As great as Windows 11 can be, it also has its weaknesses and shortcomings in many ways, and the experience is far from perfect. Over the years, I've tried a ton of software that tweaks the Windows experience in one way or another to make it work better for me, and some of them have stuck with me so much that I really wish they were just built into Windows itself.
So listen to me, Microsoft, I know you're probably reading this. This is what needs to be done to make Windows good.
7 Transparent taskbar
It just looks great
Let's start with the most basic and redundant idea: a properly transparent taskbar. Over the years, fans have been teased with this idea, and some apps actually offer this option, but officially the Windows taskbar is still, well, a bar. With the transition to Windows 11, it has actually become less transparent, as it now only uses the mica effect found throughout the operating system, rather than the old acrylic style or just plain transparency.
Apps like Start11 can create a transparent taskbar, but there's also a free app that does the same thing, so you certainly have options. I just don't know why this hasn't been implemented. I remember a few years ago someone reported getting a transparent taskbar in a preview build of Windows 10, but that turned out to be a bug. But this is really an example of where it should be a feature.
6 Automatic dark mode
It makes so much sense
I'm honestly really surprised that there's still no option in Windows to automatically enable dark mode, considering the OS otherwise does everything it can to make it easier on your eyes. Many laptops have automatic brightness control thanks to ambient light sensors, and if you use the night light feature to tint your screen, you can program it to activate every day at sunset.
It would make perfect sense if this mechanism was tied to dark mode as well, but instead you have to configure it manually each time. Thankfully, there's a free app called Auto Dark Mode that does just that, but Microsoft really needs to fix this themselves.
Why is it so limited?
If there's one type of app I've spent a lot of time with, it's Start Menu alternatives, and it really showed me how much Microsoft could do to provide a more user-friendly experience. I wouldn't really suggest bringing back the designs of Windows 10 or Windows 7, but Stardock's Start11 really shows the potential that exists even if you stick with the Windows 11 design language.
The ability to remove the Featured section entirely, create groups and folders, and see the app list next to the pinned section can make getting things done on your PC much easier and faster. And that's not even mentioning the novel customization features like coloring the app icons or the ability to browse folders as paused menus, which I don't think are essential for Microsoft. There's so much room for improvement.
4 Changing the default file manager
File Explorer is fine, but there are some great options out there
Microsoft has been trying to modernize Windows File Explorer since the release of Windows 11, and I have to give the company credit for succeeding in many ways. It definitely looks better than it used to, and features like tabs really help to spruce it up, but it's far from perfect and it's not the fastest app around.
There are many alternatives to File Explorer, which shows how many people have problems with it. However, Microsoft still doesn't offer a way to change the default file manager on Windows. Many apps, like OneCommander, offer this option by modifying the registry, but this can sometimes be limited, and frankly, this type of solution should just be offered by default. Making different file managers easier to use and customizing Windows to make these apps more reliable would make Windows a lot more user-friendly for many people.
3 Flow Launcher (or PowerToys Run)
It's so fast
Improving the Start menu is one thing, but lately I've been using the Start menu a lot less than I used to, and that's mainly because I prefer to keep my hands on the keyboard for a lot of things, it's just faster. Flow Launcher is the app that lets me do that. It's a search/command bar that can do all sorts of things, from launching apps to opening folders and websites and a whole lot more.
Sure, you can do some of these things with the search bar on Windows, but Flow Launcher is super fast and much more responsive. And more importantly, it's extensible, so you can add even more functionality. It can run CMD or PowerShell commands, perform calculations, find (and download) YouTube videos, kill or even uninstall a running app, and more. Microsoft has a similar tool as part of PowerToys, called PowerToys Run, so Microsoft has the tools for that (even if PowerToys Run has far fewer integrations).
2 Brightness control for all monitors
It is unacceptable that this does not yet exist
I find it absolutely ridiculous that in 2024, Windows still can't adjust the brightness of a display unless it's built into the computer itself. If you have a laptop, changing the display brightness is completely trivial, but on a desktop monitor, you have to use the sometimes frustrating navigation keys on the monitor itself or install proprietary software.
I recently discovered an app called Twinkle Tray that fixes this problem by allowing me to change the brightness for each connected display. It also provides tools to help me ensure the brightness is consistent across different monitor models. It's a real lifesaver.
And if you have multiple audio outputs, there's a tool called EarTrumpet that does something similar, allowing you to easily change the volume for all audio output devices from the same interface.
1 PowerToys FancyZones
Make multitasking a breeze
I've talked about FancyZones endlessly before, but I'll keep mentioning it. Managing open apps on Windows works well if you have a standard screen, but if you have a super-large monitor like I do, it's very lacking. FancyZones is a dream because it allows me to create my own custom zones to pin apps to, giving me the perfect layout for working on my 32:9 ultrawide display.
In addition, this tool also speeds up the app pinning process. The standard pinning effect in Windows requires you to drag an app to the edge of the screen for it to work. It also displays a small animation where the window resizes to the spot you choose. PowerToys foregoes the visual flair and pins the app instantly. It also pins the app to a specific area as soon as you move the mouse to that area. This saves a lot of time if you do this repeatedly.
I know that PowerToys' features are aimed at a subset of users, but FancyZones is so useful to me that I would love to have it integrated into Windows. That's the main reason I install PowerToys on my PCs these days.
Related
The Ultimate Guide to Using PowerToys
Windows may not be perfect, but Microsoft gives you the tools to improve your PowerToys experience. Here's everything you need to know.
There is probably more that can be done
Adding these features to Windows would, in my opinion, transform this great operating system into a wonderful one, and I think it would give users real reasons to upgrade their PCs. While there are apps that can do all of these things, not everyone knows about them, so adding these features would really be a game changer.