Microsoft keeps rolling out new Windows features, and I keep finding ways to disable a lot of them. Sure, not every feature is a miss: Windows Sandbox and Windows Subsystem for Linux were two game-changing features that I enabled immediately upon release. But a lot of updates are seen as unwelcome changes that power users simply don’t want on their system.
Since there’s not really any effective way of choosing only the updates you want, we’re forced to upgrade Windows and then hunt for the toggles that control these new features whenever they’re introduced. Or, worst-case scenario, we use registry hacks to disable the aspects of Windows that Microsoft would rather we not have easy control over.
Features that power users commonly disable
To maximize performance, privacy, and control
Overall, I like the current state of Windows 11, but for a fresh install, it can take about 30 minutes for me to disable all the elements I don’t want. These are features that not only add no perceived value for some power users, but even actively slow the system down or interfere with productivity.
Power users prioritize stability and predictability. We have important tasks to complete (or a video game to play) and treat our PCs as workhorses. With the rate at which Microsoft introduces new features and clumsily integrates them into Windows, apprehension has become a natural response from initiated users. There are plenty of good reasons to downgrade some of the newest Windows features.
Copilot and AI features
Constantly shoved in your face
AI can be very useful, but it doesn’t mean everyone wants it baked directly into their operating system. Microsoft is one of many contenders in the AI race, and its acquisition strategy involves pushing Copilot hard by cramming it into as many menus and options as it can. Programs like Winslop have emerged to give power users the ability to either partially or completely remove Copilot from their system.
I'm much happier using LLMs like ChatGPT and Claude, and would prefer that they live on their own websites where I can easily access them from a browser if I need to. Microsoft would rather integrate Copilot straight into Windows, but this isn't the best option for every user.
Windows telemetry
A privacy advocate's worst nightmare
Windows likes to collect a lot of data on its users. We get a little control over our privacy settings during the Windows installation menus, but further privacy toggles require some digging into the Settings menu to find. The list of optional diagnostic data that Windows collects is staggering. “Diagnostic data” is a friendly-sounding catch-all that includes a plethora of unique information that can be used by Microsoft to fingerprint its users.
With a drawback like that, you might expect there to be some advantage, too. But sending telemetry to Windows isn’t particularly useful for end users in the majority of cases, meaning we’re essentially wasting our computer’s resources and internet bandwidth to send Microsoft a bunch of data about ourselves and how we tend to use our personal computers.
Fast Startup
Saves seconds but introduces glitches
Windows’ Fast Startup is a feature that saves a portion of the current session’s running state, such as currently loaded drivers, so that a subsequent boot won’t need to reload them. This results in a faster startup, as the name implies, but sacrifices the “clean boot” that power users love. If there were any glitches or malfunctions with the system when you last shut down, the issue is likely to persist upon a subsequent boot if Fast Startup has been left enabled (it’s on by default).
There’s really no reason that an even marginally modern computer should take long to boot up, so Fast Startup is barely saving us any time in most cases. It’s a great example of a feature that’s supposed to accelerate our system, but has the potential to sacrifice stability. That trade-off isn’t worth it to most power users.
Windows search feature
It's borderline useless
Searching for files or settings on Windows has become a running joke that stopped being funny a long time ago. Windows uses a surprising amount of resources to index the files on your system, then fails fantastically when it comes to displaying search results, especially in any kind of timely manner.
Many users migrated to programs like Everything years ago to find files on their systems. Even searching for settings and programs in Windows leaves a lot to be desired, because Microsoft keeps stuffing Copilot and targeted advertising into search results. Fluent Search and similar programs aim to replace (not supplement) Windows’ horrible search function.
Drag tray
Hijacking the top part of my screen
This feature appeared on my system one day, and at first, I thought it might actually come in handy… I know how naive of me. After a few hours of it getting in the way and glitching out, I decided to disable it permanently. It interrupts the workflow for people who need to drag files around a lot.
My cursor triggered it accidentally all the time when I’d try to drag images into Photoshop. And the worst part was that sometimes it would just stay open for no reason. I imagine that for video editors or other kinds of power users, this does nothing but introduce a headache and disrupt productivity.
Microsoft online account
To sign into a local PC?
Having to create and use a Microsoft account just to sign in to Windows is another “feature” that nobody ever asked for, but one that everyone must now contend with. Power users commonly prefer to create a local account instead, which feels nearly impossible, but can be done during installation by using a few keystrokes to enter an otherwise hidden command prompt.
It reminds me of using cheat codes in video games, where a seemingly random sequence of moves enables a secret mode. During installation, users can press Shift + F10 to open a command prompt and type a command that allows them to bypass the prompt for a Microsoft account and instead unlock the ability to create a local account.
Microsoft Edge
The browser that can't be removed
Microsoft has a great strategy for getting people to use the default Windows browser, which is to make its removal impossible. Technically, programs and command-line hacks exist to remove the Microsoft Edge browser, but it’s generally not recommended because it can make the system unstable. Power users will usually opt to install an alternative browser and set it as the default, which is the next best thing.
I like Brave and Firefox because they respect user privacy better and support features and extensions that Edge does not. If there were a safe way to remove Microsoft Edge from my system, it’d become part of the list of things I uninstall right after booting into a fresh Windows 11 install. At least I’m able to make it so that Edge stays virtually invisible on my system.
I still love Windows
As much as power users tend to complain about Windows, I’m among the majority who would still prefer to use it over Linux or macOS, at least as a daily driver. Windows requires a bit of extra configuration to remove the features I don’t want, but I’m satisfied with the result afterward.
For every annoying feature that Microsoft introduces into Windows, there’s at least one good one. Features like PowerShell, Defender, WSL, Sandbox, and even small things like dark mode make Windows a pleasure to use overall. We just wish it didn’t also come with the advertising, privacy concerns, and pressure to adopt unwanted features that don’t add any value.