=Tested: Microsoft Recall can still capture credit cards and passwords, a treasure trove for crooks |url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/01/microsoft_recall_captures_credit_card_info/ |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=The Register |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251218063254/https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/01/microsoft_recall_captures_credit_card_info/ |archive-date=18 Dec 2025}}</ref> especially since it is difficult for users to inspect the screenshots that are taken by the tool.

|Windows 11 has been criticized for pushing Edge installations through Windows updates, even when users had previously removed or replaced the browser. The browser gets reinstalled after an update due to the browser update programs being listed as system services, which get reactivated after updating.<ref>https://learn.microsoft.com/en-my/answers/questions/5727874/how-do-i-prevent-edge-from-reinstalling-itself ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260503110346/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-my/answers/questions/5727874/how-do-i-prevent-edge-from-reinstalling-itself archive])</ref>

This controversial change was reverted in April of 2022.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20220418003606/https://www.windowslatest.com/2022/04/18/microsoft-reverts-outrageous-windows-11-default-browser-change-for-everyone/</ref> The reverting of this policy happened due to the Digital Markets Act coming into effect in 2022/2023 inside of the EU.<ref>https://www.privacyworld.blog/2022/10/dma-eu-publishes-the-new-digital-markets-act/</ref>

An additional function related to the UCPD driver rubbed salt in the wound for many power users, due to said function after two reboots turning the UCPD driver back on after being manually disabled by the user. Which makes disabling this driver a lot more challenging.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQUYh4iKsB0</ref><ref>https://binary.ninja/2025/03/25/default-browser-upcd.html</ref>

|Bing Wallpaper is a free-to-download app on the Microsoft Store that displays a daily rotation of wallpapers for Windows 11 computers.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Explore the world one photo at a time {{!}} Bing Wallpaper |url=https://www.bing.com/apps/wallpaper?pc=w011&brand=bing |url-status=live |access-date=20 Feb 2026 |website=Bing}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260116071012/https://www.bing.com/apps/wallpaper?brand=bing&pc=w011 Archived])</ref> By default, an option is toggled in its settings to automatically open Bing and search for the wallpaper's contents whenever one clicks somewhere on their desktop that doesn't contain an icon and place a permanent window on top of one's wallpaper to learn more. This option must be manually switched off in a setting at the bottom of the options page.<ref>{{Cite web |last=M B |first=Abhijith |date=26 Oct 2025 |title=Windows 11’s Bing Wallpaper app opens Bing.com if you click anywhere on the desktop |url=https://www.windowslatest.com/2025/10/26/windows-11s-bing-wallpaper-app-opens-bing-com-if-you-click-anywhere-on-the-desktop/ |url-status=live |access-date=20 Feb 2026 |website=Windows Latest |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251215022522/https://www.windowslatest.com/2025/10/26/windows-11s-bing-wallpaper-app-opens-bing-com-if-you-click-anywhere-on-the-desktop/ |archive-date=15 Dec 2025}}</ref> Along with this, it reportedly replaces one's default search engine with Bing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allan |first=Darren |date=28 Oct 2025 |title=Microsoft sinks to new lows with Bing Wallpaper 'feature' in Windows 11 that'll either confuse or annoy you |url=https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-sinks-to-new-lows-with-bing-wallpaper-feature-in-windows-11-thatll-either-confuse-or-annoy-you |url-status=live |access-date=20 Feb 2026 |website=TechRadar |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251206100558/https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-sinks-to-new-lows-with-bing-wallpaper-feature-in-windows-11-thatll-either-confuse-or-annoy-you |archive-date=6 Dec 2025}}</ref>

|BitLocker has a built-in backdoor

The believe of this vulnerability being an intentional backdoor comes from the fact that the exploit abuses a flaw in a component found in WinRE, also known as the Windows Recovery Environment. This is weird as the same component can be found in normal, non-recovery Windows installations, but in those versions the component does not have this vulnerability.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 May 2026 |title=Nightmare-Eclipse/YellowKey: YellowKey Bitlocker Bypass Vulnerability |url=https://github.com/Nightmare-Eclipse/YellowKey |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260514013722/https://github.com/Nightmare-Eclipse/YellowKey |archive-date=14 May 2026 |access-date=16 May 2026 |website=GitHub}}</ref>

[[Category:Microsoft]]