MS Faces the Challenge of Redesigning Windows 11 for More Than One Billion Users

Windows 11 is set to receive a “UI rejuvenation” in the coming months, with MS focusing on modernizing legacy features. However, satisfying more than one billion users with the same design decisions is unrealistic. Windows design chief Diego Baca recently acknowledged this challenge after a user questioned the purpose of the Start menu when the redesigned Windows Search can perform many of the same tasks.

MS recently announced a new Windows Search experience capable of performing actions without opening the Settings app. For example, searching for “dark mode” can display a toggle directly in the search results, allowing users to enable or disable the feature immediately.

Although the concept is promising, one user argued that the enhanced search experience should replace the Start menu entirely, describing the menu as outdated and something they actively avoid using.

The comment drew a response from Diego Baca, Vice President of Design at Windows, who explained that designing an operating system for such a large audience requires accommodating widely different preferences and workflows.

“That’s one of the biggest challenges of designing an OS for over 1 billion people. Everyone has different preferences and workflows,” Baca wrote. “Our goal is to improve performance and quality while offering more customization, so people can use Windows in ways that work best for them.”

His argument is reasonable. Some users now rely less heavily on the Start menu because alternatives such as the PowerToys Command Palette Dock can function as a secondary taskbar. Combined with the standard taskbar, these tools can significantly reduce the need to open Start.

However, reduced usage among some people does not justify removing the Start menu for everyone. Other users continue to depend on it as a central part of their Windows workflow.

Start Menu Recommendations Highlight Conflicting User Preferences

The Recommended and Recent section of the Start menu provides another clear example of how user preferences can differ from MS’s design priorities.

Feedback Hub users have frequently opposed the feature, yet MS’s research teams considered it valuable. In 2025, the company remained enthusiastic about placing what it described as a “dynamic” recommendation feed inside the Start menu.

MS explained that the redesigned Recommendations section was intended to “accelerate the day” by surfacing relevant files and applications according to context and established usage habits.

The company presented several recommendation scenarios in its Start menu design post and said these ideas were based on user feedback. While MS may have received supporting feedback, it did not clarify whether those opinions represented the majority of Windows users.

This lack of transparency created the impression that researchers may have advanced preferred concepts using selected feedback while giving less weight to broader opposition.

MS Promises to Revitalize Windows Again

In March 2026, MS acknowledged that Windows had been neglected and promised to revitalize the operating system. The announcement received a mixed response, with many users remaining skeptical because the company had made similar commitments before.

Satya Nadella previously said he wanted people to move from needing Windows to loving it. In practice, the operating system later received limited meaningful improvements while accumulating more preinstalled software. MS’s approach appears to be changing in 2026, partly because Windows’ poor reputation is affecting the company’s broader AI ambitions.

MS plans to prioritize a Windows 11 design rejuvenation throughout 2026. This initiative primarily involves modernizing older interfaces, introducing more WinUI-based features, and delivering fully native applications for Windows 11.

Baca also emphasized that MS intends to provide more customization options, recognizing that Windows users have different preferences, expectations, and workflows.