Windows 11 - Do you like it? (with poll)

[Kapone33]

Prior to 24H2 I probably would have said it was ok/fine but even since it was insider only it's been pretty great.

I'm baffled that Wiz was told it has issues becuase it's been fantastic for me on all 4 of my main setups.

If I was on core ultra I'd avoid it though....

I guess it depends on your individual PC. I have very strange Wall paper issues that caused me to change my Mouse.

 

[Aken Bosch]

I voted yes for the simple reason (well, some more below) that FINALLY!!! I don't have to reset my audio stack every time I switch between speakers and headphones on my home rig (spec in the profile).

Also the more stringent requirements helped refreshing the absolute pile of crap that was my company notebook fleet, had to buy about 500 new ones, for which I'm happy .

No issues with it otherwise (some borked printers over VPN, but that's a given).

Didn't deployed 24H2 yet though, still waiting.

 

[Chrispy_]

"It's ok" if you de-crapify it, and Microsoft have crapified it with irrelevant BS more than 10, which was more than 7, which was more than XP.

The underlying OS works well enough.

The UI is dumb as rocks and frustrating out of the box but can be tweaked to fix most of the complaints without regedits or scripts. It is still incomplete and schizophrenic where lots of things are still absent from the "ModernUI" that was supposed to be ready for Windows 8's launch 12 years ago, and at other times the settings app is purely informational and you need to click a link that invokes 28-year-old WinNT interface that actually lets you change anything. That's not really a peeve specific to Windows 11 though, this dumpster-fire has been burning since 2012.

The amount of advertising, bundled junk apps, and pre-pinned tiles to Microsoft-owned and sponsored content is off the charts. Some of it is even completely useless/legacy/obsolete yet it's still embedded deep into the UI unless you strip it out manually.

The icing on the cake is the increasing difficulty of making a non-Microsoft account and not defaulting to Microsoft's cloud services out of the box. Constant nagging and reminders to sign in to accounts and services from Microsoft have nothing to do with an OS, and are entirely a marketshare and profit grab that ticks every possible box in your usual antitrust lawsuit.

So yeah, Windows 11 is ok, if you assess it as an OS. The problem isn't really Windows 11, it's Microsoft.

 

[lexluthermiester]

when the pc went to sleep

Then don't use the Sleep function. It is and has always been an unreliable troublemaker.

I restored my Windows 11 23H2 boot drive image and set 23H2 as the target release for updates so I can wait until the last minute to move to 24H2 and since I run the Enterprise version I can stay on 23H2 for two years which is what I'll do. I'm guessing that 24H2 should be fixed within a year.

There are known issues with the 24H2 update. Do a fresh install and those problems will not take place. However, as has been stated elsewhere, if you don't need 24H2, there is no harm in waiting.

That said, we're discussing Windows 11 in general, not specific point releases of it.

I will not mention Switching to L****.

That's not it. If you switched to Linux, cool beans! No worries.


The statement made in the OP was to prevent the thread from turning into a Windows VS Linux epeen-off. We don't need that.

I don't have to reset my audio stack every time I switch between speakers and headphones on my home rig (spec in the profile).

I remember Windows 10 doing that(because they screwed with the driver system), haven't seen it's in 11 though.

Great, so it's even worse than I imagined.

That depends. If you want or need to stay with Windows 10, it's the main ticket.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I like it, but I'm leaving a "it's ok" because I have to actually go a little out of my way to get it to my taste.

Wow. I couldn't express my opinion better.

Once I figured out I could use Explorer Patcher and Start11 to bring back the essential Quick Launch toolbar to the essential Taskbar, as well as the essential Start menu and the essential Desktop (and especially the absolutely essential Windows 7 Games) to make W11 look and feel like the venerable W7, I really like W11.

I will add this. Over the years I have learned this about me, and about most other computer users, once we accept that change is inevitable and get past the learning curve of the new UI, these new UIs become intuitive and then we tend to like the new product just fine - often even better.

I used to believe XP was and would remain the absolute best Windows ever. But today, when I stumble on an XP system, the UI looks and feels "clunky" and awkward - hardly intuitive at all.

I'll catch hell for saying this, but Windows Me and internet explorer 6 were kinda awesome.

Not from here, I loved WinME. Not so much IE6. Netscape and FireFox were my jam.

Not from me either. People complained about Me but I liked it. It never gave me problems.

And I never fell for all the security hype Mozilla/FF its followers, the MS and IE haters, and the FUD distributers in the IT Media spewed about IE6 being such a security risk. If you kept Windows and your security current, you avoided illegal behavior, and you weren't "click-happy" on every unsolicited link you saw (the exact same precautions needed regardless your browser of choice), IE6 was not a threat.

EVERY time I encountered one of those FUD distributers, I would ask, "Did you stop getting infected just by switching to Firefox?"

The answer was always either, "No" they were not getting infected, or in addition to switching to FF, they ALSO started using the ZoneAlarm firewall, installed extra security software, and started to "practice safe computing" by not opening every email, link, attachment and download they saw.

Now I will say this. Before using IE, I was a diehard Netscape fan. But when IE5 came out in 1999, the company I worked for decided all company computers MUST use IE. I was threated with termination unless I ceded control of my company computer to IT and switch to IE5. The more I used and became familiar with IE5, the more intuitive it became and the more I liked it. Then in 2001 when IE6 came out, I was hooked. I stuck with IE6 until MS tried to jam the first (Legacy) Edge on us, then I switched to Pale Moon. Now I use the new Edge as my primary browser.

Then don't use the Sleep function. It is and has always been an unreliable troublemaker.

While I agree the sleep/standby mode functions have and have had persistent troubles over the years, I personally believe the fault lies primarily with the various hardware makers and 3rd party software developers whose products fail to adhere to the published protocols for those various standby modes. I say that because sleep works perfectly for the vast majority of users the vast majority of the time. Note I did NOT say all users nor did I say all the time.

Purely anecdotal but I never "shutdown" or reboot except to do maintenance or when some update requires it. When I am done with my computing sessions, I typically just close open windows, then let my computer go to sleep. I never "shutdown". Then when I return, I wiggle my mouse or press a keyboard key and the computer wakes. I can go for months without any sleep or wake issues. And that's on 5 computers here, including my laptop.

HOWEVER, occasionally, I will note my monitor(s) are sleeping but not my computer. Most of the time a simple reboot fixes it. Sometimes it doesn't and I end up doing a "cold" boot where I "shutdown" and flip the master power switch on the back of the PSU. That always fixes it and I can go months or longer again without any sleep or wake from sleep issues.

I know many others with no complaints with sleep mode too.

There is no way the OS can account for every possible hardware and software configuration out there. So some troubles are inevitable. But since sleep does indeed work as expected for most, most of the time, I feel it is hard to blame the OS when it doesn't. JMHO.

 

[Carillon]

I don't like it, though I use it and prefer over the alternatives.

 

[Dr. Dro]

Wow. I couldn't express my opinion better.

Once I figured out I could use Explorer Patcher and Start11 to bring back the essential Quick Launch toolbar to the essential Taskbar, as well as the essential Start menu and the essential Desktop (and especially the absolutely essential Windows 7 Games) to make W11 look and feel like the venerable W7, I really like W11.

My Win11 setup essentials are these (whatever isn't free, is regional pricing friendly thanks to Steam):

Save 25% on Start11 v2 on Steam

Start11 v2 allows users to fully customize the Windows 10 and 11 Start menu experience with unique features, designs, and restore classic functionality from previous versions of Windows.

store.steampowered.com

Fences 5 on Steam

Automatically organize files, folders, and applications on your Windows desktop for a streamlined, productive workspace.

store.steampowered.com

Save 25% on CursorFX on Steam

Create stunning animated Windows mouse cursors for your PC with CursorFX! Easily apply skins, shadows, motion trails, and sounds, customize your own, or choose from one of several unique cursors already installed.

store.steampowered.com

Save 20% on Wallpaper Engine on Steam

Use stunning live wallpapers on your desktop. Animate your own images to create new wallpapers or import videos/websites and share them on the Steam Workshop!

store.steampowered.com

Save 75% on Action! - Gameplay Recording and Streaming on Steam

With Action! you can record and live stream your HD/4K/HDR10/8K gameplay, display game's fps, add webcams, live audio commentary, add streaming overlays such as chatbox, alert box, monitor the status of your recording and streaming, benchmark your computer and more!

store.steampowered.com

Winaero Tweaker

Winaero Tweaker is a free app for all versions of Windows that lets you adjust (i.e. tweak) hidden secret settings that Microsoft does not let you adjust

winaero.com

O&O ShutUp10++ - O&O Software GmbH

O&O ShutUp10++: Free antispy tool for Windows 10 and 11 Download Version 1.9.1444, File size 2074KB. Released on: 02/12/2025 O&O ShutUp10++ means you have full control over which comfort functions under Windows 10 and Windows 11 you wish to use, … Continue reading →

www.oo-software.com

Ninite - Install or Update Multiple Apps at Once

The easiest, fastest way to update or install software. Ninite downloads and installs programs automatically in the background.

ninite.com

Latest Visual C++ Redistributable Runtimes All-in-One Jun 2025 Download

This archive contains the latest version (June 2025) of all VCRedist Visual Studio C++ runtimes, installable with a single click by running the inclu

www.techpowerup.com

DirectX Runtime Offline Installer Jun 2010 Download

This free download provides the Microsoft DirectX Redist Runtime, which is required for many games to play properly. The download is the offline inst

www.techpowerup.com

ShutUp10 to manage telemetry, Winaero Tweaker to trim the bloat (especially important to restore legacy context menus since a lot of thing just doesn't support the new-style one from Win11 yet), Ninite and the TPU redistributables to automate the whole bunch of the setup process... and I recommend some good "OS wallpapers" too

Every Default macOS Wallpaper - in Glorious 6K Resolution - 512 Pixels

Every major version of Mac OS X macOS has come with a new default wallpaper. As you can see, I have collected them all here. While great in their day, the early wallpapers are now quite small in the world of 5K and 6K displays. If you want to see detailed screenshots of every release […]

512pixels.net

Mac OS 9 Wallpapers in 5K Resolution - 512 Pixels

To go with my collection of default Mac OS X macOS wallpapers in 5K resolution, I’ve gathered the wallpapers that shipped with Mac OS 9 and re-worked them to modern-day sizes. Most of them are very 90s, just like Apple’s hardware at the time. Sponsored by Rogue Amoeba Rogue Amoeba is a proud...

512pixels.net

 

[Catzilla]

I haven't installed it, so no personal experience. But I have not read anything about Windows 11 that convinces me I need it. I'm not interested in signing for online accounts just to use it. I don't think I need trusted boot, secure boot,or whatever it is called, for a PC that is just my daily use PC for software hacking and for doing business on the internet. I'm worried that the secure boot nonsense if going to create problems with my Linux boot.
The only things that I really need Windows for now are photo editing and some gaming. Otherwise I'm spending my time with my Linux system. I'll probably have to install Windows 11 next year and deal with whatever havoc that causes.

 

[R-T-B]

Is performance on Linux lower? I haven't tested it, but I don't seem to notice any difference so far.

There is technically cpu overhead from emulating windows apis, but it usually ends up about even because linux has other benefits as an os in cpu/memory.

So these days? Maybe in some games but mostly its pretty much the same.

linux is significantly slower if you ignore the 10 cherry picked

Looks like someone forgot to unsync the presentation interval in wayland/ X11. You appear to be vsync capped.

 

[GerKNG]

There is technically cpu overhead from emulating windows apis, but it usually ends up about even because linux has other benefits as an os in cpu/memory.

So these days? Maybe in some games but mostly its pretty much the same.


Looks like someone forgot to unsync the presentation interval in wayland/ X11. You appear to be vsync capped.

no i'm not.
and V-Sync would be at 360Hz and not 60. if i look up i reach ~90 FPS on Linux and 140 in Windows. Black Myth Wukong as well as many other games just run like crap on Linux through Proton.

 

[R-T-B]

and V-Sync would be at 360Hz and not 60.

But waylands default presentation interval is 60hz in some cases. What distro was this?

Don't get me wrong black myth is a known edge case (most dx12 games aren't excellent as dx11 or vulkan under linux) but that number just seemed suspect. I still agree that particular game will see a penalty.

Fortunately the number of true dx12 games are smaller than dx11 or vulkan, and changes are being actively made that should help.

 

[Vayra86]

While I agree the sleep/standby mode functions have and have had persistent troubles over the years, I personally believe the fault lies primarily with the various hardware makers and 3rd party software developers whose products fail to adhere to the published protocols for those various standby modes. I say that because sleep works perfectly for the vast majority of users the vast majority of the time. Note I did NOT say all users nor did I say all the time.

This. Even a slightly jittery mouse sensor (or some dust on a mousepad) will screw up sleep entirely. Or a USB device that is going wonky. I've seen my share of issues similar to what you describe.

 

[Canned Noodles]

I like Windows 11. There are some nice new features, like tabs in file explorer and task manager dark mode. Any annoyances I found after upgrading can be disabled or uninstalled.

 

[Zareek]

I've lived with it for over a year and I sincerely despise it! I've done a lot of customization to get it usable, and there are a handful of features that are nice. Overall, the UI changes are horrible, and I'm actively entertaining switching to another OS for my daily driver.

 

[wheresmycar]

I like it, but I'm leaving a "it's ok" because I have to actually go a little out of my way to get it to my taste. However, other than UI/UX issues, it is a stable and functional operating system. People don't need to be scared of upgrading to it, and I encourage anyone on the fence to give Windows 11 an honest try. Version 24H2 is very good and very polished.

exactly my thoughts!

Eventually its inevitable, we get pushed onto subsequent versions of Windows and they practically become the norm. I'm just not an early adopter to any newly released Win version unless its a fresh build and I might take a punt at it providing user/reviewer feedback is in the positive.

BTW, im curious what settings did you change to get it to your taste? So far, i have Win 11 only on my dedicated gaming rig and haven't found time to configure preferences other than setting the task bar icons to start from the left. Every time i turn that machine on i only have one thing in mind... GAME!!!!!

 

[Bill_Bright]

Overall, the UI changes are horrible

Then see the first part of my post above.

 

[wheresmycar]

Purely anecdotal but I never "shutdown" or reboot except to do maintenance or when some update requires it. When I am done with my computing sessions, I typically just close open windows, then let my computer go to sleep. I never "shutdown". Then when I return, I wiggle my mouse or press a keyboard key and the computer wakes. I can go for months without any sleep or wake issues. And that's on 5 computers here, including my laptop.

Yep same here. I didn't know this was a complaint. I too have never experienced any windows-based sleep issues (an everyday utilised feature). Some mysterious wake ups are rare but not bothersome. I do recall Razor Synapse playing up some years ago which I'm guessing was the culprit with the sleep setting amongst other mouse-activity issues. Uninstalling all-things Razor and upgrading to a Logitech G502 resolved the problem hence the suspicion.

For the Razor die hard fans, don't worry Razors back in the good books with my last mice purchase: Razor Basilisk V3

 

[GerKNG]

But waylands default presentation interval is 60hz in some cases. What distro was this?

Don't get me wrong black myth is a known edge case (most dx12 games aren't excellent as dx11 or vulkan under linux) but that number just seemed suspect. I still agree that particular game will see a penalty.

Fortunately the number of true dx12 games are smaller than dx11 or vulkan, and changes are being actively made that should help.

As the picture shows, a fresh installation of EndeavourOS.
the 59 FPS were a complete coincidence in this scene. I Played the whole first chapter on Linux. It runs like trash. Especially on AMD GPUs through Proton.
It actually runs better with NVidia GPUs on Linux.

 

[anonuser57]

It's too buggy to like and as a user you get next to nothing you didn't already have in 10. New windows have a 2 second delay before opening, file explorer is slow and crashes, sometimes when waking from sleep your task bar doesn't come back on all displays, sometimes after waking from sleep there is a long delay to show the login prompt.

 

[Zareek]

Then see the first part of my post above.

Thanks Bill, I did try a few of the free mods to get it back closer to Windows 10, and they helped, but I'm sick of changing everything and in the case of start11 paying extra to fix what Microsoft should have never broke in the first place. That in addition to a couple of bad updates has really soured me on Windows. I'll still use it for my gaming rig, but I'm ready to move onto something that just works for my daily driver.

 

[lexluthermiester]

New windows have a 2 second delay before opening, file explorer is slow and crashes

If this is happening to you, something is wrong with your hardware or setup.

sometimes when waking from sleep your task bar doesn't come back on all displays, sometimes after waking from sleep there is a long delay to show the login prompt.

As stated earlier, don't use "sleep". It is and has always been a buggy mess.

 

[Bill_Bright]

case of start11 paying extra to fix what Microsoft should have never broke in the first place.

I hear you. But for $10 (1 computer) or $15 (5 computers) for lifetime licenses, IMO, it is well worth it - especially these days when it seems every developer is going to a recurring subscription fee structure - which I hate. Who want's another bill?

That said, Open Shell is another start menu alternative, similar to Start 10 and Start 11 but it is open source and free. I know several who like and use it.

 

[Zareek]

I hear you. But for $10 (1 computer) or $15 (5 computers) for lifetime licenses, IMO, it is well worth it - especially these days when it seems every developer is going to a recurring subscription fee structure - which I hate. Who want's another bill?

That said, Open Shell is another start menu alternative, similar to Start 10 and Start 11 but it is open source and free. I know several who like and use it.

It's not really the pricing, the pricing is very reasonable, actually excellent. I agree on the subscription crap. At first, it seems like a deal, and they all just slowly creep up the price until it's a rip-off like everything else. I can ignore the annoyances of 11 on my gaming rig. I never even bothered fixing the start menu location on that. The only other PC I use that runs 11 right now is my daily driver. My wife doesn't complain about it on her PC, she doesn't care for it, but it doesn't piss her off like it does me. That's probably because when something breaks, or doesn't work right, she gets me to fix it for her.

IIRC, Open Shell was one of them I tried out, but then a monthly patch hosed it up. I set it up again, and then I was unable to install one of the monthly M$ updates. I took it off in an attempt at troubleshooting the update. The update still didn't work. So it wasn't the issue. M$ fixed the update a while later. I never bothered with it again.

 

[R-T-B]

As the picture shows, a fresh installation of EndeavourOS.
the 59 FPS were a complete coincidence in this scene. I Played the whole first chapter on Linux. It runs like trash. Especially on AMD GPUs through Proton.
It actually runs better with NVidia GPUs on Linux.

View attachment 370740

Fair, was just double checking for fairness. Won't debate dx12 is pretty ass right now.

 

[Vayra86]

It's not really the pricing, the pricing is very reasonable, actually excellent. I agree on the subscription crap. At first, it seems like a deal, and they all just slowly creep up the price until it's a rip-off like everything else. I can ignore the annoyances of 11 on my gaming rig. I never even bothered fixing the start menu location on that. The only other PC I use that runs 11 right now is my daily driver. My wife doesn't complain about it on her PC, she doesn't care for it, but it doesn't piss her off like it does me. That's probably because when something breaks, or doesn't work right, she gets me to fix it for her.

IIRC, Open Shell was one of them I tried out, but then a monthly patch hosed it up. I set it up again, and then I was unable to install one of the monthly M$ updates. I took it off in an attempt at troubleshooting the update. The update still didn't work. So it wasn't the issue. M$ fixed the update a while later. I never bothered with it again.

Imho subscriptions are never really a good deal, because you keep paying. There is really no monthly price that justifies any application on its own. Even 5 cents is too much because you still havent got anything yourself. They all eventually turn far too expensive and if you want stability and no change, you explicitly do NOT want one that keeps charging you and renewing your license; every subscrption based thing is a constant lifeline you depend on.