Microsoft Promises Slew of Windows 11 Changes in Response to “Microslop” Criticisms

With every Windows 11 update seemingly introducing a new bug or somehow breaking some core functionality, it seems as though trust in Microsoft and Windows is at an all-time low, with the recent “Microslop” insult popping up in online tech circles as a sort of culmination of the recent spate of issues. Microsoft has apparently been following the backlash against Windows 11, with Pavan Davuluri, President of Windows + Devices, stating in a new Windows Insider Blog post that “over the past several months, the team and I have spent a great deal of time analyzing your feedback,” and subsequently laying out a plan that walks back many of the contentious changes that have been made in recent Windows 11 updates and promising to add highly requested new features and return features from older Windows versions that likely shouldn’t have been removed in the first place.

One of the earliest complaints about Windows 11—before Copilot launched—was that the task bar could not be relocated to other screen edges, but Microsoft will soon introduce more taskbar customization, including moving it to the top, left, or right screen edges as needed. Microsoft will also walk back many of the Copilot integrations, stating that it will be “more intentional about how and where Copilot integrates across Windows.” It specifically calls out removing Copilot from Snipping Tool, Photos, Widgets, and Notepad. The other two important changes that will come from the new plan for Windows 11 is giving users more control over updates to reduce interruptions—essentially allowing users to go longer without restating without an update and skipping updates during device setup, and restarting and shutting down without updating. Microsoft also plans to address File Explorer and speed up launch times in order to deliver “smoother navigation and more reliable performance for everyday tasks,” as well as polishing the user experience overall.

There are other more minor changes, like giving users more control over widgets and feed experiences to reduce distractions and make those features more helpful. Microsoft will start rolling out these change to the Windows 11 Insider Program throughout March and April 2026. It’s unclear how long these changes will make it to the mainline version of Windows 11, but if feedback is positive, it likely won’t be long. Windows 11 will also get an improved Feedback Hub with the aim of reducing friction that may prevent users from sending feedback to the software giant. Davuluri also promised that these are the first steps in a “broader plan” to improve the quality of Windows, and that there will be updates and tweaks in additional Windows Insider builds throughout the rest of 2026.

Pavan DuvuluriBuilding on these changes, what follows below is our broader plan and areas of focus for the year to raise the bar on Windows 11 quality. The work is underway. You can expect to see tangible progress that you’ll be able to feel as you preview builds from us throughout the rest of the year.

Last night I had the chance to sit down with a small group of Windows Insiders here in Seattle to listen, to answer questions, and to share more about where we’re headed. The Seattle meetup was the first of several stops our team will be making to engage in person, in more cities around the world, to connect with the Windows community.

Thank you for holding us to a high standard. Windows is as much yours as it is ours. We’re committed to strengthening its foundation and delivering innovation where it matters, for you.