We’re not yet halfway through 2024 and Microsoft hasn’t released the 24H2 version of Windows 11 either. This will be a pretty big update for several reasons, with a particular focus on AI and Optimizations for Arm devices.
But who wants to talk about it when we already know most of the content of this update? Windows 11 still has many issues, minor annoyances, or just missing features that can take it from good to fantastic. And since those changes aren’t coming this year, let’s talk about what Microsoft can do in 2025 to make Windows 11 the best it’s ever been when it releases version 25H2.
7 Best multitasking
Just grab FancyZones from PowerToys
Right off the bat, the feature I’d most like to see built into Windows 11 is akin to FancyZones, a tool that’s part of PowerToys. This shouldn’t be very difficult, since PowerToys is also developed by Microsoft.
Windows 11 has already significantly improved window management with new options for grouping and managing apps. But PowerToys is a dream when it comes to multitasking. Being able to create any layout I want for my apps is amazing and it allows me to get the most out of my ultrawide monitor. It’s so easy to work this way, and PowerToys also makes it very easy to insert an app into any area of the layout by simply holding Shift while dragging it, and you can also have multiple layouts page for different scenarios.
PowerToys is intended to increase productivity, so I know some tools don’t make sense to include directly in Windows 11, but FancyZones is so useful that I wish it was still there.
The Ultimate Guide to Using PowerToys
Windows may not be perfect, but Microsoft gives you the tools to improve the experience with PowerToys. Here’s everything you need to know.
More organization is always a good thing
Microsoft made many improvements to File Explorer in Windows 11, including the addition of tabs, which was more than welcome. But now we would also like to see the tags.
Being able to tag your files can be very useful if you have folders with a lot of content and want to be able to find specific files more quickly. Sure, you can group files by date, file format, or name, but that’s not always the easiest way to find what you want. If you could tag a file or folder with labels like “Work” or “Vacation”, it would be much easier to find the files you need at any given time. In fact, some third-party apps already offer it, like the excellent Files app. Of course, this also requires Microsoft to make it possible to filter search results by tag and group files with the same tag. But if done correctly, it would be a nice feature.
5 Better support for multiple monitors
Give them independent taskbars
Multiple monitor support on Windows 11 works well for the most part, but it can get a little complicated if you’re juggling lots of apps on different monitors. For example, the use Alt + Tab Switching apps only works on your primary monitor and your taskbar icons are also the same on all monitors.
Windows 11 could significantly improve usability if each monitor worked more independently. For example, the taskbar could show only icons for apps on that same screen, and the Alt+Tab task switcher could show apps on each screen under different groups. This should also include the ability to pin apps to the taskbar for just one of the screens. A potentially interesting idea would be to make each virtual desktop in Windows 11 appear on a different screen, so you can easily switch between different workspaces or swap all content on one screen by simply switching to another virtual office.
4 Better manage default apps
It should be easier to set defaults
A big disadvantage that Windows 11 brings compared to Windows 10 is the ability to set default apps in general. The way it works in Windows 11 is that you need to set default apps for each file format or protocol that you want each app to handle. In Windows 10, you can set up a general media player, email client, or browser, but this is now made much more difficult.
Microsoft has made some improvements to web browsers after receiving a lot of backlash. So there is now a button to set a default browser. BUT it’s still only for browsers, and you can only find it by selecting the app first. It would be nice to have app categories that you can set a default for, like how things worked in Windows 10.
3 Focus modes
Learn from Apple
Focus Assist, or Do Not Disturb, has been a Windows feature since Windows 10 and it’s still useful. Windows 11 added something called Focus Sessions, where you can start a timer in the Clock app to turn off notifications and play music to help you focus. It’s a good idea that can help with productivity, but the way you can configure your focus settings is still limited.
On iOS and macOS, Apple has implemented something called profiles or focus modes, and you can set different ones for work, home, or driving (or whatever you want, really). This means you can turn off notifications for certain apps when you’re using a specific profile, so if you’re working you won’t see your Facebook notifications, for example. It would be great to have it on Windows 11, as it would allow you to focus on what you’re doing at any given moment and switch between different settings on the fly.
2 More customization options
I’m not the first person to complain about the Windows 11 Start menu, and to be honest, I think it works well for the most part. However, I think Microsoft has limited what users can do a little too much, and it would be nice to see more of these options return.
On the one hand, it would be nice to have the option to display the All Apps list next to the main Start menu view, rather than having it on a different page entirely. Resizing the Start menu would also be a great option, as well as being able to completely remove the Recommended section so I can focus only on my pinned apps. All this would make the Start menu much more usable, so you can get to the apps you want more quickly.
Start11 v2 test: Making the Windows 11 Start menu actually useful
With tons of configuration options for appearance and organization, Start11 greatly enriches the Start menu and taskbar.
But some visual customizations would also be appreciated. Interestingly, Microsoft offers options like gradient backgrounds and even different textures for the touch keyboard background, but you can’t do that for the taskbar, Start menu, or notification center . I’d like to have more options on how Windows 11 looks, especially as Microsoft makes apps like WindowBlinds less useful with each update.
1 A more consistent user interface
Dark mode is still very imperfect
Dark mode debuted on Windows in 2015, but nearly nine years later the company still hasn’t fully defined it. Although most parts of the operating system support dark mode, Microsoft still has a ton of legacy components that don’t support it, glowing bright white when you don’t expect it. This includes things like progress dialogs in File Explorer (for file transfers or extracting ZIP files), properties windows, and system components like the old Control Panel, Device Manager, etc.
The problem here is twofold. For one, these older software don’t support dark mode because they were never designed for it. At the same time, they just look old compared to the modern design language that Microsoft uses for everything else. Many of these items have been in use for over a decade and are mostly the same today. It’s high time for Microsoft to create a more consistent user interface. We have seen slow progress in this area, but I hope the company will accelerate. Some third-party apps like StartAllBack can already force more parts of File Explorer to run in dark mode, so it may not be that difficult.
StartAllBack review: Bringing back classic Windows goodness
Don’t like Windows 11 design changes? StartAllBack takes you back to better times, with a few other improvements to boot.
There is more to improve
Beyond these requests, there are probably other things you’d like to see improve in Windows 11. Of course, one of them is obvious: fewer ads, but that’s not going to happen. It would be nice if Microsoft also stopped forcing users to use Edge for certain things, but again, that’s unlikely.
That being said, let us know what you’d like to see in the next big Windows 11 update in 2025. Maybe Microsoft will listen.