Summary Windows 11 dropped long-standing features while Microsoft chased Copilot/AI hype.
Windows K2 restores Start menu and taskbar customization, calling it part of Windows' DNA.
Ever since Windows 11 was released, it has had a surprisingly large number of missing features.
In a bid to regain user faith, Microsoft launched the Windows K2 initiative, which includes allowing people to customize their Start menu and taskbar again.
It always has been," and that people's complaints about the direction of Windows 11 were a big driver for convincing Microsoft to go back to its roots.
Summary Windows 11 dropped long-standing features while Microsoft chased Copilot/AI hype.
Windows K2 restores Start menu and taskbar customization, calling it part of Windows' DNA.
Many users remain skeptical, demanding themes, WebView2 removal, or classic Vista/7 looks.
Ever since Windows 11 was released, it has had a surprisingly large number of missing features. We're not talking about minor things, either; we're talking about things people got used to over decades of Windows use, only to vanish for seemingly no reason. To make matters worse, the AI boom caused Microsoft to invest a ton of money and time into Copilot, as the core Windows 11 experience was pushed aside.
However, the Copilot hype couldn't last forever. Around the end of 2025, people were complaining about the saturation of Copilot across Microsoft apps, the degradation of Windows updates, and a focus that people described as "Microslop." In a bid to regain user faith, Microsoft launched the Windows K2 initiative, which includes allowing people to customize their Start menu and taskbar again. As it turns out, this push was due to Microsoft receiving lots of feedback about how Windows users miss them.
The power to tweak your system "is in Windows' DNA," says Microsoft
It's about time it remembered about that
As spotted by Windows Latest, Pavan Davuluri of Windows and Devices at Microsoft replied to a post on X describing the new Start menu and taskbar customization tools. Davuluri says that "Personalization and customization is in Windows' DNA. It always has been," and that people's complaints about the direction of Windows 11 were a big driver for convincing Microsoft to go back to its roots.
People in the replies to Davuluri's post weren't so keen to share in his enthusiasm. Some said they couldn't get excited over the re-adding of features that should have been there since day one, while others brought their own shopping list of things they want to see in future updates, including themes, the removal of Webview 2 applications, and even some people wanting to return to the Windows Vista and 7 aesthetics. Honestly, I can't blame the latter camp; Windows Aero was my favorite UI.
