Microsoft Windows 11: Difference between revisions
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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}} | 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}} | ||
===Unnecessary Hardware Requirements=== | |||
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. | |||
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. | |||
This requirement was especially weird due to it only being needed for optional security features like BitLocker. | |||
===Microsoft Copilot integration=== | ===Microsoft Copilot integration=== | ||
[[Microsoft Copilot]] is a generative Artificial Intelligence model developed by Microsoft. | [[Microsoft Copilot]] is a generative Artificial Intelligence model developed by Microsoft. | ||
In recent releases of Windows 11, Microsoft has decided to integrate its AI assistant, '''Copilot''', directly into the operating system. | 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. | ||
This integration | This late integration of Copilot adds in another hard to remove app that many users consider 'bloatware'. It also changes system apps like Notepad to have Copilot included in them, which makes removing this new Microsoft product from Windows 11 even harder. The way Copilot is handled in Windows 11 bears a resemblance to how Microsoft handled Internet Explorer in the '90s, mostly in the way that Microsoft is using their market dominance on operating systems to push their own additional digital products forward into the faces of consumers. | ||
===Windows Recall=== | ===Windows Recall=== | ||
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===Poorly disclosed data encryption=== | ===Poorly disclosed data encryption=== | ||
Computers running Windows 11 with Microsoft Account are set to automatically enable | Computers running Windows 11 with Microsoft Account are set to automatically enable BitLocker<ref>{{Cite web |last=Microsoft Corporation |date=2024-05-24 |title=Bitlocker automatic activation |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/device-experiences/oem-bitlocker |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260127032356/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/device-experiences/oem-bitlocker |archive-date=27 Jan 2026}}</ref> which encrypts all data on internal disks, leaving key for decryption in owners Microsoft [https://myaccount.microsoft.com/device-list My Account device list] without explicitly informing the owner of doing so. Updating BIOS or hardware manipulation may lead to triggering BitLocker and leaving computer in recovery mode if BitLocker is not suspended beforehand. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Microsoft Corporation |date=2025-01-15 |title=Suspend Bitlocker |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/windows-security/suspend-bitlocker-protection-non-microsoft-updates |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260102043425/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/windows-security/suspend-bitlocker-protection-non-microsoft-updates |archive-date=2 Jan 2026}}</ref> This process can leave owner with seemingly bricked device, especially if owners Microsoft Account was created and used only to satisfy Windows 11s requirement for Microsoft Accounts during OOBE. If key hidden in Microsoft Account is not provided, erasing encrypted disks and reinstalling operating system is recommended. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Anonymous |date=2023-03-01 |title=Microsoft Learn - Lost Bitlocker Recovery Key |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/4176032/i-dont-have-my-bitlocker-code-and-i-cant-reset-win |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251018001915/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/4176032/i-dont-have-my-bitlocker-code-and-i-cant-reset-win |archive-date=18 Oct 2025}}</ref> | ||
===Misleading presentation of Microsoft OneDrive=== | ===Misleading presentation of Microsoft OneDrive=== | ||
{{Main|OneDrive}} | {{Main|OneDrive}} | ||
Windows explorer has a button which is misleadingly labeled to "back up" files. Instead of backing them up, it sends the files to OneDrive. | Windows explorer has a button which is misleadingly labeled to "back up" files. Instead of backing them up, it sends the files to OneDrive, Microsofts own cloud service. If the file is deleted, OneDrive deletes the online copy too (a backup would preserve a file if it was deleted). If OneDrive runs out of space, it is likely to lose the backed up files. If you try to disable or remove OneDrive, Windows will push you to re-enable it. It takes several steps to stop Windows from advertising OneDrive. | ||
===Data Collection=== | ===Data Collection=== | ||
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Microsoft is known to sell users data to brokers and government agencies. | Microsoft is known to sell users data to brokers and government agencies. | ||
=== | ===Secretly Limiting User Control=== | ||
In 2024 Microsoft, without telling users, added an additional driver known as 'UCPD', which is short for User Choice Protection Driver. This driver blocks registry key edits related to choices made through official Microsoft apps from being changed through things like the Registry Editor or 3rd party apps. This driver is partially designed to stop applications from changing user preferences without asking for permission, it however also limits power users from doing certain things like removing Edge. | |||
This driver is thus mostly noticed by users due to it making the removal of Windows apps like Edge harder. But it also makes the automated disabling of unpopular Windows features harder and it locks the device region. The device region lock was implemented to prevent users from changing their device region so they could remove Edge, as in the EU, thanks to the Digital Markets Act, Edge can be removed through the settings app. | |||
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> | |||
===Difficult Browser Switching=== | |||
When Windows 11 first launched, Microsoft made it much harder for users to move away from Microsoft Edge. On older versions of Windows, users could switch their default browser through one setting. Windows 11 changed this by forcing users to manually switch the default browser for the opening of all file types that default to Edge, like the '.pdf' and '.html' file extensions. | |||
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> | |||
===Microsoft Bing Wallpaper=== | |||
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> | |||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||