03/20/2026
A letter from Pavan Davuluri. | View as webpage
Our commitment to Windows quality
Hello Windows Insiders,
I want to speak to you directly, as an engineer who has spent his career building technology that people depend on every day. Windows touches more people's lives than almost any technology on Earth. Every day, we hear from the community about how you experience Windows. And over the past several months, the team and I have spent a great deal of time analyzing your feedback. What came through was the voice of people who care deeply about Windows and want it to be better.
Today, I’m sharing what we are doing in response. Here are some of the initial changes we will preview in builds with Windows Insiders this month and throughout April.
• More taskbar customization, including vertical and top positions
Repositioning the taskbar is one of the top asks we’ve heard from you. We are introducing the ability to reposition it to the top or sides of your screen, making it easier to personalize your workspace.
• Integrating AI where it’s most meaningful, with craft and focus
You will see us be more intentional about how and where Copilot integrates across Windows, focusing on experiences that are genuinely useful and well crafted. As part of this, we are reducing unnecessary Copilot entry points, starting with apps like Snipping Tool, Photos, Widgets and Notepad.
• Reducing disruption from Windows Updates
Receiving updates should be predictable and easy to plan around, so we’re giving you more control. This includes the ability to skip updates during device setup to get to the desktop faster, restart or shut down without installing updates and pause updates for longer when needed, all while reducing update noise with fewer automatic restarts and notifications.
• Faster and more dependable File Explorer
File Explorer is one of the most used surfaces in Windows. Our first round of improvements will focus on a quicker launch experience, reduced flicker, smoother navigation and more reliable performance for everyday file tasks.
• More control over widgets and feed experiences
Widgets should feel helpful and relevant, not distracting or overwhelming. We’re introducing quieter defaults, more control over when and how widgets appear, and improved personalization for the Discover feed.
• A simpler, more transparent Windows Insider Program
The Windows Insider Program is how you help shape the future of Windows, and it should be easy to understand what to expect and how to participate. We are implementing changes to make it easier for you to navigate with clearer channel definitions, easier access to new features, higher quality builds, better visibility into how your feedback shapes Windows and more opportunities to engage directly with us.
• Improved Feedback Hub, available starting today
Your feedback is essential to improving Windows, and it should be easy to share and see what others are saying. Today, we’re rolling out the largest update to Feedback Hub yet to our Insiders, with a redesigned experience that makes it faster and easier to submit feedback and engage with the community.
Building on these changes, what follows below is our broader plan and areas of focus for the year to raise the bar on Windows 11 quality. The work is underway. You can expect to see tangible progress that you’ll be able to feel as you preview builds from us throughout the rest of the year.
Last night I had the chance to sit down with a small group of Windows Insiders here in Seattle to listen, to answer questions and to share more about where we're headed. The Seattle meetup was the first of several stops our team will be making to engage in person, in more cities around the world, to connect with the Windows community.
Thank you for holding us to a high standard. Windows is as much yours as it is ours. We’re committed to strengthening its foundation and delivering innovation where it matters, for you.
Please keep the feedback coming, to help us shape the future of Windows together.
