I obtained so annoyed with these 5 Home windows 11 issues I made a decision to repair them myself

I’ve a love-hate relationship with Windows 11. On the one hand, I am keen on the highly effective multitasking and window administration instruments the OS supplies me, and I discover Microsoft’s Fluent Design system to be visually enticing. On the flip facet, the OS frustrates me with its heavy-handed strategy to selling providers, its lack of UX consistency, and its over-reliance on net tech inside shell parts.

Over time, I’ve gotten used to lots of the… let’s consider, distinctive attributes of Microsoft’s decades-old desktop working system. Nonetheless, there are a number of quirks particularly that grind my gears to no finish, they usually stick out like a sore thumb at any time when I come again to Home windows after an prolonged computing session on macOS or Android.

Listed here are 5 such annoyances that I want Microsoft would rectify already, in addition to a short overview of the steps I take to assault these Home windows 11 idiosyncrasies head-on.

1

Darkish Mode is not computerized

There is not any Fast Settings tile obtainable, both

Microsoft was forward of the curve when it launched a devoted darkish mode interface choice for Windows back in 2016. It took a number of extra years for darkish mode to hit competing working techniques, however finally the likes of macOS, iOS, and Android caught up. The issue is, Microsoft launched darkish mode, after which it rested on its laurels.

Apart from not implementing darkish mode throughout many old-school Win32 apps and interface parts, the first challenge I’ve with the Home windows 11 darkish mode is that it could’t be robotically switched on or off primarily based on the time of day. That is considered one of my favourite options on rival OSs, and its absence right here is irritating. So as to add insult to damage, Microsoft does not present a dark mode toggle inside the Fast Settings pane, making it a chore to modify coloration scheme on the fly.

To make up for this, I went forward and put in Auto Darkish Mode. Accessible at no cost on the Microsoft Retailer, this light-weight utility not solely switches your theme primarily based on specified parameters, but additionally provides extra superior options. For instance, I’ve mine set as much as swap the wallpaper alongside the colour mode, which provides to the change in desktop theme.

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2

Night time Mild is jarring

Home windows 11 broke the sleek transition animation

Night time Mild is Microsoft’s built-in blue light filter for Home windows, and for essentially the most half it will get the job achieved. It is simple to regulate the depth of the filter, and it may be set to toggle on or off robotically primarily based on the time of day or as in any other case specified. Again within the Home windows 10 days, Night time Mild labored like a allure, and I had no complaints in regards to the function.

Sadly, this modified with the launch of Windows 11 in 2021. For causes unbeknownst to me, Night time Mild has develop into a uneven, glitchy mess post-update. When toggled on, the filter overlays itself in a visually jarring method, with an abrupt change in coloration tone. This is not an issue unique to my PC, both: I’ve skilled it with each single Home windows 11 desktop, laptop computer, and pill that I’ve gotten my palms on, and it is a far cry from the as soon as smooth-as-butter Home windows 10 Night time Mild.

Fortunately, the free f.lux app is right here to the rescue. f.lux, which could be downloaded from the Microsoft Retailer, is way extra highly effective than the native blue gentle filter in Home windows 11, with tons of configuration choices to select from. Better of all, the utility contains a number of transition speeds to select from, successfully bringing again the sleek, gradual transition that Microsoft broke again in 2021.

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3

The calendar flyout is incomplete

For a digital calendar, this one is not very sensible

While you faucet or click on on the date and time part inside the Home windows 11 system tray, a dual-purpose calendar and notifications flyout seems on-screen. The notification panel is full-featured, however the calendar pane is most actually not. Whereas Microsoft is presently testing a number of enhancements to the flyout (the corporate plans to deliver again the choice to show seconds inside the interface), it is nonetheless lacking an agenda view.

Arguably, the shortage of a dynamically adjusting agenda inside the calendar flyout defeats the complete function of a digital calendar. Because it presently stands, the Home windows 11 flyout cannot sync with Outlook or another supplier, and it could’t be used so as to add in occasions or reminders. Contemplating Microsoft’s pedigree within the software program productiveness area, this can be a significantly egregious oversight in my eyes.

As ever, the answer to this drawback could be discovered within the third-party app area. Accessible on the Microsoft Retailer. The $4 Calendar Flyout app appears and feels native to the system, whereas including in extra configuration choices, a devoted agenda view, and extra. The developer of the app has revealed other flyout replacement apps on the Microsoft Retailer as nicely, all of that are value having a look at when you’re searching for native-feeling applets that outdo Microsoft within the performance division.

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4

The lock display screen is overloaded with textual content

Cognitive overload to the nth diploma

As a lot as I like info density in idea, it does not all the time make sense inside the context of fundamental working system surfaces. With Home windows 11 particularly, I discover myself disliking the overbearing show of default lock display screen parts, which come throughout as visually noisy and fill me with a way of cognitive overload.

By default, the Home windows 11 lock display screen is stuffed not solely with widgets close to the underside, but additionally a devoted textual content blurb providing up suggestions and tips, in addition to a separate blurb referring to the Home windows Highlight picture being displayed on display screen.

Sadly, you may’t take away these cluttery blurbs if you wish to take pleasure in Windows Spotlight from the lock display screen. That being mentioned, when you swap over to a static picture or slideshow, you may then disable the ideas and tips from exhibiting up. You can even take away the widgets close to the underside, however I have a tendency to search out them helpful for rapidly glancing on the climate and visitors updates.

To take away the ideas and tips part from the Home windows 11 lock display screen, observe these steps:

1. Launch the Settings app.
2. Navigate to Personalization > Lock display screen.
3. From right here, untick the part that reads Get enjoyable details, suggestions, tips, and extra in your lock display screen.

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5

Search is a multitude

Ceaselessly searching for a greater search

The out-of-box search expertise on Home windows 11 is not nice. The primary search pane makes use of net know-how (making it sluggish, stuttery, and non-native feeling), and it is stuffed to the brim with superfluous details about video games, trending searches, and so forth. I’ve outlined a few of my favourite search launcher substitute apps in a separate article, however Microsoft’s personal Command Palette is arguably the best choice of all of them.

Command Palette, which is obtainable at no cost from the Microsoft Retailer by way of the PowerTools app suite, offers a cleaner design that feels fairly macOS and iPadOS-inspired. Apart from lowering the visible noise, Command Palette is closely customizable, with choices to regulate the invocation shortcut, tailor search outcomes to your liking, and far more.

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