Windows 11 — 3 big changes I want to see in 2022

Windows 11 — 3 big changes I want to run across in 2022

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Windows 11 launched back in October 2021 as a surprise follow-up to Windows 10, and at present that it's been alive in the wild for a few months it's clear Microsoft's latest operating arrangement needs some work.

That's significant because Windows 11 embodies Microsoft's vision for the time to come of Windows, and right now it'southward hard to recommend, even every bit a free upgrade. That'south not to say it's a bad operating organisation; to the reverse, Windows 11 refines a lot of what's skillful about Windows 10 without compromising besides many of its strengths.

The trouble is, Windows 11 isn't compelling plenty to merit upgrading to right now if yous're already enjoying Windows 10. Luckily you don't have to, since Microsoft has pledged to continue supporting Windows x through 2025. But over the holidays I've fielded a few questions from folks in my life well-nigh whether Windows eleven is worth the hassle of upgrading, and so far I've had to say no.

That could alter next year, after Microsoft has time to flesh out Windows eleven and make some much-needed updates. To give you a sense of what I'grand talking about, here's a rundown of some of the top Windows changes I'd like to see in 2022.

Native Android app support

This is the almost notable and glaring characteristic missing from Windows 11 because it was a significant part of Microsoft's marketing plan. A native Android version of Tiktok running on the aforementioned desktop as Excel was showcased during the official unveiling of Windows xi in June 2021, and despite the disappointing news that Windows eleven users would (at to the lowest degree initially) be limited to downloading Android apps from the Amazon Appstore, we were charily excited nigh the possibilities of native Android app support (via Intel'due south Bridge Engineering) in Windows.

Android game on Windows laptop — The hope of Android apps (like Genshin Impact, pictured) running natively on Windows 11 is a compelling one that needs to be fulfilled. (Image credit: Future)

Now information technology's been near iv months since Windows 11'due south debut, and the operating system withal lacks this promised feature. Certain, in that location's a limited choice of Android apps bachelor for download in the Windows Shop as progressive web apps (rather than native Android), so you lot tin at least get a sense of what running apps on your desktop volition feel like.

We probably won't have to wait long for total native Android app support on Windows 11, either, as Microsoft is tapping Windows Insiders to help beta-test native Android apps ahead of a total rollout in 2022. And sure, if you actually put your heed to it there'south already a few means to become Android apps running on your Windows PC, without any extra help from Microsoft.

Merely when people ask me most Windows 11, a lot of the time they ask virtually whether they really tin can run their Android apps and games on their laptop without whatsoever hassle. And right now, I take to say no; I have to say that Android app back up on Windows 11 is still MIA, and that even when it does arrive it will be express by what Android app storefronts Microsoft allows into the Windows Store.

So far there'southward no indication Windows 11 will gain total access to the Google Play library of Android apps, which is a glaring weakness, though Google has committed to making a vast swathe of Android games playable on Microsoft's new operating system past pledging to launch a Google Play Games desktop app on both Windows eleven and Windows x. If Microsoft wants to kickstart the migration to Windows 11, information technology needs to deliver on its hope of native Android app support sooner rather than afterward.

Windows xi isn't only a slicker Windows 10 with a centered Beginning menu and Android app back up. Microsoft has made a host of changes to the way Windows works, and many of them seem like smart improvements. For example, Snap Assist is one of the best new Windows eleven features as it gives you more than granular control over how you adjust the windows on your desktop, while simultaneously making it easier to arrange them.

But if Snap Assist is an example of a Windows 11 feature that adds obvious value out of the box, the Widgets menu is an example of a promising new feature that needs a scrap more work before it's really worth mentioning.

If you're not familiar with Windows 11 Widgets, know that they're auto-updating tiles which reside in a hidden tray that slides out from the left side of the screen when you hit the Widgets button. Said Widgets button is a new improver to the Windows taskbar, ane yous'll find nestled side by side to the newly-centered Start push button by default on every fresh Windows eleven install. However, you can and should hide it (via the Taskbar Settings menu accessed by right-clicking the Showtime bar), considering and then far the Widgets on offer in Windows eleven have been disappointing.

The problem is that, at least at the time of writing this, Windows 11 Widgets are too rigid and too limited to offer much value to users. There are currently eight Widgets you lot can enable, displaying updated info about everything from your Outlook calendar to local traffic to stocks and the weather. These are decent offerings, merely none of them are more useful or quicker to access than a bookmark in your browser to a page with the same information.

Windows 11 interface widgets — The Windows 11 Widgets carte du jour surfaces a never-ending smorgasbord of news stories and articles, but fails to give users plenty command to make it worth using. (Prototype credit: The Verge)

Beneath the Widgets themselves is a Top Stories module that shows a pick of six stories from outlets like The states Today, Politico, and more. Beneath that is what seems like a never-ending river of more than stories from media outlets around the globe, a river you can choose to "personalize" by selecting broadly-worded interests from a listing provided by Microsoft.

You can too choose to hide stories from outlets you don't like, which I appreciate, but in general I've plant this river of stories completely skippable. Once again, yous probably already have the website(s) you like to read bookmarked in your browser or news reader of option, and the Widgets menu doesn't give you enough control over what information it surfaces to brand using it worthwhile.

That's really too bad, because when Windows eleven was first unveiled to the public I thought Microsoft's decision to bring back Widgets was a promising i. I always liked the thought of Widgets in Windows, even if I idea their implementation in Windows Vista and Windows 7 was less than ideal. But the notion of chop-chop pulling up a Widget to monitor my CPU performance or quickly jot downwards a annotation always seemed like a cool thing for my PC to practise, which is why it'south so frustrating that Windows 11 doesn't have Widgets that let yous do these bones tasks.

On the brilliant side, that ways there's lots of room for Microsoft to better on Windows 11 in 2022. I hope 1 of the first big improvements is a pregnant overhaul of Windows 11 Widgets, with more options and more than granular controls, considering right now I can't assistance simply recommend that Windows eleven newcomers hide the Widgets button as shortly as possible — and never look back.

No Internet connection required to install Windows 11

The onerous Windows 11 organization requirements have inspired a number of manufactures just like this one, with good reason: they're not easy to run across and exclude huge numbers of PCs built before 2018, plus they have some disruptive workarounds that let you lot sidestep some or all of them, finer revealing they aren't all that required later all.

Only I don't expect Microsoft to alter the requirements to install Windows 11 very much in 2022. What I do promise the company does is re-evaluate why you need an Internet connectedness to install Windows 11 Home, but non Windows xi Pro.

This may not exist a huge bargain for the many people who will take no trouble connecting to the Net to finish setting upward Windows 11 Dwelling house, only information technology's a frustrating requirement that doesn't seem to offer any benefit to the user in return for the hassle of meeting it. It's deeply unfair to people who don't have easy or reliable Internet admission, and information technology tin cause real headaches if you all of a sudden need to reinstall Windows without a Wi-Fi connexion.

I know from experience. Not long agone I had an issue with a laptop running Windows 11 Habitation that acquired it to somehow lose its network adapter drivers, cutting it off from Wi-Fi networks. I tried a few tricks to get it back on the Wi-Fi, to no avail. I somewhen tried rolling dorsum the drivers, and then in a moment of desperation I tried resetting the PC to its manufactory defaults using the Reset this PC option in the Windows eleven Recovery menu.

Windows 11 laptops — Microsoft's requirement that you must have an internet connection to install Windows 11 Dwelling is onerous and needs to go. (Epitome credit: Microsoft)

Large mistake. When it was all over I establish myself staring at the setup screen of a fresh Windows eleven install, with ane problem: the network drivers hadn't magically reappeared. That meant I could simply progress partway through the Windows 11 setup procedure before I was forced to stop and connect to the Internet, just I couldn't connect to the Net without first getting into my Windows desktop to install drivers, so I was finer stuck with a useless device where my laptop used to be.

I eventually solved the problem by downloading the required drivers on some other PC, putting them on a USB bulldoze connected to the laptop, then installing them via a complicated serial of commands inputted via the Control Prompt. It was, quite frankly, a ridiculous fix of hoops to leap through just so Windows xi could attach a Microsoft account to my re-create of Windows.

It's even more ridiculous that I learned how to practice that from Microsoft'southward support page for this issue, which outlines the extended series of steps users have to take to reinstall network drivers in gild to go their PCs online earlier they've even finished setting upwardly their operating system. While I appreciate that the company at to the lowest degree put the data up somewhere like shooting fish in a barrel to find, it'south baffling to imagine any of my less tech-obsessed friends and family trying to reinstall network drivers via the Control Prompt.

It'south especially ridiculous that Windows 11 Dwelling house users have to put up with this garbage requirement while Windows 11 Pro users do non. Of course, yous'll accept to pay for the privilege of sidestepping it, every bit Microsoft is charging $99 to upgrade to Windows 11 Pro from the Home edition.

I don't have a problem with Microsoft charging more for the Pro edition, as it offers some useful upgrades like Bitlocker device encryption. I do have a problem with the company putting this arbitrary requirement on the well-nigh common version of Windows eleven, creating plentiful opportunities for frustration without offering customers anything in return. Hopefully Microsoft will see fit to drop this peculiarly onerous Windows 11 requirement in 2022.

Alex Wawro is a lifelong tech and games enthusiast with more than a decade of feel roofing both for outlets like Game Developer, Blackness Lid, and PC World magazine. He currently serves as a senior editor at Tom's Guide covering all things computing, from laptops and desktops to keyboards and mice.