Microsoft Windows: Difference between revisions

'''Windows''' is a product line of proprietary graphical operating systems developed and marketed by [[Microsoft]]. The first version of Windows was released in 1985 as a GUI for MS-DOS. Later, in 1993, Windows was released as a standalone operating system running on the Windows NT kernel. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sectors of the computing industry – Windows (unqualified) for a consumer or corporate workstation, Windows Server for a server and Windows [[Internet of things|IoT]] for an embedded system. Windows is sold as either a consumer retail product or licensed to third-party hardware manufacturers who sell products bundled with Windows.

A forced link to a Microsoft Account is required to use the OS. Users can no longer create local accounts since Windows 11 without using any third-party software to modify the OS.

[[OneDrive]] does forced file synchronization without user's consent and redirects basic personal file addresses to OneDrive's addresses.<ref>{{cite news |first=Lance |last=Whitney |title=Windows 11 now turns on OneDrive folder backup without your permission |date=25 Jun 2024 |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-11-now-turns-on-onedrive-folder-backup-without-your-permission/ |url-status=live |website=ZDNET |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625181409/https://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-11-now-turns-on-onedrive-folder-backup-without-your-permission/ |archive-date=2024-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Taras |last=Buria |date=24 Jun 2024 |title=Windows 11 is now automatically enabling OneDrive folder backup without asking permission |url=https://www.neowin.net/news/windows-11-is-now-automatically-enabling-onedrive-folder-backup-without-asking-permission/ |url-status=live |website=Neowin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625183949/https://www.neowin.net/news/windows-11-is-now-automatically-enabling-onedrive-folder-backup-without-asking-permission/ |archive-date=2024-06-25}}</ref>

Telemetry and data collection has increased since Windows 7.<ref>{{cite news |author=Ars Staff |website=Ars Technica |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/04/microsoft-opens-up-on-windows-telemetry-tells-us-most-of-what-data-it-collects/ |title=Microsoft opens up on Windows telemetry, tells us most of what data it collects |date=5 Apr 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405141641/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/04/microsoft-opens-up-on-windows-telemetry-tells-us-most-of-what-data-it-collects/ |archive-date=2017-04-05}}</ref> Since Windows 10 the telemetry is forced and cannot be disabled completely without modifying system component with third-party tools.<ref>{{cite news |first=Gregg |last=Keizer |date=10 Aug 2015 |title=Windows 10 makes diagnostic data collection compulsory |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/1636741/windows-10-makes-diagnostic-data-collection-compulsory.html |url-status=live |website=ComputerWorld |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250401153751/https://www.computerworld.com/article/1636741/windows-10-makes-diagnostic-data-collection-compulsory.html |archive-date=2025-04-01}}</ref>

An AI-powered tool named [[Microsoft Copilot's recall feature|Recall]] has raised several privacy and security concerns due to their ability to take constant screenshots of the whole screen every few seconds. These screenshots could contain sensitive user's info, such as passwords or credit card info that can be taken and used against the user. Initially they were stored unencrypted along with the AI generated transcriptions on the user's hard disk. Apparently, only local AI is used to analyze them and they are now encrypted. An option to hide sensitive information as well as disable it for selected apps was added, though it remains open on how the sensitivity is determined.

Windows operating system comes pre-installed with an active license on most new desktop computers. Windows licenses can also be acquired by making a one-time purchase.

Since Windows 10, the operating system started to include [[bloatware]] and integrated ads about Microsoft services on system tools like Settings or File Explorer,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://x.com/flobo09/status/1502645866204704773 |url-status=live |author=flobo09 |title=Some people will go mad if Microsoft starts adding ads in explorer. |date=12 Mar 2022 |website=[[X Corp|X / Twitter]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Tom |last=Warren |date=15 Mar 2022 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/15/22979251/microsoft-file-explorer-ads-windows-11-testing |url-status=live |title=Microsoft says Windows 11 File Explorer ads were ‘not intended to be published externally’ / We may still see File Explorer ads in the future |website=The Verge |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315165325/https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/15/22979251/microsoft-file-explorer-ads-windows-11-testing |archive-date=2022-03-15}}</ref> as well as during initial setup.<ref>{{cite web |title=So this is where we are now, microsoft is putting ads at boot in windows 10 |author=No_Telephone9938 |date=25 Sep 2021 |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/pveruw/so_this_is_where_we_are_now_microsoft_is_putting/ |url-status=live |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250801175110/https://old.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/pveruw/so_this_is_where_we_are_now_microsoft_is_putting/ |archive-date=2025-08-01}}</ref> Users also might get ads on the lock screen, desktop and as notifications. There is also the clickbait newsfeed in the start menu.<ref>{{cite news |title=How to declutter, quiet down, and take the AI out of Windows 11 25H2  |first=Andrew |last=Cunningham |date=5 Nov 2025 |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/11/what-i-do-to-clean-up-a-clean-install-of-windows-11-23h2-and-edge/ |url-status=live |website=Ars Technica |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251105165936/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/11/what-i-do-to-clean-up-a-clean-install-of-windows-11-23h2-and-edge/ |archive-date=2025-11-05}}</ref>

According to StatCounter, Windows is the most used operating system on desktop computers as of February 2026 (67%). Its two main competitors are [[Apple |macOS]] (11%) and  [[wikipedia:Linux|Linux]] operating systems (3%). <ref>{{Cite web |publisher=StatCounter |date=Feb 2026 |title=Desktop Operating System Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/desktop/worldwide/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/kwLFI |archive-date=2026-03-09 |access-date=9 Mar 2026 |website=statcounter.com}}</ref>

==Telemetry==

Windows 10 and 11 are configured to send telemetry by default<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bott |first=Ed |date=2026-03-03 |title=I've been studying Windows telemetry for a decade - here's the only setting I turn off |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-spying-windows-telemetry |url-status=live |website=zdnet}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bingham |first=Brock |date=2026-03-23 |title=How to disable Windows telemetry |url=https://www.pdq.com/blog/how-to-disable-windows-telemetry/ |url-status=live |website=PDQ}}</ref>. Users can only switch it to a reduced mode, but there is no way to disable it completely without resorting to tools and techniques beyond what most normal users have the technical knowledge to implement (disabling services, setting registry keys and group policies, blocking communication using firewalls etc.){{Citation needed}}. Automatic system updates are know to re-enable some of the corresponding components without warning{{Citation needed}}.

==Incidents==

In 2015, users reported their Windows 7 and 8.1 computers with automatic updates enabled were upgraded to Windows 10 without the users' notice, by enabling by default the option to upgrade to Windows 10. If the process of upgrading to Windows 10 starts, any attempt to stop it could make the computer unusable.

===Windows 10<!-- Reluctant to add this one unless we have more reports of this online, but I did find some microsoft support articles that mention Factory Resets happening with windows updates:  https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/216587/why-a-factory-reset-without-my-permission-during-a -->===

Beginning with ''Windows'' ''10'', end users can no longer selectively choose updates. Instead, updates are automatically scheduled when a computer is inactive or before the system is shut down.<ref>[https://www.crn.com/news/applications-os/300077576/did-microsoft-just-backtrack-on-forced-updates-for-windows-10 "Did Microsoft Just Backtrack On Forced Updates For Windows 10?"] - crn.com - accessed 2025-01-29 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251126094745/https://www.crn.com/news/applications-os/300077576/did-microsoft-just-backtrack-on-forced-updates-for-windows-10 Archived])</ref> This has also led to some systems being rendered unusable because of bugged updates that cannot be avoided.<ref>[https://www.tomsguide.com/news/windows-10-update-is-bricking-pcs-uninstall-this-right-now "Windows 10 update is 'breaking' PCs — what to do now"] - tomsguide.com - accessed 2025-01-29 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251219014900/https://www.tomsguide.com/news/windows-10-update-is-bricking-pcs-uninstall-this-right-now Archived])</ref><ref>[https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-update-bricked-my-bios-thought-to-be/a1f0ebc7-d20d-459f-9956-72a3f98ca432 "Windows update bricked my bios ?? Thought to be impossible ?"] - answers.microsoft.com - accessed 2025-01-29 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250708171954/https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-update-bricked-my-bios-thought-to-be/a1f0ebc7-d20d-459f-9956-72a3f98ca432 Archived])</ref> Some users have resorted to disabling updates in ''Windows registry editor'',<ref>[https://www.minitool.com/backup-tips/how-to-stop-win10-update.html "How to Stop Windows 10 Update Permanently – 7 Ways"] - minitool.com - accessed 2025-01-29 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251007100904/https://www.minitool.com/backup-tips/how-to-stop-win10-update.html Archived])</ref> though this prevents them from receiving security updates, which can make their systems vulnerable to attacks.

Some non-essential applications like the [[Microsoft Edge]] browser cannot be uninstalled without using third-party tools.

When ''Windows'' ''10'' is installed from the ISO that can be downloaded from Microsoft, the EULA explicitly mentions forced arbitration.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Software License Terms |url=https://www.microsoft.com/content/dam/microsoft/usetm/documents/windows/10/oem-pre-installed/UseTerms_OEM_Windows_10_English.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250729194240/https://www.microsoft.com/content/dam/microsoft/usetm/documents/windows/10/oem-pre-installed/UseTerms_OEM_Windows_10_English.pdf |archive-date=2025-07-29 |access-date=2025-08-11 |page=6 |quote="If we can’t [informally resolve a dispute], you and we agree to binding individual arbitration before the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) under the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), and not to sue in court in front of a judge or jury."}}</ref>

===Windows 11===

====TPM 2.0 chip requirements====