Microsoft Windows 11: Difference between revisions

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==Consumer impact summary==

===User Freedom===

Windows 11 has several and more restrictions than their previous version, Windows 10. Some ~~highlighted~~ 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 Microsot 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.

*Updates are forced and cannot be disabled, only postponed by default. They can only be disabled with third-party tools. Some settings and preference 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.

*BitLocker drive encryption is forced and there are known incidents of users permanently losing their data. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Sen |first=Sayan |date=1 May 2025 |title=Windows 11 users reportedly losing data due to Microsoft's forced BitLocker encryption |url=https://www.neowin.net/news/windows-11-users-reportedly-losing-data-due-to-microsofts-forced-bitlocker-encryption/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/69uPN |archive-date=2025-05-02 |access-date=9 Mar 2026 |website=Neowin}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Nasir|first=Hassam |date=19 Oct 2025 |title=BitLocker reportedly auto-locks users' backup drives, causing loss of 3TB of valuable data — Windows automatic disk encryption can permanently lock your drives |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/software/windows/bitlocker-reportedly-auto-locks-users-backup-drives-causing-loss-of-3tb-of-valuable-data-windows-automatic-disk-encryption-can-permanently-lock-your-drives |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/0ixWF |archive-date=2025-10-20 |access-date=9 Mar 2026 |website=Tom's Hardware}}</ref>

*Like Windows 10, [[OneDrive]] ~~sinchronization~~ 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.

*Interface customization is less flexible than the one that Windows 10 used to have. The ability to move the taskbar was a feature that presented previous versions of Windows, but it can no longer be moved on Windows 11.

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 ==Consumer impact summary==
 ===User Freedom===
-Windows 11 has several and more restrictions than their previous version, Windows 10. Some highlighted 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 Microsot 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.
+*Updates are forced and cannot be disabled, only postponed by default. They can only be disabled with third-party tools. Some settings and preference 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.
 *BitLocker drive encryption is forced and there are known incidents of users permanently losing their data. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Sen |first=Sayan |date=1 May 2025 |title=Windows 11 users reportedly losing data due to Microsoft's forced BitLocker encryption |url=https://www.neowin.net/news/windows-11-users-reportedly-losing-data-due-to-microsofts-forced-bitlocker-encryption/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/69uPN |archive-date=2025-05-02 |access-date=9 Mar 2026 |website=Neowin}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Nasir|first=Hassam |date=19 Oct 2025 |title=BitLocker reportedly auto-locks users' backup drives, causing loss of 3TB of valuable data — Windows automatic disk encryption can permanently lock your drives |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/software/windows/bitlocker-reportedly-auto-locks-users-backup-drives-causing-loss-of-3tb-of-valuable-data-windows-automatic-disk-encryption-can-permanently-lock-your-drives |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/0ixWF |archive-date=2025-10-20 |access-date=9 Mar 2026 |website=Tom's Hardware}}</ref>
-*Like Windows 10, [[OneDrive]] sinchronization 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.
 *Interface customization is less flexible than the one that Windows 10 used to have. The ability to move the taskbar was a feature that presented previous versions of Windows, but it can no longer be moved on Windows 11.