Windows 11 has had a rough few years. Users have complained about a bloated update system, AI features crammed into every corner of the OS, sluggish File Explorer, and a taskbar that stubbornly refused to move. Microsoft, it seems, has finally listened. On March 20, Pavan Davuluri — EVP of Windows and Devices — published an open letter acknowledging the feedback, and laid out a concrete plan to fix things.“What came through was the voice of people who care deeply about Windows and want it to be better,” Davuluri wrote. The letter, sent directly to Windows Insider Program members, promises a series of changes rolling out in preview builds starting this month and through April.Here are the six headline changes.
The taskbar can finally move—and it is long overdue
This one has been sitting at the top of Microsoft’s Feedback Hub for nearly five years. A request titled “Bring back the ability to move the taskbar to the top and sides of the screen” had accumulated over 24,000 upvotes and 2,100 comments—tone growing angrier with each passing year. Windows 11 is now getting exactly that: the ability to reposition the taskbar to the top or sides of the screen.
Copilot is getting pulled back from places it had no business being
Microsoft has been shoehorning AI into apps whether users wanted it or not. Snipping Tool, Photos, Widgets, and Notepad all picked up Copilot integration over the past year, and the response was largely negative. Davuluri says the company will now “reduce unnecessary Copilot entry points” across those apps. The broader AI strategy, he says, will focus on experiences that are “genuinely useful and well-crafted”—which implies the current ones were neither.
Windows Update will stop hijacking your restart
The monthly Patch Tuesday cycle was supposed to make updates predictable. In practice, it has meant surprise restarts mid-meeting and updates you cannot easily defer. The fix: users will be able to skip updates during device setup, restart or shut down without being forced to install pending updates, and pause updates for as long as they need.
File Explorer is getting a speed and stability overhaul
File Explorer has long been the most-used and most-complained-about surface in Windows. Microsoft is promising a quicker launch experience, less flickering, and substantially lower latency for search, navigation, and context menus. Large file transfers will also be faster and more reliable.
Lower RAM usage—good news for 8GB machines
Microsoft is committing to lowering the baseline memory footprint of Windows. This matters especially as PC makers try to compete with Apple’s MacBook Neo, which handles everyday workloads on 8GB. Windows running leaner on lower-spec hardware could open that door for OEM partners.
The Windows Insider Program is being simplified
The program that is supposed to help shape Windows had itself become unclear and difficult to navigate. Microsoft is promising cleaner channel definitions, better visibility into what each build contains, and higher-quality builds before they reach testers.Preview builds with these changes begin rolling out to Insiders this month, with the broader rollout continuing through the rest of 2026.
