Now that Windows 10 has reached the end of support, every business should be in the process of updating to Windows 11 if you haven’t yet.
But if your business is running on Windows 11, you’ve probably noticed some frustrating elements here and there. (If you haven’t updated yet, you’ll see what we mean once you do.)
Certain parts of the OS just aren’t as smooth as you’d expect.
AI seems to be showing up everywhere . . . even in places where you’ll never use it.
Some design choices feel like a step backward, not a step forward.
To be honest, we’ve lived it and felt it too. Which is why we’re excited that Microsoft seems to be shifting its focus back to the fundamentals, to getting the small stuff right.
Here’s what you need to know about a raft of small improvements coming soon to Windows 11.
What about Windows 10 Extended Security Updates?
If you haven’t fully upgraded to Windows 11 yet, you may be wondering: what about Extended Security Updates for Windows 10?
We’ve written before about this optional paid program, which was set to end in October 2026 — meaning you’d have just months to upgrade safely anyway.
Well, Microsoft made a quiet move in the last couple of weeks that complicates this picture ever so slightly: Extended Security Updates just got a surprise additional year, now running through October 2027.
Now, businesses that go that route are paying extra every month to avoid the inevitable. We can’t recommend that approach unless you’re truly stuck with systems or software that won’t survive the upgrade. But if that sounds like you, it’s worth knowing you have another option.
The bottom line: upgrading is something most businesses can’t avoid, so the sooner the better.
What’s New in Windows 11
As we’ve evaluated preview builds and Microsoft’s Windows roadmap, here are the most significant changes coming in the next few months.
“Right-Sizing” AI Across the OS
One of the biggest frustrations for everyday users is the way Microsoft seems to be pushing AI into every nook and cranny of every product. AI can be a big help and a massive time-saver in some scenarios. But do you really want to be bombarded with nudges to use AI in Notepad? That’s just not the kind of program most people open with the thought “Hmm, need to draft something super complicated, I wonder if AI can help.”
So Microsoft is looking to rebalance this AI approach. It isn’t going away in the places where users are consistently finding value with it. What’s (hopefully) going away is the constant Clippy-esque feeling of AI being in your face at all times.
Cleaner, Calmer, More Flexible User Interface
The Windows 11 user interface (UI) can be a bit, well, busy. Notification overload and overly animated widgets don’t help businesses move forward. Microsoft says it’s going to calm these elements and clean up the UI.
The UI is also less flexible than in Windows 10. The taskbar has been locked to the bottom of your screen, where in previous OSes you could move it to the side (much more logical in the age of widescreen monitors). In a future update, you'll be able to move your taskbar to the side once more. Try it and see if you like the extra vertical screen space.
Smoother Windows Updates, Better Explorer Performance
Finally, some great updates to two more elements central to the Windows experience. Windows Updates are key for staying secure, but they can be pushy and end up locking you out of your PC at times that don’t work for work. Improvements here should make the update process less disruptive and give users more flexibility to delay updates (but not indefinitely).
FIle Explorer is also getting a performance boost. We all use this tool all the time, but in Windows 11 it hasn’t been a great performer. It’s slow, and search is unreliable. Expect both to change in the next Windows update.
That’s all for this week — a bunch of small-ish changes coming to Windows, but take them all together, and they can help you stay more focused and work more efficiently. And that’s never a bad thing!
Need help? Got questions? We’re here for you. Reach out to our team anytime.