The topic Microsoft is finally fixing Windows 11, and these 4 upcoming features prove it is currently the subject of lively discussion — readers and analysts are keeping a close eye on developments.
This is taking place in a dynamic environment: companies’ decisions and competitors’ reactions can quickly change the picture.
It’s easy to criticize Windows 11 for its many, many faults, but in 2026, it looks like Microsoft is keen on correcting its course and introducing new features that actually make the operating system better. That alone is something of a surprise after Windows 11 has seemingly been going downhill since it was first launched over four years ago.
And it’s even more surprising to see some of the actual features that are part of this upcoming revamp. From a movable taskbar to native apps, there are some enhancements people have been wanting for years and seemed hopeless. But it’s actually happening, and it’s great news.
The idea of a movable taskbar on Windows 11 almost sounds ludicrous until you remember this has been a feature in previous Windows versions for years. But when you consider it’s been a problem. since the very first release of Windows 11, fans have very vocal about wanting it back, and Microsoft still has not done anything about it, it’s fair to say no one expected it to come back at this point.
Microsoft has even gone so far as to make it harder for some customization apps to change the taskbar and enable moving it to different sides of the screen, so to see this particular piece of feedback addressed is truly incredible.
The Windows 11 taskbar will soon be able to go on any side of the screen once more, and we’ve even seen a glimpse of this new movable taskbar. Now we just have to wait for a proper rollout.
The disruptions caused by Windows updates have long been one of the things the operating system is most infamous for, and there really hasn’t been much of a reason to think that would ever change. But, much like the taskbar, it looks like Microsoft is making big changes, and the company has already promised capabilities like skipping updates during the initial setup and the ability to turn off the computer without installing downloaded updates.
Another big one is an option to delay updates further out than what used to be possible, and, as spotted in a recent Insider build, pause updates until a specific date. Instead of delaying updates for a full week, you can delay them until the weekend, for example, when you’re able to install them without disrupting your workflow.
It’s unexpected, but a very welcome and necessary improvement to Windows.
Another big thing Microsoft recently confirmed is that it’s hiring developers to build native apps for Windows 11, and this is yet another course correction I didn’t see coming. Windows has infamously been shifting more and more of its apps to be web-based, often just functioning as glorified wrappers for websites. That’s been the case for things like Outlook, all the MSN apps, some of the features in the Photos app, and more.
We don’t have a clear indication of what apps will be the priority for this transition to native apps, but looking at other platforms should tell you that native apps are hugely important in offering the best performance but also in showing confidence in the platform you’ve built. Android, iOS, and macOS all ship with native apps for core functions, and it was baffling that Microsoft moved away from that.
While I prefer using web apps, they do come with certain limitations.
Not only that, but Microsoft has indicated its intention to rebuild the start menu using native UI frameworks in Windows 11 (WinUI), as opposed to the current React Native approach. It should always have been like this, but it’s good to see it improve, even if it’s late.
Finally, Windows 11 is getting something that enthusiasts and tech aficionados will love: feature flags. Until now, the company has been using controlled feature rollouts to A/B test experiences or simply to stagger the availability of new featurees, which becomes incredibly frustrating for Windows Insiders, who have signed up to get new features earlier and end up having to wait for completely arbitrary reasons.
With the new feature flags page in the Settings app, users should be able to opt into (or out of) certain features in the early stages of testing, allowing bleeding-edge users to experience the latest innovations at the expense of stability, which is what the Windows Insider program was for from the beginning. We don’t yet know if this page will also be available on stable releases of Windows 11, but Microsoft has used gradual rollouts in these versions, too, so it would make sense to have the option available.
Ultimately, this means Microsoft gets more testing from willing participants and can use that data to inform more decisions later on, and those who follow developments more closely get to experience the new features sooner. It’s a win-win, and yet another thing Microsoft should have been doing all along.
Even beyond new features and capabilities, Microsoft has promised to improve Windows 11 in many more ways, generally enhancing reliability and speed, removing Copilot branding from apps where it doesn’t make sense, improving the performance of File Explorer, and even incorporating tools like Sysmon for system administrators. While all these things are arguably overdue, we’ve had to wait so long for them that they almost felt impossible, so it’s a miracle to see it all happen.