Microsoft Pledges to Address “Pain Points” Reported by Windows 11 Users

After relentlessly pushing its Copilot AI into all its products, including Windows, Microsoft has acknowledged that it probably needs to step back and change its priorities. Pavan Davuluri, the President of Windows and Devices at Microsoft, recently spoke with The Verge and said that the company heard the negative feedback from Windows 11 users.

“The feedback we’re receiving from our community of passionate customers and Windows Insiders has been clear. We need to improve Windows in ways that are meaningful for people,” Davuluri said. “This year you will see us focus on addressing pain points we hear consistently from customers: improving system performance, reliability, and the overall experience of Windows.”

It’s been almost five years since the release of Windows 11, and Microsoft took some time to rebuild core features from scratch, such as the taskbar and Start Menu. While many Windows 11 users may have been waiting for basic features such as better dark mode support, the company seems to prioritize Copilot and other AI tools, whether you like it or not. It doesn’t help that Microsoft continues to use dark patterns to push Windows 11 users to adopt its services like Bing, Edge, and OneDrive, all while making it harder to use the OS with a local account.

Windows 11 may have crossed over one billion users, Davuluri’s recent statements about the latest version of Windows evolving into an “agentic OS” received a lot of negative comments. “Trust is earned over time and we are committed to building it back with the Windows community,” Davuluri told The Verge.

In a separate report, Windows Central’s Zac Bowden explained that Microsoft is having second thoughts about its current AI strategy for Windows 11. The company is reportedly reviewing whether some AI features on the OS make sense, and that may include the controversial Recall feature that shipped on Copilot+ PCs last year.

“Sources say Copilot integrations like those found in Notepad and Paint are under review. This may result in Microsoft removing certain Copilot integrations from these apps, or at the very least removing the Copilot branding and pivoting to a more streamlined experience.
I’m also told that Microsoft has paused work on any additional Copilot buttons for in-box apps, at least for now,” Bowden wrote.

Do you think it’s urgent for Microsoft to scale back its AI plans for Windows 11 and focus its efforts on fundamentals like performance and reliability? Sound off in the comments below.