Microsoft Windows 11: Difference between revisions
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===User Freedom=== | ===User Freedom=== | ||
Windows 11 has several and more restrictions than their previous version, Windows 10. These restrictions usually prevent the user to configure the system to their liking. Some notable restrictions are: | Windows 11 has several and more restrictions than their previous version, Windows 10. These restrictions usually prevent the user to configure the system to their liking. Some notable restrictions are: | ||
*In order to use the operating system, it is required to link a | *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 the 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 other web browser instead. | *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 other web browser instead. | ||
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*Like Windows 10, [[OneDrive]] synchronization is active by default. The File Explorer redirects the local file shortcuts to the OneDrive file addresses. | *Like Windows 10, [[OneDrive]] synchronization is active by default. The File Explorer redirects the local file shortcuts to the OneDrive file addresses. | ||
===User Privacy=== | ===User Privacy=== | ||
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===Unstable & forced updates=== | ===Unstable & forced updates=== | ||
Following the update form of Windows 10, Windows 11 updates are forced and | Following the update form of Windows 10, Windows 11 updates are also forced and the system settings only allow them to be postponed, without having any official form to disable them that does not require registry edition or third-party software. They're frequent, usually happening once per month.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Microsoft |date=27 Mar 2025 |title=Update release cycle for Windows clients |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/deployment/update/release-cycle |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260314163711/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/update/release-cycle |archive-date=2026-03-14 |access-date=14 Mar 2026 |website=Microsoft Learn}}</ref> The way that updates are deployed, without allowing to use the OS while it is updating, have caused several users to be unable to use their computers when they need to work, do a project, or even when they're in a critical situation. {{Citation needed}} | ||
Windows users have also reported several times issues and bugs with the recent updates, that vary from minor issues to major issues that can lead the system to become unusable. | |||
Some documented problematic updates include: | |||
*Minor update '''24H2 KB5063878''', released on August 12 2025. This update affected some SSD drives by severely corrupting them. This corruption in some cases caused data losses that ended in unrecoverable files. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Cale |date=24 Aug 2025 |title=Reports say Windows 11 update is bricking drives — is yours on the list? |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/reports-say-windows-11-update-is-bricking-drives-is-yours-on-the-list |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260309042734/https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/reports-say-windows-11-update-is-bricking-drives-is-yours-on-the-list |archive-date=2026-03-09 |access-date=9 Mar 2026 |website=Windows Central}}</ref> | |||
* | *An update on December 2025 caused core features issues on many computers, with several users complaining about this. Microsoft admitted later this update was problematic. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Dalton |first=Theo |date=8 Dec 2025 |title=Microsoft finally admits almost all major Windows 11 core features are broken |url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/discussions/windows11/microsoft-finally-admits-almost-all-major-windows-11-core-features-are-broken/4475930 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260309033645/https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/discussions/windows11/microsoft-finally-admits-almost-all-major-windows-11-core-features-are-broken/4475930 |archive-date=2026-03-09|access-date=9 Mar 2026 |website=Microsoft Community Hub}}</ref> | ||
* | *Update '''KB5077181''', released on February 11 2026. This update affected some Samsung computers, making them unable to access to the C:\ drive. If someone attempted to access to this drive, the system launched an error message containing "C:\ is not accessible – Access denied". This glitch also affected the ability to launch programs and perform administrative tasks. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Batt |first=Simon |date=13 Mar 2026 |title=A nasty Windows 11 bug is causing the C drive to become inaccessible in select devices, says Microsoft |url=https://www.xda-developers.com/windows-11-c-is-not-accessible-access-denied-bug/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260314042240/https://www.xda-developers.com/windows-11-c-is-not-accessible-access-denied-bug/ |archive-date=2026-03-14 |access-date=14 Mar 2026 |website=XDA}}</ref> | ||
These combined factors have causes users to respond in several ways, from complaining about the OS and how Microsoft handles it<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rogers |first=Joe |date=25 Nov 2025 |title=Windows 11 has become INCREASINGLY unstable |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5635937/windows-11-has-become-increasingly-unstable |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260107122136/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5635937/windows-11-has-become-increasingly-unstable |archive-date=2026-01-07 |access-date=9 Mar 2026 |website=Microsoft Learn}}</ref>, by blocking updates with third-party tools such as [https://winaerotweaker.com/ WinAeroTweaker] to prevent the forced and problematic updates despite the risks of doing so <ref>{{Cite web |last=Rozario |first=Hamlin |date=25 Feb 2026|title=I stopped updating Windows immediately — here's how long I wait now |url=https://www.xda-developers.com/i-stopped-updating-windows-immediately/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260227172743/https://www.xda-developers.com/i-stopped-updating-windows-immediately/ |archive-date=2026-02-27 |access-date=9 Mar 2026 |website=XDA}}</ref>, or even by migrating to modified or unsupported versions of Windows or to other operating systems such as Linux. {{Citation needed}} | |||
===Microsoft Copilot integration=== | ===Microsoft Copilot integration=== | ||
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===Windows 11 requires a Microsoft Account to use=== | ===Windows 11 requires a Microsoft Account to use=== | ||
Versions of Windows 11 Pro for personal use and Windows 11 Home require internet connectivity and a Microsoft account during setup.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Microsoft Corporation |date=2025-08-17 |title=Windows 11 Specs and System Requirements |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications?r=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817084049/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications?r=1#expand |archive-date=2025-08-17 |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=Microsoft Corporation}}</ref> This prevents users from setting up the software without the internet, and prevents users from setting up a completely offline installation of Windows, even though the operating system can function without an internet connection. When Microsoft stops offering compatible accounts, Windows 11 will no longer be installable. Workarounds existed to set up Windows without a Microsoft account.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anonymous |date=2022-05-15 |title=Set up Windows 11 without internet |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/2350856/set-up-windows-11-without-internet-oobebypassnro |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250725113800/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/2350856/set-up-windows-11-without-internet-oobebypassnro?forum=insider-all&referrer=answers |archive-date=2025-07-25 |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=Microsoft Learn}}</ref> In October 2025, Microsoft announced they would be removing mechanisms to bypass the Microsoft account setup during the "out of box experience" (OOBE) process. Microsoft claims that these bypass methods were skipping "critical setup screens" despite most users having no issues with these workarounds. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Langowski |first=Amanda |date=2025-10-06 |title=Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.6772 (Dev Channel) |url=https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2025/10/06/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-26220-6772-dev-channel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251009102813/https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2025/10/06/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-26220-6772-dev-channel/ |archive-date=2025-10-09 |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Windows Blogs}}</ref> | Versions of Windows 11 Pro for personal use and Windows 11 Home require internet connectivity and a Microsoft account (see [[Forced account]]) during setup.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Microsoft Corporation |date=2025-08-17 |title=Windows 11 Specs and System Requirements |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications?r=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250817084049/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications?r=1#expand |archive-date=2025-08-17 |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=Microsoft Corporation}}</ref> This prevents users from setting up the software without the internet, and prevents users from setting up a completely offline installation of Windows, even though the operating system can function without an internet connection. When Microsoft stops offering compatible accounts, Windows 11 will no longer be installable. Workarounds existed to set up Windows without a Microsoft account.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anonymous |date=2022-05-15 |title=Set up Windows 11 without internet |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/2350856/set-up-windows-11-without-internet-oobebypassnro |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250725113800/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/2350856/set-up-windows-11-without-internet-oobebypassnro?forum=insider-all&referrer=answers |archive-date=2025-07-25 |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=Microsoft Learn}}</ref> In October 2025, Microsoft announced they would be removing mechanisms to bypass the Microsoft account setup during the "out of box experience" (OOBE) process. Microsoft claims that these bypass methods were skipping "critical setup screens" despite most users having no issues with these workarounds. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Langowski |first=Amanda |date=2025-10-06 |title=Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.6772 (Dev Channel) |url=https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2025/10/06/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-26220-6772-dev-channel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251009102813/https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2025/10/06/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-26220-6772-dev-channel/ |archive-date=2025-10-09 |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Windows Blogs}}</ref> | ||
===Poorly disclosed data encryption=== | ===Poorly disclosed data encryption=== | ||