Microsoft has big plans for Windows 11 in 2026, as evidenced by recent Insider builds. I'll always look forward to efforts that aim to push the desktop OS forward, but some core aspects remain in serious need of attention. I outline everything I anticipate happening with Windows 11 this year, along with the areas and features that Microsoft needs to spend significant time and resources developing.
Microsoft’s Vision for Windows 11 in 2026
No discussion about the future of Windows 11 is complete without a mention of AI. For Microsoft, that means AI agents that can control Windows, deeper Copilot integrations, and more. It's trying to transform Windows 11 into an agentic OS, complete with a dedicated on-device model and AI agents that live within the taskbar. More broadly, Microsoft wants all Windows 11 PCs to be AI PCs. Rather than focus on Copilot+ PCs with a handful of bonus AI features like Recall, Microsoft seems ready to put AI features front and center for everyone with a Windows machine, regardless of whether it has a neural processing unit (NPU). The wider rollout of Narrator's ability to describe on-screen content is one example of this change.
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Gamers can look forward to the full release of the Xbox full-screen experience—it launched on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally in 2025. I hope this is enough to make Windows 11 devices more competitive with Valve’s Steam Deck and forthcoming Steam Machine for handheld and living room gaming, but I suspect it might not be. I've had a poor experience with several Windows-based handheld gaming PCs, and I much prefer SteamOS.
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Finally, Microsoft is working to centralize app updates; just imagine the convenience and security benefits from a dedicated App Updates section in the Settings app. The company also appears ready to upgrade the System Restore tool to include point-in-time capabilities. This option, which should be a great help for troubleshooting, will restore all your apps, files, and settings to a specific point in time.
The Changes Windows 11 Still Desperately Needs
All of the above features and improvements generally seem like good, forward-looking goals for Microsoft to pursue, but it still has the opportunity to make Windows 11 objectively better in the (eventual) lead-up to Windows 12. The company can show it's actually listening to what its core users want by following through on the below requests:
1. Optional, Transparent, and Trustworthy AI
I spend a lot of time monitoring social media and talking to PC users, and I have some bad news for Microsoft: A lot of people don’t want the AI features it's pushing. In fact, it's somewhat shocking how many PC enthusiasts and gamers are talking about switching to Linux!
Microsoft’s approach to AI in Windows has been confusing, with countless iterations of the Copilot app and a lack of clarity about whether AI features run locally or via Microsoft's data centers. And who could forget the firestorm over Windows Recall? The entire release process for that AI feature was a clear example of Microsoft failing to earn PC users' trust.
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The negative discussion around AI agents in Windows is another sign that people don’t feel that they have control over how their PCs use AI. Microsoft needs to do a better job of explaining how Windows 11 uses AI and where user data ends up. Ultimately, it should make it easy to opt out of any AI features.
The good news is that Microsoft seems to be getting the message. It plans to scale back Copilot features across core Windows 11 apps.
2. More Efficient RAM Usage
For years, Windows (and most apps) have gotten bigger and more RAM-hungry. That really hasn't been a historical problem because new PCs tended to have more RAM than older ones. But as manufacturers direct more RAM to AI data centers, prices are skyrocketing. Windows already optimizes systems for long battery life, so managing RAM usage seems like the next logical step.
3. Respect for Your Browser and Search Choices
It's 2026, and we’re still talking about browser choice! Windows (and especially the Start menu) is absolutely packed with features and buttons that open the Microsoft Edge browser and the Bing search engine, no matter your preference.
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Some Windows users solve this frustration by installing alternative Start menus and other third-party tools, but that shouldn't be necessary. Windows should let you set your default search engine and web browser and then respect your preferences everywhere. There's no way Microsoft doesn't know that its users want this capability, and I hope it finally listens.
4. Far Fewer Ads
Windows 11’s built-in advertising has gone too far. No, modern Windows PCs don’t have the bloatware they once did, but Microsoft still packs in tons of upsell offers for services like Microsoft 365 and Xbox Game Pass. You will also see pop-ups that promote Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Rewards, and other third-party apps in the Start menu and elsewhere.
You can remove all these ads yourself, but it takes a lot of effort, and Microsoft seems to keep adding more things you have to turn off all the time. The company needs to slow down and ask itself whether it wants users to see Windows 11 as an advertising billboard or an operating system. Or, at least, Microsoft should centralize the ability to turn off all advertisements with a single toggle.
5. A SteamOS Competitor
Although Microsoft is finally delivering a controller-friendly full-screen experience on Xbox, it needs to do more to fend off SteamOS. Benchmarks show SteamOS delivering better performance than Windows on handheld PCs, despite games running via the Proton compatibility layer. That's what I've seen in my testing, too. Windows still has the edge on laptops and desktop PCs, but it shouldn't even be a competition.
Something is seriously wrong if Windows PC games perform better on Linux than on Windows, regardless of platform. It shows how good a streamlined, custom operating system tuned for gaming can be. Windows should be able to deliver a stripped-down OS that maximizes gaming performance, too. Microsoft is talking about making Windows better for gaming, but I hope to see concrete progress soon. After all, Valve first released the Steam Deck with Steam OS nearly four years ago—and Microsoft is still catching up.
About Our Expert
Chris Hoffman
Senior Writer, Software
Experience
I've been writing about technology for more than 15 years and using it in earnest for over twice as long. As a member of PCMag's software team, I focus on Windows coverage, but also write about other key desktop operating systems and system apps. (I used Windows 3.1 upon its release and have followed every subsequent release closely).
Prior to joining PCMag, I wrote for How-To Geek starting in 2011, and my articles amassed over a billion page views. I went on to run the publication as editor-in-chief for four and a half years. I have also contributed to Computerworld, Fast Company, PCWorld, Reader's Digest, The New York Times, and many other outlets about everything from AI to PC hardware to Windows. I founded and ran my own direct-to-reader Windows-focused newsletters, Windows Intelligence and The Windows ReadMe, working in partnership with Thurrott.com.
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