[Windows] Allow users to manually select updates and prevent forced restarts

It’s undeniable that Windows still holds more than 70% of the desktop operating system market share. However, that number doesn’t equal absolute satisfaction, as more and more users feel frustrated, even losing control over their own computers. The things that frustrate users the most: **1. Lack of control over updates** Many people have lost their projects or ongoing work. They put their laptop to sleep to rest, or desktop users simply turn off the monitor before taking a break. But guess what? WINDOWS UPDATE WILL FORCE AN UPDATE AND RESTART WITHOUT ASKING. That’s right, there have been countless times when Windows asked me to restart for an update, but instead I chose to sleep my computer. The next morning, my programming project was gone, all my browser and Visual Studio windows had vanished, and Windows greeted me with a “Welcome back”, but the only thing left was the message “You are up to date.” in Windows Update. Instead, Windows should let users manually tick which updates they want to install, just like the Update Manager on Linux Mint. If a restart is needed, it should simply display a message saying so — nothing more. If a small, community-driven project like Linux Mint can achieve this, why can’t a giant like Microsoft? Take a look at 2 pictures below. https://preview.redd.it/vgyectx3eynf1.png?width=954&format=png&auto=webp&s=70158436372240f64156ff9d8749e8d5b52cce49 https://preview.redd.it/0f1nkr48eynf1.png?width=484&format=png&auto=webp&s=bd9de5daec557522425bac1ebadf3aa7b37b8fd7 **2. The versatility in customization**  In Windows 10, you could resize the Start Menu both vertically and horizontally. You could also move the taskbar to the right, left, bottom, or top of the screen. But in Windows 11? You can’t. That’s one of the reasons many people still prefer Windows 10 over 11. Microsoft could have easily kept these features in Windows 11 instead of removing them. Even better, they could create a dedicated section in the Microsoft Store where users can download and share custom themes (similar to the Windows XP era). From the taskbar to the icons, every aspect of the system’s interface could be personalized, giving users both creativity and joy through customization. Linux Mint, a free, community-driven distro, has already managed to do this (as shown below). So why can’t Microsoft? [The add\/remove in Themes section allows users to download other themes from other users.](https://preview.redd.it/y6a82p0beynf1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=eb47d2915a9ec03ff2f78f8d5c2b10c0663ca817) **3.Widgets** On Windows 11, you cannot place widgets on your desktop or taskbar, they are locked inside the Widget panel at the bottom-left of the screen (see screenshot below). In contrast, Linux Mint lets you move widgets freely to your desktop or taskbar. From calendar and weather, to system resource monitors or even currency trackers, everything is flexible. Even better, most of them are created and shared by the community. [Windows 11 Widgets.](https://preview.redd.it/93zo9k1keynf1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=26a33dc3580405871e18c08515f7f8069311a2a3) [How flexble of Linux Mint to add widgets to taskbar and desktop.](https://reddit.com/link/1nbqrsx/video/mscvwu2meynf1/player) **4 .Bloatware and ads.** When you buy a new computer or freshly install Windows, the Start Menu is already cluttered with apps you’ll probably never use. Examples include McAfee, Microsoft News, 3D Viewer, Microsoft Solitaire Collection, and the web version of Office, which most users replace with the full desktop app due to missing features. Many of these apps and processes also run in the background, consuming system resources. That’s why tools like Chris Titus Utility were created: to strip out unnecessary software and leave only the essential apps such as Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Store, Calculator, Your Phone, and Xbox. It also removes or disables telemetry and data collection. If users really want extra apps, they can always reinstall them from the Microsoft Store. This way, Windows becomes an operating system that serves its users instead of a resource hog. On top of that, Microsoft should also give users the option to completely disable telemetry,data collection and ads in Settings, not hiding them in Group Policy Editor which is only available in Pro/Enterprise version of Windows. You can watch the Chris Titus video from the link below to see how clean of Windows 11 is after debloating by using MicroWin: [https://youtu.be/0PA1wgdMeeI?si=TxQrn3IDQG5Leuz\_&t=753](https://youtu.be/0PA1wgdMeeI?si=TxQrn3IDQG5Leuz_&t=753) **5**[**. Security**](http://5.Security) From my perspective, macOS and Linux handle security more strictly than Windows. Whenever you want to make system-level changes such as installing software, updating packages, or running apps that require administrator privileges, you must type your password. This adds a crucial layer of protection against malware, since malicious programs can’t modify the system without user approval. On Windows, however, the system usually just prompts a simple Yes/No confirmation, which is easier to bypass. Windows would benefit greatly from requiring a password (or PIN) for these actions, along with showing the app’s file path and whether it comes from a verified developer. This would not only reduce the risk of malware, but also stop someone who borrows your computer from secretly installing unwanted programs or making changes to your system. The picture below is users have to type the password if they want to upgrade/update or make any changes to the system in Linux Mint: https://preview.redd.it/b9zuy5c7jynf1.png?width=623&format=png&auto=webp&s=6adb650d0ce60d9661b47217fa5d06995b3e4279 **6. Lack of stability in updates** One of the biggest concerns with Windows is the instability of its updates. Many users have experienced cases where a monthly update breaks drivers, causes blue screens, or even prevents the system from booting, and this is not rare. For example, the recent KB5063878 caused a critical issue where SSDs would disappear and trigger BSODs if more than 50GB was written while the drive was at least 60% full. Morever, in JayzTwoCents’s test, a simple game load froze, threw an error, and instantly crashed into a BSOD. This instability partly comes from Microsoft laying off many QA testers and senior developers, replacing them with AI-driven automation to cut costs. While this speeds up update releases, it greatly increases the risk of breaking critical features or hardware compatibility. If Microsoft truly wants to rebuild trust, it must prioritize stability over cost-cutting. AI can assist the process, but it should NEVER replace proper QA testers and experienced developers. **7 .Inconsistencies in UI** Microsoft has been working on Dark Mode for over a decade, yet it is still incomplete. Even when Dark Mode is enabled, many elements remain bright white, which creates an inconsistent and unprofessional experience. https://preview.redd.it/9221yueg81of1.png?width=1123&format=png&auto=webp&s=e960955f5bd7ffd1dd56555c3c16708db475ebc4 On top of that, Windows still splits its settings between two places: the modern Settings app and the legacy Control Panel. This not only confuses users but also makes the system feel unfinished. By comparison, Linux Mint, a free, community-driven distro, offers a unified Settings page where everything is in one place, with full Dark Mode support. Here is what the Settings page in Linux Mint looks like: https://reddit.com/link/1nbqrsx/video/8663dk1pjynf1/player **8. Context Menu** The context menu in Windows 11 feels incomplete. There are two versions: the modern one, and the legacy one that still contains essential options such as Send to Desktop (as shortcut), Pin to taskbar and some apps such as 7zip and IObit Unlocker. Performance is also an issue;  sometimes the menu shows “Loading” for 2–3 seconds, or delays for 1–2 seconds before appearing when right-clicking on the desktop or a file. This never happened in Windows 10, and it is the first time I have seen a context menu that needs to “load.” A practical solution is to use Nilesoft Shell (see screenshot below). It delivers a faster, more polished right-click experience; something Microsoft still hasn’t managed to do properly from Windows 11 21H2 up to the latest 24H2. [The Nilesoft Shell context menu](https://preview.redd.it/jxa5oc50kynf1.png?width=232&format=png&auto=webp&s=cc36b3b37b586f30eb4da8d1a05e901f4fcf5593) **9. File Explorer** File Explorer has seen minimal evolution, yet it often performs slower and less reliably than Windows 10 on similar hardware, particularly for mid-range and low-end PCs, despite Microsoft’s performance updates. In Windows 11, opening a new tab or navigating between folders often lags, and large file operations sometimes freeze. Features like tabbed browsing or gallery view, which should have been polished, often feel unpolished and unresponsive. In contrast, Linux file managers like Nemo (used in Linux Mint) are lightweight, highly responsive, and offer faster file searches with efficient indexing, all while consuming minimal system resources. It’s frustrating to see a trillion-dollar company struggle to deliver what free community projects have already achieved. In the end, users don’t need fancy gimmicks. They just need a simple, fast, and consistent file manager like Windows Explorer used to be, but with a modern UI that doesn’t compromise performance. **10 .The web-wrappers Teams and Outlook** Microsoft Teams and the new Outlook, built as web wrappers rather than native apps, are a major letdown. They’re often heavy, inconsistent, and resource-intensive, frequently consuming significant memory—sometimes exceeding a browser tab running the same service—especially on mid-range and low-end PCs. A communication and email client should be fast, lightweight, and seamlessly integrated with the OS. Yet Microsoft’s reliance on web-based solutions negatively impacts user experience and consumes excessive system resources. In contrast, Linux and macOS offer native alternatives like Apple Mail or Evolution, which are generally more lightweight and better integrated with their respective systems. The new Outlook is even more problematic: offline mail access has been removed, essential features were stripped out, and advertisements were added. As Chris Titus bluntly put it in his review in a video called the new Outlook is TERRIBLE : “They put ads in it and removed 80% of the features then claimed it was an improvement, and people still believe this sh\*t.” Here are the pictures of Teams and New Outlook. I didn't do anything yet, but they were consumed over 500MB at the beginning. [New Outlook](https://preview.redd.it/lch39xhmkynf1.png?width=1366&format=png&auto=webp&s=725b4c7a0e1489fd8d9637590a8dc9cb2faa24bc) [Teams](https://preview.redd.it/nalk7xhmkynf1.png?width=1121&format=png&auto=webp&s=0014396556f67ba4339d188f4dc82f44036734cb) **In conclusion, if Microsoft continues to prioritize short-term revenue over user experience, more and more people will gradually move to alternatives like macOS or Linux. It won’t happen overnight, or even within the next year or two, but over time it could grow into a wave that Microsoft will no longer be able to control.**