Windows 11 introduced a sleek new design and modern features, but it also brings several changes that have frustrated many users. From intrusive interface elements and reduced customization options to workflow interruptions and performance concerns, some of these design choices feel more like setbacks than improvements. Addressing these shortcomings can significantly improve usability, efficiency, and overall satisfaction, transforming the operating system into a more polished and user‑friendly experience.
In this guide I address some of most frustrating features of Windows 11 that are driving people crazy including myself with practical solutions that restore control back to users. The methods covered range from disabling unnecessary startup applications, disabling features that push unwelcome advertisements, and reclaiming privacy settings, to restoring local user accounts. These modifications will help users tailor their Windows 11 experience the way they want without compromising productivity.
Key Takeaways
- Disabling startup applications and removing intrusive notifications significantly improves Windows 11 performance and reduces distractions
- Switching to a local user account instead of a Microsoft account increases privacy and user control
- Registry modifications can restore familiar interface elements like the classic right-click menu
- Disabling Search highlights removes advertisements and prevents political agendas from appearing on your computer
Improving Windows 11 Performance
Disabling Unnecessary Startup Apps
Boot times on Windows 11 can be slowed down with unnecessary applications running in the background prior to user login. The programs will continue to utilize computer resources upon startup until you shut them down, resulting in extended delays.
To resolve this problem, click on “Settings” then “Apps”. Toggle off all startup apps which do not need to run as soon as your computer is started.
By turning off those apps that you don’t want to start immediately after a reboot, the next time you log into your Windows 11 desktop it will boot up faster than before. Simply disabling unneeded startup apps gives back computer speed and efficiency by avoiding unnecessary application runs at startup.
Eliminating Distractions
Turning Off Search Highlights
Windows 11 has introduced Search Highlights, which is a visual feature of the search field at the bottom of the taskbar; Search Highlights are periodic, rotating graphics (including icons, images, and short, scrolling lines) intended to draw user attention to current trends, holidays, and global events both positive and negative.
The images used for Search Highlights will be of all types, including but not limited to, light-hearted anniversaries, celebratory holiday graphics, or campaign logos, as well as serious content like political logos, awareness campaigns, or election-themed badges. While Microsoft has presented Search Highlights as a means to inform and engage users, many users see this feature as a cluttering of what was once a clean and functional area of Windows with distracting visuals that change every few minutes to turn a simple productivity tool into an unwanted billboard promoting news or other non-productive items in an area that should be simple, stable, and productive in nature. I don’t need Microsoft to remind me to vote.
To disable this feature, follow these steps:
- Press Win + I to open Settings
- Navigate to Privacy & Security
- Select Search Permissions (or search for “search permissions” in the settings search bar)
- Scroll down to the More Settings section
- Toggle off Show Search Highlights
This action disables all dynamic content in the search bar and Start menu search, including flags, tips, and promotions. After closing the control panel window and clicking the search box again, the dynamic content will no longer appear.
Disabling Intrusive Ads and Notifications
Windows 11 displays ads, notifications, and pop-ups that interrupt workflow. These elements present promotions for games, news, or upgrades during work sessions. While Microsoft positions them as helpful suggestions, users often view them as excessive monetization of the user experience.
To disable notifications:
- Open Settings and click System
- Click Notifications
- Toggle off all notifications or select specific apps to disable
- Expand Additional Settings
- Uncheck the boxes for tips, suggestions, and promotions
To disable recommendations and offers:
- While in Settings, navigate to Privacy & Security
- Click Recommendations and Offers
- Switch all settings from on to off
These changes create a less distracting Windows workspace by removing promotional content and unwanted suggestions from the system.
Restoring Essential Features
Bringing Back the Classic Right-Click Menu
Microsoft’s new right-click (context) menu is frequently referenced as an example of minimalist design gone wrong. Microsoft reduced the rich functionality of the legacy context menu into a very limited version with only a few options, so as to present a cleaner and more contemporary appearance to users. The vast majority of user commands such as advanced file operations are now placed under the vague and repetitive “show more options” in this new menu. A function that had been performed by a single mouse click and developed into muscle memory now has to have an additional mouse click made before the new context menu appears.
This two-tiered menu structure creates additional work in one of the most typical use cases in Windows. Actions which were previously immediate (right-click, select, done!) now feel artificially slowed down, to the point where they will be slowed down multiple times a day.
It is difficult for me to understand why Microsoft would intentionally reduce the speed of one of the most frequently used functions in an operating system that is well known for its flexibility and power-user friendliness.
The original right-click menu appears to be functionally the same as it was just with the addition of the “Show more options” bar. To me this enhancement shows a decision was made by Microsoft to prioritize a more pleasing and touch-optimized interface at the expense of traditional desktop users’ need for efficiency.
The result is an increase in the number of mouse clicks necessary to complete common tasks. Rather than increasing functionality for users, Microsoft designed a simplified menu that is frustrating, leaving us to question why the company would intentionally disrupt productivity.
Warning: Restoring the classic context menu requires editing the Windows registry. Users uncomfortable with this process should skip this procedure.
Follow these steps to restore the classic right-click menu:
- Open the command line and launch regedit
- Navigate to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID - Right-click CLSID, select New, then Key
- Name the new key: {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}
- Right-click the new key, select New, then Key again
- Name this key
InProcServer32 - Double-click the Default value under InProcServer32
- Confirm the value field is blank and click OK
- Close the registry editor
- Open Task Manager and locate Windows Explorer under the Processes tab
- Right-click Windows Explorer and select Restart
The screen may flash briefly during the restart. After completion, right-clicking on a file or directory will display the classic right-click menu with all options immediately accessible.
Customizing the Taskbar and Start Menu
The Windows 11 start menu and taskbar represent another major source of irritation, limitation, and confusion for users compared to previous versions of Windows. In keeping with their time-honored tradition, Microsoft has attempted to reinvent the Windows 11 Start menu again, as with each Windows version since Windows 8’s horrible Metro interface. The Windows 11 Start menu and task bar continue this trend with restricted customization options. And for some reason they thought moving the Start menu to the center of the screen was a good idea so Windows could look more like a Apple Mac.
Fortunately Start11 by Stardock Software provides comprehensive control over the Windows 11 Start menu and taskbar. This software offers multiple menu styles for both Windows 10 and 11, allowing complete personalization of the Start menu experience. Users can select various styles, including the Windows 7 style start menu which I personally love and continue to use.
Key features include:
- Multiple start menu style options
- Ability to pin documents and folders directly to the taskbar
- Adjustable icon sizes for improved clarity and accessibility
- Compatibility with both Windows 10 and Windows 11
- License valid for installation on five computers
To install Start11:
- Download the free trial from the Stardock website
- Run the installation (completes quickly)
- Reboot when prompted after installation
- Enter the license number and email address used during signup to activate
Removing Preinstalled and Unwanted Applications
Uninstalling OneDrive
As you no doubt have already discovered, OneDrive is automatically enabled by Microsoft when you first install Windows 11, even if you don’t use OneDrive. Those that do not use OneDrive will likely see this as an unnecessary and frustrating addition to Windows 11 due to OneDrive always trying to Sync or reminding you to login. If you don’t use then it is just needlessly taking up resources. So why not uninstall it?
To disable OneDrive sync, right-click the OneDrive icon in the task bar, then click on Settings. Select “Manage Backup,” and toggle OFF any of the folders currently being backed up.
Next, to completely remove OneDrive from the operating system, select the “Apps” option in Settings. Then, under “Installed Apps,” right-click on “OneDrive” and choose “Uninstall.” Continue with the prompts provided to remove OneDrive from the system.
Removing Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is another pet-peeve of mine because it too comes preinstalled on Windows 11, which many home users find unnecessary. Why is team collaboration software needed on a personal computer?
To remove Microsoft Teams, navigate to Settings and select Apps. Under Installed apps, locate Microsoft Teams, right-click on it, and select Uninstall. Follow the prompts to complete the removal process.
Regaining Account Privacy and Control
Switching to a Local User Account
Windows 11 installation forces users to use an email address and PIN number instead of a local user account. Microsoft has been pushing this aggressively since Windows 11’s launch and continues to enforce it in 2025 by patching popular workarounds. The feature prioritizes seamless integration with Microsoft’s cloud services and enhanced security measures like Windows Hello.
For many users, it feels more like an invasive tactic to collect data and force them into the Microsoft ecosystem. It strips away the freedom of an offline anonymous setup that was once a staple in previous Windows versions.
To revert Windows 11 back to a local user account and password, users should follow these steps:
- Open Accounts in the control panel
- Under account settings, click Sign in with a local account instead
- Enter the PIN number when prompted
- Enter the desired username and password to login with instead of the email address
The local account will now be used to login. However, users will still be prompted for the security PIN.
Disabling Windows Hello PIN
After switching to a local account, the security PIN prompt remains active. Users can disable this option by accessing the account settings again.
The steps to remove the Windows Hello PIN are:
- Go to Accounts and click on Sign-in options
- Under the Windows Hello section, click the Setup button
- Enter the password
- Click the Remove button
- Click Remove again to confirm
- Enter the password again
At this point, Windows 11 will allow users to log in with only their local username and password. The Windows Hello PIN requirement is completely removed from the login process.
Maximizing Privacy Online
Installing the Brave Browser
Brave Web Browser is a privacy-focused alternative for users who are worried about their online privacy. Unlike Microsoft’s Edge Browser, which collects user activity and has ads pop up while you browse, Brave blocks ads, trackers, and fingerprinting by default, without needing a single add-on or plugin. Like Chrome, Brave is built on top of Chromium, but with all of the extra features removed, making it feel like Chrome, but without all the added extras.
Setting up Brave is easy. First go to https://brave.com, and then download the Windows Installer for Brave. The install will take just a few seconds.
Once installed, users can choose to make Brave their default browser, either from the options within Brave, or by changing your default browser using windows settings.
Key Privacy Features:
- Automatic ad blocking
- Built-in tracker protection
- Fingerprinting prevention
- No additional plugins required
- Chromium-based interface
The browser provides these privacy protections immediately after installation, requiring no additional configuration or setup from the user.
Conclusion
Windows 11 introduced new features and new interface changes over previous versions of Windows but many of these enhancements seem arbitrary and can cause frustration for some users. We have shown how to change several of these features easily from simplifying start up options, disabling intrusive search highlights, to using tools such as Start11 to customize your Start menu and taskbar as well as using a local user account to login instead of an email address and using the Brave browser to prioritize privacy.
With these modifications you will be able to transform Windows 11 into a more personalized desktop experience that is focused on your workflow. As a reminder the tweaks we’ve highlighted are they are reversible; therefore, feel free to try them out and see which ones work best for your way of working. These modifications provide you with the opportunity to increase the performance of Windows 11, increase the level of privacy that Windows 11 provides and to improve the ability to easily navigate through Windows 11 on a daily basis. Try some of the customizations and enjoy a more streamlined, productive Windows 11 that is specifically tailored to your needs. Thanks for reading!
