Windows 11 is not without flaws, yet certain users strongly dislike the update, especially since it will be enforced on all users starting October 14, 2025. A post on X from a former Windows user who now uses Fedora described Windows 11 as “pure horror.” In response to this criticism, Microsoft’s Insider Program lead assured that the company is actively listening to user feedback.

“I have a growing frustration with Windows since version 8 (10 was somewhat better, but 11 is pure horror), which eventually led me to switch to Fedora over a year ago. I’m not going back,” said one user who left Windows behind.

“The issues include privacy concerns, bloat, performance problems, bugs, and poor UI/UX. For example, Start Menu search used to be quick and responsive. Honestly, some areas like the Control Panel did improve slightly from Win 10 to 11, but overall… there's still a lot of work ahead for you all,” the frustrated ex-Windows user added, noting they still use Windows at work.

Brandon LeBlanc, Senior Program Manager for the Windows Insider Program, responded by expressing regret that the user had left Windows 11 and expressed hope that Microsoft could win them back in the future. He even mentioned Fedora as his “favorite Linux distro.”

“Again, I really hope we can put in the effort to enhance Windows and bring you back someday,” Brandon continued in a follow-up post on X.

Although Windows 11 isn’t perfect and suffers from many flaws, handling criticism in such a respectful way is commendable.

It seems Microsoft is open to feedback to an extent—but is that truly enough?

Microsoft does listen to feedback, but not always

We've seen gradual improvements in Windows 11. Take the Control Panel, for instance—many of its features have now been moved into the Settings app, including the fonts management section.

Moreover, the Settings app now allows you to configure the time server used for Time sync under Date & Time settings—a feature once exclusive to the Control Panel.

The transition away from the Control Panel is ongoing, but the Settings app is clearly more robust than it was in Windows 10, assuming you overlook ads for Copilot Pro or Microsoft 365 on the homepage.

Recently, Microsoft also introduced an option to disable the Recommended feed in the Start menu, along with a redesigned layout shaped by input from Windows Insiders and dedicated Microsoft fans.

As shown in the screenshot below, the updated Start menu in Windows 11 organizes apps into categorized groups. It’s reminiscent of live tiles, although the icons remain static.

Microsoft claims this new Start menu design was informed by user feedback. The team gathered insights from passionate Windows users through the Feedback Hub, casual discussions, and remote interviews.

For example, Microsoft created interface layouts using Figma and paper sketches, then tested prototypes with more than 300 fans to ensure the experience was intuitive—even for newcomers.

“We observed eye-tracking heatmaps, counted mouse scrolls, and listened for moments of surprise and delight to understand what worked well,” the company explained.

“Together, we’ll continue fulfilling the promise of Start: everything you need, right here, ready when you are.”

Why do some people truly dislike Windows 11?

As previously noted, Windows 11 comes with several issues that may frustrate users enough to turn them against the OS entirely.

Beyond its demanding hardware requirements and occasional performance lags, many users resent Windows 11 for heavily pushing Edge and Bing, as Windows Latest has reported before.

I doubt Microsoft will push so aggressively again. Those promotions were most intense during a brief period when Windows was overseen by the former head of Bing, which is no longer the case. As a result, you may not see intrusive ads like the one in the image below anymore:

How shifts in leadership and internal restructuring resulted in increased Bing/Copilot advertisements in Windows is a story for another time.

But what specific feature of Windows 11 bothers you the most? Personally, I find the inability to move the taskbar frustrating, and I don't expect that to change. What about you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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