3 Things We Love in Windows 11 (and 3 Things We Hate)

Windows 11 has some great features, as well as reasons not to upgrade.

- By Mark Hachman. Image by Microsoft

Windows 11 is now available (see page 25) as a free upgrade from Windows 10. Should you jump on board, or sit tight for now? We’re currently recommending that most people wait to install Windows 11 (fave.co/3DQeFVJ), with the emphasis on most. That article explicitly lays out our reasons for that recommendation, but it really boils down to this: While Windows 11 offers some excellent new features, it also has plenty of rough edges, and it actually removes some key functionality you might have used in Windows 10.

In the spirit of that mixed reception, here are three things we love in Windows 11—and three things we hate.

WE LOVE: THE SETTINGS MENU

Nearly a decade after the new Settings menu appeared in Windows 8, Microsoft has finally made a real effort to not only fill out the Settings menu with more options, but also organize it well. Microsoft has done away with the home screen of the Settings menu, relying instead on a left-hand nav bar. A “breadcrumb” navigation system has been added to the top, so you can skip back and forth inside of a particular directory. Search exists, too, of course. Finally, each page of the Settings provides dense information without being overwhelming, with dropdown menus and graphics to assist you. It’s quite useful.

For years, Microsoft’s Windows Settings menu has wrestled with the legacy Control Panel. If you need to do something, where should you look? In Windows 11, you’ll find most of what you’re looking for inside the Windows 11 Settings menu.