Microsoft has already confirmed a major Windows 11 update that focuses on performance, reliability, and better user experiences. In fact, it doesn’t look like a PR stunt, as my credible sources have confirmed Microsoft has already started working on most of the changes it promised, including a WinUI-based Start menu and a faster File Explorer.

There’s no denying it’s a solid list of improvements, but one key thing missing from the announcement is the ability to use Windows 11 without a Microsoft account.

Right now, if you install a fresh copy of Windows 11 or buy new hardware, then go through the out-of-box experience screens, you’ll be forced to sign in to your Microsoft account.

Of course, you can always use one of the bypasses, such as a domain join or a Command Prompt script. But the official stance is that you should sign in to your Microsoft account if you are a consumer. In all other cases, you can join your organization or school using a custom domain.

That said, it’s something that could still change, as some senior executives at Microsoft are pushing for an MSA-free Windows setup experience.

This change is being advocated by Scott Hanselman, who has been with Microsoft for the past two decades and is currently the Vice President, Member of Technical Staff at the company.

After a user complained about needing an online Microsoft account just to use a PC, Hanselman replied: “Ya, I hate that. Working on it.”

This suggests that the push for a Microsoft account requirement isn’t universally liked even inside Microsoft. More importantly, it confirms that at least some engineers are actively trying to change it, and given the fact that Scott Hanselman is among the leaders responsible for improving Windows 11, this might actually happen sooner rather than later.

If the idea is given a green light sooner rather than later, it could mean you’ll be able to set up a PC without signing into a Microsoft account.

Microsoft confirmed a streamlined OOBE that requires fewer clicks

Microsoft is considering several changes for the initial setup process. In particular, the focus is on the OOBE (out-of-box experience), where users are currently pushed to sign in with a Microsoft account when setting up a new PC.

Right now, Windows 11’s OOBE is a mess because not only is the process unnecessarily long, but it also upsells Microsoft products, including Office, OneDrive, Copilot, and MSA.

Yesterday, Microsoft confirmed that it plans to make the Windows experience “quieter, to help you stay focused, minimize distractions and stay in your flow,” and confirmed plans to revamp OOBE.

“Device setup on new Windows PCs is quieter and more streamlined, with fewer pages and reboots so getting started is simpler,” Microsoft confirmed.

We don’t know when the new OOBE will begin rolling out, but Microsoft plans to roll out some of the changes in April to Windows Insiders.

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There’s no denying that Windows 11’s reputation is at an all-time low, largely due to the fact that Microsoft has been aggressively pushing Copilot. In fact, the internet has coined a rather famous term for the Windows giant, and that is ‘Microslop,’ which simply means the company is pushing AI slop.

Over the past several months, Copilot has expanded and invaded nearly all apps in Windows 11, including Office, Microsoft Edge, Photos, MS Paint, and even Notepad.

Notepad has always been the simplest text editor on Windows 11, but that changed recently as Microsoft started adding new features, including markdown support and even Copilot. In fact, if you select a chunk of text in Notepad and right-click, you can choose to summarize or rewrite content using AI.

You don’t expect Notepad to generate slop for you. The very purpose of Notepad is to note things down quickly, so why would you use AI to summarize content?

There are also upsells for Copilot and Microsoft 365 in Notepad, and nobody likes how a simple text editor has been transformed into an AI playground.

The good news is that Microsoft’s plans to reduce Copilot also cover Notepad.

The company says it won’t add Copilot to places where it doesn’t make sense, and one example is the Notepad app.

“You will see us be more intentional about how and where Copilot integrates across Windows, focusing on experiences that are genuinely useful and well-crafted,” Microsoft noted in a statement.

“As part of this, we are reducing unnecessary Copilot entry points, starting with apps like Snipping Tool, Photos, Widgets, and Notepad.”

It’s unclear if Microsoft will completely remove Copilot from Notepad or simply reduce the entry points, but either way, it’s a step in the right direction and gives me hope that the leadership is listening to feedback.

Notepad will continue to get new features, including full-fledged support for images, which isn’t exactly a bad thing because markdown is not only performance-friendly but can be turned off from Settings.

Microsoft pledges to make Windows 11 a better operating system by reducing AI and focusing on performance

As much as we dislike how Windows has evolved, we still need to use it because, let’s be real, it’s the most open OS with strong backward compatibility, hardware support, gaming, and enterprise capabilities.

A better Windows is good for the industry, competition, consumers, and, of course, Microsoft.

Microsoft officials have confirmed they’ll “raise the bar on Windows 11 quality this year” and focus on three areas:

• Performance
• Reliability
• Well-crafted experiences

Microsoft wants Windows to start faster, respond faster, and perform better under real workloads. It also plans to deliver a consistent and thoughtful experience, and you can expect to see “tangible progress that you’ll be able to feel” in the coming weeks or months.

Microsoft is testing a movable taskbar, a native Start menu without React, and a new Windows Update that lets you pause updates for as long as you want.

Microsoft is also listening to feedback, so if you have ideas or suggestions, let me know in the comments below, and we’ll forward them to the leadership.

The post Microsoft responds to Microslop criticism by scaling back Copilot in Windows 11, starting with Notepad and other apps appeared first on Windows Latest

For those unaware, React powers the Start menu’s Recommended feed, and even the All apps list. In 2023, at the Chain React 2023 event, Microsoft confirmed that it was betting on React native and “choosing to trust this platform with not only some experiences… but some of our key experiences for our users.”

React isn’t necessarily bad. In fact, the Start menu is quite fast on modern hardware, but the catch is that these web-based components will always feel a bit slower than the native framework, like WinUI, even when they are done right. It’s largely because of latency, and it’s also because the web is not meant for everything.

Note that Microsoft moved to React to speed up development and make parts of Windows easier to iterate on.

Using React and its internal stack, including React Native XAML and Fluent UI, helped the company to bridge JavaScript-based UI with native Windows rendering, which in turn allowed it to ship updates faster and experiment with features like the Recommended feed.

React was responsible for the logic layer, while XAML was used to render native UI elements, which is how Microsoft maintained visual consistency across the OS.

There’s no denying that the Start menu looks and feels native in Windows 11, but the trade-off is that it’s slower, and it’s because web-based layers introduce latency that native frameworks don’t. It’s no wonder the company needs to stop using React.

Microsoft’s leadership has now confirmed that it’s moving the “shared UI infrastructure” to WinUI to reduce interaction latency.

“[We’re] reducing interaction latency by moving core Windows,” Microsoft said, adding that the change should contribute to improved responsiveness.

“Improving the shared UI infrastructure that Windows experiences rely on, reducing interaction latency and overhead at the platform level,” the company added.

It wasn’t easy for Microsoft to make Windows work with React, as the company had to solve a few problems, including maintaining a native Windows look, which it calls “visual coherence.”

To achieve that, the company built tools like React Native XAML and Fluent UI React Native, so apps can still look and behave like proper Windows experiences even if they’re powered by JavaScript underneath.

However, Microsoft is now going back to the basics with a native framework over a web-based UI.

A better recommended feed in the Start menu

Microsoft is also testing a new ‘Recommended’ section in the Start menu that surfaces apps and content more intelligently.

It’s unclear how Microsoft pumped the Recommended feed algorithm in the Start menu, but Windows Latest understands that it’s going to show more relevant apps or recently viewed files, so you don’t actually see the space as “useless.”

Regardless, if you hate the Recommended feed, it’s already possible to turn it off from Settings > Personalization > taskbar. From here, you need to turn off “Show recommended files in Start, recent files in File Explorer, and items in Jump Lists,” and the feed will disappear.

Unfortunately, when you turn off the Recommended feed in the Start menu, it also disables the ‘recent files’ in the jump list of the taskbar, and even removes the Recent section from the File Explorer.

I’ve asked Microsoft if it’ll give you greater control over the Recommendation engine in Windows 11.

Microsoft going back to WinUI for the Start menu is a silent admission from the company that the web-heavy approach wasn’t the right path for at least the core parts of Windows. For years, Windows 11 has looked modern but hasn’t always matched that with responsiveness. That gap largely comes from layering web technologies over core system experiences.

By reducing that dependency and moving back to native frameworks, Microsoft is prioritizing responsiveness

More importantly, this change corresponds to the company’s broader 2026 roadmap, where they’ll be focusing on improving Windows 11’s performance, reliability, and consistency.

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In fact, Windows updates have been a meme for a while now, as Windows 11 can reboot and start installing updates when it thinks it’s the right time. There’s even a well-known scene in a Netflix show where a mandatory Windows update locks scientists out of their system at the worst possible moment.

This is because Microsoft has never allowed you to pause updates for the number of days you want.

In fact, there are moments when you pause Windows updates, but they don’t actually stay paused if updates have already been downloaded.

Right now, it’s possible to pause Windows updates, but only for up to five weeks. If you go to Windows Update settings and select the drop-down menu, you can choose one of the options:

• Pause for 1 week
• Pause for 2 weeks
• Pause for 3 weeks
• Pause for 4 weeks
• Pause for 5 weeks

If you want greater control, you need to move into business or managed-device territory, where admins can defer feature updates for up to 365 days and quality updates for up to 30 days.

However, some updates, such as Patch Tuesday updates, especially if they are already downloaded, can bypass the pause and install automatically when you try to shut down or restart your computer.

This changes now. Microsoft has confirmed it’ll no longer surprise you with forced Windows updates, especially when they’re paused.

First, you’ll be able to pause updates for as long as you want, although it’s unclear if there is still an upper limit. Second, Microsoft says it won’t restart or force-install updates when they are paused.

That means you’ll have full control over updates, even if that means delaying critical fixes.

Microsoft confirms a “single monthly reboot” for the Windows update system

Microsoft is also moving Windows Update to a single monthly reboot, which means Windows 11 should be less disruptive, more reliable, and provide clearer progress updates.

“Less disruption from Windows Update, moving devices to a single monthly reboot, while organizations and users who wish to get new features and fixes faster remain able to do so,” Microsoft confirmed in a statement.

“Faster, more reliable update experiences, with clearer progress during updates and built-in recovery to help keep devices stable if something goes wrong,” the company added.

These changes will begin rolling out in the coming weeks to Windows Insiders.

Microsoft also confirmed it’s working on a movable taskbar, a faster Start menu, more native UI over WebView in Windows 11, and other changes today.

The post Microsoft confirms you can now pause Windows 11 updates for as long as you want, no more “forced” reboots appeared first on Windows Latest

While Windows 11 has become quite stable with the last couple of updates, its reputation is at an all-time low. But, Windows Latest understands that Microsoft is seriously and sincerely focusing on making Windows 11 a better operating system, and it will focus on addressing the ‘pain points’ over adding new AI features.

One of the biggest Windows 11 complaints is that you cannot move the taskbar. All modern/recent Windows releases have allowed you to move the taskbar, but that changed with Windows 11 in 2021 when Microsoft dropped the feature as part of its efforts to modernize the taskbar.

I’ve always preferred having my taskbar pinned to the top of the screen when I used Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 7. It’s largely because it helps me quickly switch back and forth between apps and browser tabs in Edge. This feature has been missing for more than five years, but now it’s coming back along with a new, smaller taskbar.

As you can see in the above screenshot, you can now move the taskbar to the top, left, and right sides. The screenshot is from an early build of Windows 11, and it’s not yet available for testers to play.

“Repositioning the taskbar is one of the top asks we’ve heard from you,” Microsoft said in a statement. “We are introducing the ability to reposition it to the top or sides of your screen, making it easier to personalize your workspace.”

By default, the taskbar will be pinned to the bottom, but if you go to Settings > Personalization > taskbar, you’ll be able to customize where the taskbar is located.

I am not sure if you can hold and drag the taskbar to the other sides instead of manually changing the toggle in the Settings, but I’ve asked Microsoft for more details.

However, we are getting buttons on the taskbar that allow us to move it. Right-clicking the taskbar will soon show Left, Top, Right, and Bottom buttons just below the Taskbar settings option.

This makes it easier to switch between Taskbar positions without having to open the Taskbar settings. Of course, dragging the Taskbar to the desired position would be ideal, but this is good enough and a very welcome change.

Resizable taskbar coming to Windows 11 in 2026

About a month ago, we reported that Windows 11 may finally let you move and resize the taskbar. Now, in addition to the former getting official confirmation from Microsoft, we understand that you’ll also be able to adjust the size of the taskbar, either make it smaller or larger.

Right now, Windows 11 has a toggle that allows you to show smaller taskbar buttons, but the catch is that it only shrinks the button. You can choose to make the taskbar buttons smaller when the taskbar is full or all the time, and an option to keep the taskbar icons huge.

The smaller taskbar buttons option was added in 2025, but it’s not the perfect replacement of Windows 10’s smaller taskbar, where you could change the size of the taskbar itself, not just the apps/icons. The two are different things, and Microsoft is now adding the option to make the taskbar smaller.

Microsoft has also confirmed that it’ll make the Recommended feed in the Start menu more useful by better surfacing apps and content you care about.

For a feature that should’ve never been removed in the first place, the ability to resize and reposition the taskbar are both big win for Windows 11 users.

And this isn’t happening in isolation. Microsoft has already outlined a comprehensive 2026 roadmap for Windows 11 with a focus on performance improvements, lower memory usage, better reliability, and a cleaner overall experience.

If everything rolls out as promised, 2026 could be the year Windows 11 finally starts to feel complete.

The post Microsoft confirms vertical and top taskbar update for Windows 11, shares first look appeared first on Windows Latest

In the latest blog for Windows Insiders, Davuluri also explains why these changes are happening in the first place. Microsoft has been listening to user complaints for months about performance issues, intrusive AI, forced updates, and a cluttered experience. What follows is a structured response to those exact concerns, with immediate changes rolling out in Insider builds this month and in April, and a broader plan planned through 2026 to “raise the bar on Windows 11 quality”.

From customizable taskbar to reducing Copilot’s footprint and fixing long-standing frustrations with File Explorer and Windows Update, this is the biggest thing that has ever happened to Windows 11.

In all honesty, to say “Microsoft listened” would be an understatement, because the following list of features and improvements coming to Windows in 2026 covers almost EVERYTHING that users have been wishing for, and we can’t wait to see how it’ll pan out.

Windows 11 in April will fix the taskbar, Copilot, File Explorer, and a lot more

Microsoft isn’t easing into this. The first wave of changes rolling out to Windows Insiders this month and in April goes straight after the most visible frustrations in Windows 11. Some of these are fixes users have been asking for since the beginning of Windows 11, and in some cases, since Windows 7.

Windows 11 taskbar finally gets repositioning support

Let’s start with the one that should’ve never been removed. Windows 11 is finally getting the ability to move the taskbar to the top and sides of the screen. This has been one of the most requested features in the Feedback Hub.

The irony is obvious. This was something users already had in Windows 10, Windows 8, and even Windows 7. Removing it broke workflows for power users, especially those running vertical monitors or multi-display setups.

Now, Microsoft is bringing it back with proper customization support, making it easier to adapt Windows to different work environments again. Right-clicking the taskbar will show options to reposition it, like left, top, right, and bottom, just below the usual options of Task Manager and Taskbar settings.

Microsoft is reducing Copilot clutter across Windows apps

If there’s one thing Windows 11 has been criticized for over the past year, it’s how aggressively Copilot was pushed into everything.

That changes now.

Microsoft is pulling back on unnecessary Copilot integrations across core apps like Snipping Tool, Photos, Widgets, and Notepad. Instead of placing AI buttons everywhere, the company is shifting toward a more intentional approach and only keeping Copilot where it adds value.

“You will see us be more intentional about how and where Copilot integrates across Windows”

This is a clear course correction. Users haven’t rejected AI, in general, and the usage statistics of ChatGPT and Cluade show it. But they rejected how AI was forced into basic workflows in Windows. Now, Microsoft is finally acknowledging that not every app needs a Copilot button sitting in the UI.

Windows Update finally becomes less disruptive

Windows Update has been one of the most frustrating parts of the OS for years, and Microsoft is finally addressing it head-on.

With the upcoming changes, users will be able to skip updates during setup (OOBE), restart or shut down without being forced into updates, and pause updates for longer periods. On top of that, Microsoft is working toward fewer restarts and clearer update behavior.

The feeling that Windows PC always tries to update itself at the worst possible moment has been a long-standing meme that will soon be obsolete.

File Explorer performance improvements finally arrive

File Explorer is one of the most used parts of Windows, and ironically, one of the most criticized in Windows 11.

Fortunately, Microsoft is improving File Explorer with faster launch times, reducing UI flicker, and making navigation smoother overall. Anyone who has used Windows 10 beforehand knows how inconsistent File Explorer has felt in Windows 11.

Microsoft wants to make everyday file operations feel reliable again. And based on what the company is promising, this is just the first round, and greater improvements are coming later.

Widgets and feeds to become less intrusive

Honestly, Widgets in Windows 11 never felt like they were useful when compared to the ones in Windows 7.

Microsoft acknowledges this is now dialing that back by introducing quieter defaults, better personalization, and more control over how and when widgets appear. The Discover feed, in particular, is getting refined so it feels less like a content dump and more like something you want to glance at.

Feedback Hub is getting a major redesign

If Microsoft is serious about listening, the Feedback Hub has to work better, and it finally looks like they’re fixing that, too.

The app is getting its biggest redesign yet, with faster feedback submission, a cleaner interface, and better ways to interact with the community. The goal is to make Feedback Hub easier to use, which is critical if Microsoft wants to rebuild trust with its user base.

All of these are features coming to Windows Insiders in March and April 2026. However, the Windows Insider Program itself is getting an update. The company says that they will make it easier for Insiders to find the channel that works best for them with easier access to new features, better quality builds, and the best part is to be able to see how Insider feedback shapes Windows. The company is also promising more opportunities to engage with the Windows development team.

Yes, I know, this list itself is solid and may sound too good to be true, but this is all happening at the moment and will reach your PCs sooner than later. However, the show doesn’t stop here, and Microsoft is planning something much bigger behind the scenes, focusing on performance, reliability, and how Windows feels to use every single day.

Windows 11 2026 roadmap includes performance improvements, better reliability and user experience overhaul

If the April update fixes what you can see, the rest of Microsoft’s 2026 roadmap is about fixing what you feel when you use Windows.

The biggest complaints around Windows 11 have always been performance, consistency, and reliability, and Microsoft is finally addressing them at a deeper level with improvements set to come across:

• How fast Windows boots up and responds
• OS stability under real workloads
• Consistent and intentional user experience.

Windows 11 performance improvements will reduce memory usage

When the MacBook Neo launched, social media was quick to note how Windows PCs can’t handle 8 GB RAM, which is a false statement to begin with. However, Windows 11 does use a considerable amount of RAM when idle, and any memory usage improvement at a time when RAM prices are skyrocketing is worth it.

High memory usage of background processes and modern apps built on WebView2 has long plagued Windows 11. Even basic apps can eat hundreds of megabytes of RAM.

Microsoft is now working to lower baseline memory usage, which frees up RAM capacity, helping you to run more apps, improve responsiveness, and make multitasking smoother across the OS. The company says that Windows will “stay fast as you move between apps and workloads.”

Microsoft is moving more Windows UI to WinUI3

One of my biggest gripes with a bunch of first-party apps and UI elements in Windows 11 has been the use of WebView2 instead of the native WinUI3 framework. Right now, Windows 11 is a mix of legacy UI frameworks and modern components. That’s why you still see inconsistent design, different context menus, and lag when interacting with certain parts of the OS.

Microsoft is now reducing interaction latency by moving more core Windows experiences to WinUI 3 and improving the shared UI infrastructure that powers the OS.

This will lead to smoother animations, faster UI response, and a more consistent experience across apps like Start and other system components.

File Explorer deeper fixes including search and file operations

Anyone who has tried searching for files in Windows 11 knows how unreliable it can feel compared to earlier versions. The same goes for large file transfers that randomly slow down or fail.

Microsoft is working on faster search, more reliable file transfers, and smoother navigation overall. This directly targets long-standing complaints about slow indexing, inaccurate search results, and inconsistent copy speeds.

Windows reliability improvements across drivers apps and hardware

Stability across the OS seems to be a major focus area for 2026.

Microsoft is working on reducing crashes, improving driver compatibility, and making hardware interactions more reliable. This includes better Bluetooth stability, more consistent USB behavior, and fewer issues with cameras and audio devices.

Windows has always had to deal with a massive hardware ecosystem, which makes stability harder than on platforms like macOS. But that doesn’t excuse the random disconnects, driver issues, and glitches users still experience today.

Windows Update overhaul reduces restarts and improves control

Beyond the immediate changes coming in April, Microsoft is also rethinking how Windows Update works long-term.

The company is moving toward fewer restarts, clearer update progress, and better recovery systems if something goes wrong. There are also discussions around a more predictable update cadence, potentially reducing the number of unexpected interruptions.

For years, Windows updates were unpredictable and intrusive, especially during emergency patches. This overhaul is about making them feel controlled and transparent instead.

Windows Hello improvements for faster and more reliable sign-in

Authentication is getting an upgrade, too.

Microsoft is improving Windows Hello with faster face recognition, fewer fingerprint errors, and better support for devices like handheld PCs. The goal is to make sign-in instant and reliable, instead of something that occasionally fails and forces you back to a PIN.

Start menu and taskbar improvements for better personalization

The Start menu is also getting attention, especially around personalization.

Users have long complained about the “Recommended” section feeling like ads or irrelevant suggestions. Microsoft is now working on better recommendations, along with options to disable or control what appears there.

There’s also a push toward giving users more control over layout and behavior, which has been limited in Windows 11 compared to Windows 10.

Reduced distractions and cleaner Windows experience

Another major theme in this roadmap is reducing noise across the OS.

Microsoft is simplifying the setup experience with fewer steps and fewer reboots, reducing notifications, and making Widgets less intrusive by default.

The idea is to make Windows feel quieter and more focused, instead of constantly interrupting the user.

Windows Search improvements will give faster and accurate results

Finally, Windows Search is getting much-needed improvements.

Expect faster results, better accuracy, and a clearer distinction between local files and web results. Right now, search often feels like a mix of Bing suggestions and inconsistent local indexing, which frustrates users trying to quickly find files.

Microsoft is also promising a unified search experience spanning the Taskbar, Start, File Explorer, and Settings.

Windows Subsystem for Linux gets faster and more reliable for developers

Microsoft is also improving the Windows Subsystem for Linux, which has become a critical feature for developers working across environments.

If you have used WSL, you already know that file operations between the two systems can feel slow or inconsistent at times. That is now being addressed, along with better throughput for network-related tasks.

The company is working on faster file performance between Linux and Windows, improved network compatibility, and a more streamlined setup experience.

Microsoft is also improving enterprise-level capabilities with stronger policy controls, security, and governance.

For all the criticism Windows 11 has received, there is one area where Microsoft still stands apart. No other platform at this scale operates with this level of public feedback, iteration, and transparency. The Windows Insider Program, Feedback Hub, and now this 2026 roadmap show a willingness to listen, respond, and course-correct.

Compare that to macOS. Despite having a much smaller market share, Apple rarely engages with users at this level or acknowledges issues so directly. Features arrive when they arrive, and feedback loops are basically invisible to the public.
What Microsoft is doing here is worth acknowledging. Opening up the roadmap, admitting mistakes, and actively building based on user feedback is not something you see often in this industry.

Of course, all of this only matters if it actually ships. These improvements need to reach Insiders first and then roll out smoothly to everyday users throughout the year. If Microsoft delivers on even most of what it has promised, Windows 11 could finally start feeling like the OS it was supposed to be from the beginning.

The post Microsoft confirms a major Windows 11 update with faster Explorer, reduced Copilot, and more appeared first on Windows Latest

In September 2025, Microsoft confirmed it was auto-installing Microsoft 365 Copilot (formerly called Microsoft 365 / Office Hub) on Windows, and that was in addition to the consumer’s Copilot app.

While Copilot is pre-installed, Microsoft 365 Copilot was an optional app, but that changed last year with forced automatic installation.

“Starting in October 2025, Microsoft will begin automatically installing the Microsoft 365 Copilot app on Windows devices that have the Microsoft 365 desktop client app,” Microsoft warned last year.

Turns out, it did not go well with the commercial customers, who were always given a choice to opt out of the forced install.

“Automatic installation of the Microsoft 365 Copilot app on Windows devices with Microsoft 365 desktop apps, planned for December 2025, is temporarily disabled,” Microsoft noted in an updated Admin 365 dashboard status seen by Windows Latest. “Existing installations remain unaffected. Admins can deploy the app via other methods and should await further updates.”

Microsoft argues it has “temporarily disabled the automatic installation,” and it’ll “provide another update once we re-enable these installations,” but it looks like it’ll be a while before the rollout resumes.

What exactly is the Microsoft 365 Copilot app, and why did Microsoft decide to install it automatically?

While ‘Copilot’ is for consumers, Microsoft 365 Copilot is optimized for Office apps, as it helps you summarize your documents, create PowerPoint presentations, search across your cloud storage for Office files, and use AI to walk through them.

For example, if you open the Microsoft 365 Copilot app and head to the ‘Create’ section, you could create an image, a poster, a form, a workbook, and many other Office-related tiles using AI. It also has an AI-powered notebook feature that lets you create pages and meeting notes, ask questions, analyze content, and draw insights using Copilot.

Microsoft justified the forced installation of Microsoft 365 Copilot for “productivity” with “enhancing features” and simplified access to Copilot.

Fast forward to March 2026, and it looks like Microsoft has hit the brakes on the forced installs.

Microsoft is under damage control mode, and it’s been internally evaluating plans to make Windows a better platform

Microsoft has been under heavy criticism for pushing Copilot down our throats, whether it’s consumers or commercial customers.

In fact, not only is Microsoft losing the AI race, but it’s also hurting its own reputation. The internet does not synonymize Microsoft with AI, but rather trolls the company with ‘Microslop,’ and it’s only getting worse.

Microsoft is dialing back Copilot integration in Windows 11, and it’s also planning to focus on the pain points, such as performance or the lack of an option to move the taskbar around.

The post Microsoft says it won’t auto install Microsoft 365 Copilot app on Windows 11, likely due to outrage over ‘Microslop’ appeared first on Windows Latest

On Windows, a native app usually means the main interface and app logic are built directly on Windows frameworks like Win32, WinUI, WPF, or UWP, rather than being mostly a website wrapped in WebView2, Electron, or a PWA shell.

If the app mainly depends on Microsoft Edge / Chromium to render the experience, most people would not call it fully native in 2026.

Copilot was built on WinUI, but it’s now dropping the native UI framework for WebView.

New Copilot for Windows 11 appears to be a hybrid app, not fully native.

I installed the new Copilot update (version 146.0.3856.63) rolling out in the Insider Program, tested it, and found that it’s indeed a web crap.

If you look at the screenshot below, Task Manager proves my thesis.

This new Copilot has several sub-processes running in the background, including Renderer, GPU Process, Utility: Network Service, Crashpad, and PWA Identity Proxy Host.

Those are part of Microsoft Edge, and you’d come across this kind of structure if you expand WhatsApp in Task Manager or any web app.

In fact, if you have access to the new Copilot and open its settings, you’ll notice that the version number literally matches Microsoft Edge. For example, my Copilot app is running “Microsoft Copilot version 146.0.3856.63 (Official build) beta (64-bit).” Likewise, my Edge browser is running version 146.0.3856.59.

Windows Latest understands that the new Copilot isn’t exactly the old-school web crap, as it appears to be a web app running inside a desktop shell through Edge/WebView-style components.

That means the web experience is wrapped around a Windows app shell, and you’re also going to spot “Utility: On-Device Model …” in Task Manager.

Copilot is able to hook into some Windows AI features or on-device AI, and the shell is indeed native, but it’s still loading copilot.microsoft.com inside.

New Copilot is as fast as the native version. In fact, it opens faster than the native Copilot app, which tells us a lot about WinUI’s current state. It also appears that Microsoft has really worked on the web-based version of Copilot for better performance, so this isn’t exactly a horrible experience for users who prefer Copilot.

Although the new Copilot is faster, it’s still a web app, and Windows does not need more web apps. From WhatsApp to Discord, all popular Windows apps are web-based, and it’s not helping with a poor Windows experience. The creator of JavaScript has also warned against rushed Web UX over native code.

Copilot is ditching the native framework (WinUI) in favour of web-based tech again, as Microsoft just can’t decide

Copilot on Windows has had a tough past. Well, not emotionally, as AI has not reached consciousness yet, but it’s more to do with how Copilot is integrated into Windows 11 or even Windows 10.

Microsoft announced Copilot as a sidebar on Windows on May 23, 2023, which can also be launched from the taskbar or Win + C. We later found that Copilot’s sidebar experience wasn’t exactly native, as it was just Bing Chat delivered through Edge/WebView2, not a truly native Windows UI.

In March 2024, Microsoft began rolling out an updated Copilot that could switch between the old docked mode and a movable, resizable normal app window.

Microsoft finally killed the classic sidebar-style Copilot and turned it into a full-blown PWA-style app.

Later in the same year, Microsoft claimed it began rolling out a “native” version of Copilot, which was not exactly native, as it loaded copilot.microsoft.com in a shell (frame) that was native, and used more RAM than ever. Outrage from users pushed Microsoft to do better, and a native app finally shipped.

Microsoft decided to build a native Copilot app in 2025

In 2025, several months after Mustafa Suleyman took over from Mikhail Parakhin, who was responsible for Copilot and Windows, Microsoft finally began using Windows 11’s native app UI framework (WinUI) for Copilot.

In fact, Windows Latest tests found that it is the first native Copilot app that no longer loads web components.

This new, truly native Copilot app began shipping to everyone in March 2025. It’s true that Microsoft later began loading some parts of Copilot, such as the ‘Pages’ or canvas, in a web shell, but the rest of Copilot remained native, so nobody really complained.

It seemed like a happy ending, but that changes today, at least for those in the Windows Insider Program.

Copilot is back to being a web crap, and this change should begin rolling out to non-Insiders in the coming weeks. There’s no going back, unfortunately.

The post Microsoft appears to be dumping native Copilot for Windows 11 in favour of web wrapper yet again appeared first on Windows Latest

“Projects must be saved to OneDrive to stay editable”, says Microsoft.

I have been using Clipchamp for quite a while now to trim and edit some screen recordings. It’s simple, free, and has some basic editing features. Recently, when I opened Clipchamp, I was prompted to click a Continue button that would save all these previous projects to OneDrive.

I, obviously, didn’t want to do that since I do not have a OneDrive subscription. But when I tried to select the obscurely placed option to store them on my PC, I was told by Clipchamp that I would not be able to edit these projects until I backed them up to OneDrive, which was strange and infuriating because I had almost 36 projects that I used to come back to often.

I continued saving these projects to my local drive anyway, but the issue here is that if I ever want to edit any of those projects, I’ll have to upload them to OneDrive first.

What’s even more absurd is that Microsoft says my media files will remain on my device unless I choose to back them up to OneDrive, but the projects will still need to be stored in OneDrive to make it easy for me to access them on different computers. If I’m not backing up media files to OneDrive, how would I be able to edit the same project on another PC?

Microsoft Clipchamp video editor doesn’t work without OneDrive

Clipchamp is a freemium video editing tool, originally launched as a browser-based editor and later integrated as a Windows app. Note that Microsoft’s default video editor is still a web wrapper and not based on the native WinUI3 framework.

OneDrive integration in Clipchamp came early, with the ability to import photos and videos from the cloud storage service, and that should’ve been the end of it.

But in August 2025, Microsoft began experimenting with saving video projects to OneDrive. Now, the transition is complete as Microsoft has officially stopped the ability to store video projects on the device.

Clipchamp is effectively unusable without OneDrive and will prompt you to save video projects in OneDrive, and there is no way around it, except that Microsoft provides “More options”, but these just allow you to either archive your existing projects on your device or delete all your past projects.

Selecting “Store on your local disk” would remove your existing projects from Clipchamp and prompt you to choose a folder to which you can archive your existing video projects in Clipchamp.

However, the permissions that Clipchamp asks when you choose a folder are deeply concerning…

The saving option would take some time, depending on the number of projects you have.

Essentially, what Microsoft is implying here is that since Clipchamp now saves video projects to OneDrive, you can choose to save those projects to your device to avoid storing them on OneDrive. But if you want to edit those projects later on, you’ll have to upload them to OneDrive.

Microsoft has also confirmed it in an updated support document.

“If you don’t want to save your existing projects to OneDrive, you can archive them to your local disk. However, to edit again in the future, you’ll need to upload them to OneDrive,” the company noted.

The other option is to “Discard past projects” which avoid giving Microsoft access to your video projects, but that would mean that you’ll also lose access to them.

Regardless, the only way to now use Clipchamp would be to allow it to save video projects to OneDrive. Any new videos you edit in Clipchamp will automatically create a video project in your OneDrive account.

Note that the media files (photos and videos) inside these video projects are not synced to OneDrive, unless you choose to.

Anyway, I won’t be coming back to Clipchamp anytime soon, because sometimes, I just want to combine two videos, and I do not need a cloud storage service for that, and that is what tempted me to find free open source video editing apps for Windows.

Best free open source video editor alternatives to Clipchamp

Fortunately, Windows 11 is open, and there are a bunch of free video editors that aren’t trying to mine your data or push you into buying their premium tiers.

A few years ago, I used to edit full-fledged YouTube videos in Adobe Premiere Pro, but now, I don’t need all those bells and whistles, and I’m perfectly okay with a simple video editor, which is why I resorted to Clipchamp to begin with.

Anyway, I will recommend three free and open-source video editors for Windows 11, and the three serve different purposes.

OpenShot

If you’re coming from something like Clipchamp, and you are a total beginner in video editing, OpenShot works best for you. It also has a very clean interface.

Shotcut

Shotcut has more features than OpenShot, but it’s still simple to use. It’s good if you’re already used to the UI of professional video editing tools.

Kdenlive

Kdenlive is for the video editors out there, and it’s not as easy to use as the above ones. Naturally, it has more advanced tools.

Sure, there are other tools too, but these are an easy replacement for something like Clipchamp. I’ll be going with OpenShot for the time being, considering its simplicity.

The Windows 10 default Photos app had a nifty video editor feature, something that the more advanced Windows 11 doesn’t have. Remember that this is the same Microsoft that had Windows Movie Maker decades ago. And it was free.

Apple still has iMovie, which is more than capable of editing complex scenes. It’s free too. Despite being called the cash-grab company, Apple has free tools that do not try to push AI or cloud services as much as Microsoft. With the new MacBook Neo, things aren’t looking good for Windows 11.

Of course, I’m not against paid software, but Windows 11 itself is not a free OS.

A simple video editor in Windows 11, made with native code, is a basic right for anyone who uses the platform. As Microsoft is on its journey to fix Windows 11, and it’s reputation, these are the kind of stuff that the company should first concentrate on.

The post Microsoft forces OneDrive on Clipchamp, Windows 11’s built-in video editor appeared first on Windows Latest

“Calling all Electron developers: ready to bring on-device AI experiences into your Electron apps,” Microsoft posted on X, and added that it’s training developers how to build Electron experiences using Windows on-device AI.

It’s quite obvious that Electron is not going away on Windows 11, as many popular apps, including Discord, use Electron, despite the fact that it consumes more memory than other frameworks. And if you wonder why, it’s because an Electron app typically bundles an instance of Chromium, which is notorious for RAM usage.

Microsoft pitches Windows 11 as an AI OS. That means the company plans to make Windows the best operating system for running AI apps or Agents.

At the same time, Microsoft understands that Electron is not going away on Windows 11. It cannot sideline AI efforts for the RAM-hungry framework, which is why the company wants developers to add more Windows AI features to those apps rather than avoid the framework altogether.

Microsoft lays the foundation for building AI apps using Electron

In a support document, Microsoft says Electron apps can now use Windows 11’s built-in text generation, summarization, OCR, and image description features. Of course, these features work only on new PCs that come with Copilot+ PC branding or an NPU chip, but the idea is to help devs with new sample projects and tools.

“A common follow-up question from Electron developers has been: ‘How can we build similar on-device AI experiences in our Electron apps?’ Microsoft argues.

Windows Latest also observed that Microsoft is really selling the idea that developers do not need to go native, and can keep using Electron if they prefer. Microsoft has mentioned ‘native’ code about eight times in the support document to make a point that devs can tap into Windows 11 features without abandoning JavaScript.

For example, the company says Electron devs do not need to “compile a single line of native code” to add Windows AI features, such as text generation, summarization, writing, image description, and more.

Windows 11 has an Electron problem, and Microsoft needs to acknowledge it

At this point, it looks like everyone, except Microsoft, realizes that its heavy push of web, especially Electron, has contributed to a poor Windows experience.

On macOS, there’s a native WhatsApp. On the other hand, Meta abandoned its native app for Windows 11 in favour of Electron because it does not see the point of maintaining native code.

Discord has also openly admitted that its Windows app is a resource hog, and it has rolled out a feature that allows the app to restart itself when RAM usage exceeds 4GB.

The creator of JavaScript is not happy with rushed web adoption for apps

Last year, Brendan Eich, who created JavaScript and is currently the CEO of Brave, suggested that Microsoft really needs to do something about the bloat on Windows due to the “rushed” adoption of web apps, including Electron.

The statement is coming from somebody who not only built JavaScript but was also involved in Mozilla’s webOS project.

“The buried lede is “Windows 11 has a bigger problem, and it’s WebView2 or Electron,” Brendan Eich wrote in a X post last year when he shared Windows Latest’s story.

“As a b2g (FirefoxOS) cofounder, also connected to webOS folks in the day, I’m against bloat due to rushed use of Web UX over native. It can be done right; it takes time.”

We can’t expect web apps to disappear overnight, and it totally makes sense to use a web framework when devs are building for multiple platforms.

It’s not like web apps are inherently horrible, but they need to be done right, and optimized for performance or a native-like experience if they are going to be forced upon.

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