Our commitment to Windows quality

Pavan, executive vice president of Windows and Devices, addressed Windows Insiders about the company's response to user feedback on Windows quality. Analysis of feedback over recent months showed that users want the operating system to improve in specific areas. Initial changes will preview in Insider builds this month and throughout April. Taskbar customization will expand to support vertical and top screen positions. Copilot will integrate more selectively, with reduced entry points starting in apps such as Snipping Tool, Photos, Widgets and Notepad. Windows Update controls will increase to let users skip updates during device setup, restart or shut down without installing updates and pause updates for longer periods with fewer automatic restarts and notifications. File Explorer will gain a quicker launch experience, reduced flicker, smoother navigation and more reliable performance for common tasks. Widgets will adopt quieter defaults with added controls over appearance timing and improved Discover feed personalization. The Windows Insider Program will feature clearer channel definitions, easier feature access, higher quality builds and greater visibility into how feedback shapes development. Feedback Hub received its largest update to date, with a redesigned experience that rolled out to Insiders to speed feedback submission and community interaction. Broader plans for the year target performance, reliability and crafted experiences in Windows 11. Work will focus on lowering resource usage, moving core experiences to WinUI3 for better responsiveness, refining File Explorer fundamentals and improving the Windows Subsystem for Linux. Reliability efforts will strengthen the Insider Program, driver and app quality across the ecosystem, updates and Windows Hello. The company began in-person engagement with a small group of Insiders in Seattle, with additional stops planned in other cities. Pavan stated that Windows is as much the community's as Microsoft's and thanked users for their feedback.