A Vision for Windows 12: Familiar Power Meets Modern Innovation
Dear Microsoft Windows Development Team and Community Hub, With the inevitable speculation around Windows 12, I wanted to share a comprehensive vision for the next iteration of Windows. The goal is to blend the best elements of past versions with modern needs, creating a truly powerful and personalizable operating system. Here’s what many users like myself are hoping to see: 1. A Revitalized Start Menu & Screen Fresh, Resizable Layout: A clearly divided Start Menu with dedicated zones: Account Area (top-left), Shortcut Area (far left for common folders), List Area (pinned, most-used, and suggested apps), and a Pinned Tiles Area (right side, four-column layout). It should be resizable by dragging its edges. Full-Screen Start Screen Option: A return of the full-screen Start that combines the easy-to-browse list from Windows 7 with the dynamic Windows 8.1-style Live Tiles, supporting both horizontal and vertical arrangements. Enhanced Tile Flexibility: Tiles in five sizes (small, medium, long, wide, large, tall) with smooth resizing animations. New customization options should include colorful, gradient, light, dark, transparent, and semi-transparent tones. Migration Friendly: When upgrading from Windows 7, 8.1, 10, or 11, all pinned apps and websites should automatically migrate. Copilot Integration: A dedicated, prominent Copilot Tile to highlight the AI assistant's role, perhaps with a new rainbow effect for visual flair. 2. A More Functional Taskbar & Search Comprehensive Taskbar: Featuring the Cortana icon, mobile devices, Start, Search, Task View, Chat, applications, and the system tray. Prominent Search Box: The search box should be more prominent, changing from a circle to a rectangular shape, serving as a stronger entry point. Flexible Search Menu: The search interface should be highly adjustable and consistent with the new Start menu's style. 3. Personalized User Experience Lock Screen Customization: Options for left or center-aligned date and time. New photo effects that highlight the main subject, allowing it to overlay the time. Windows Hello: Facial recognition that works while wearing a mask. Enhanced Widgets: Desktop Pinning: Widgets should be pinnable anywhere on the desktop, not just in a sidebar. Full-Screen Widgets Board: A full-screen mode with a widget panel on the left and news/feeds on the right, supporting up to six columns. New Widgets: Introduction of a 'Calendar', 'People', 'Microsoft Edge', 'Cortana Suggestions', and a dedicated 'Microsoft Store' widget. 4. Peak Productivity & Multitasking Task View & Virtual Desktops: A return to the mature Windows 10 experience, allowing windows to be dragged directly to other desktops in Task View. Timeline Returns: The Timeline feature should come back, including cross-device history. Classic Alt+Tab: The Windows 10 Alt+Tab window switcher experience should be restored. Supercharged Snap Assist: Enhanced Snap Layouts supporting up to 8 segments for large screens, with specific, intelligent layouts for ultrawide (21:9, 32:9) monitors. 5. Application & Ecosystem Evolution App Updates: New versions of Mail, Calendar, and People. The new Outlook app should fully support popular third-party email services like QQ, 163, and 126. A New Cortana: Multilingual support with the return of consumer skills (music control, smart home, third-party skills). It could be offered in two visual forms and power the 'Cortana Suggestions' widget. Screenshot Tool Upgrade: Should support full-screen recording. Media Player: The return of an appearance selector and support for live tiles. Microsoft Store Revamp: UWP Return: High-quality UWP and classic Metro apps should return to the store, with PWAs transitioning to UWP. Gaming Expansion: Addition of dedicated PlayStation and Nintendo Switch apps, including a Nintendo game section. 6. Visual & Nostalgic Enhancements Refined Aesthetics: Improved window transparency with a new glass effect, rounded rectangle system avatars, and a new top bar (weather, system tray, time). Dynamic wallpaper effects would be a welcome addition. Keep the Win11 Sound: The Windows 11 startup sound is great and should be retained. The "Bold Strategy" – Legacy Feature Return: To satisfy power users and nostalgia, consider the large-scale return of beloved features like MSN apps, Windows 7 Desktop Gadgets, Windows Media Center, Groove Music, HomeGroup, a significantly enhanced Tablet Mode, and Windows Ink Workspace. 7. Hardware, Compatibility & Core System Broad Controller Support: Native compatibility with DualShock 4/5, Joy-Con, and others. Android Subsystem (WSA) Return: WSA should return with a focus on fixing previous pain points, especially full-screen landscape app support. Separated Notification Center: The Notification Center and Calendar quick actions should be separated for a cleaner interface. "Next-Gen PC" Promise: Windows 12 should deliver on larger storage, longer battery life, more power, and enhanced security/stability. Enhanced Backup & Transfer: Windows Backup should expand to more regions and add support for backing up personal files and apps to external drives, including migration from old PCs or to new hard drives. 8. Core Versioning & Hardware Requirements A Fresh Start: Version 26H1, with an internal OS version reset to 12.0.0.0. Tiered Editions: Windows 12e (for education, 2GB RAM), Windows 12 (mainstream, 4GB RAM, removing strict TPM restrictions), and Windows 12 Ultra (flagship, 8GB RAM, unlocking all AI and performance features). Extensive Free Upgrade Path: A critical strategy, offering free upgrades from Windows 11 (including SE), Windows 10 (including S), Windows 8/8.1 (including RT), and Windows 7. Doubled Support Lifecycle: Home/Pro/Workstation: 24 months → 48 months. Enterprise/Education/IoT: 36 months → 72 months. In summary, we envision a Windows 12 that isn't afraid to learn from its rich history while pushing forward with modern innovation. It should be a system that respects user choice, empowers productivity, and welcomes everyone from legacy users to those with the latest hardware. If you like this vision and want to support it, you can upvote it here: https://aka.ms/AAylqhw Thank you for considering this feedback. Sincerely, A Passionate Windows User
General Improvements to Windows and Apps
I’ve been thinking about how Windows could improve, especially around Fluent Design. I wrote down six ideas that I’d love to hear opinions on. I will be sharing them here to see what you all think: 1: Two branches for Windows and content updates; Trying to please everyone with a single version of Windows is difficult, so Microsoft could maintain two official branches of the system: a “Vintage Windows” (like Windows 10), for those who prefer the classic interface and a more traditional look, with extended support indefinitely. And a “Modern Windows” (Windows 11), consistent with Fluent Design, constantly updated, and focused on introducing new features. Both would use the same kernel and APIs for developer compatibility. This approach would offer users greater freedom of choice and demonstrate that a trillion-dollar company is dedicating teams to simultaneously deliver traditional features and modernity. I’ve seen many people complain about the lack of consistency and lack of content. Additionally, I miss feature updates for Windows and hope that Microsoft brings more flexibility, apps, and Fluent 2-style fixes in future updates. And, yes, this would increase the efforts and costs, but it's a cost that a trillionary company could take. 2: Modern Flyouts and Windows volume limits; In Windows 11, the multimedia controls displayed by apps like Fluent Flyouts are very limited; they only allow you to pause or skip tracks, with no option to adjust the volume or use repeat or shuffle buttons. This makes the experience less convenient compared to Android, where users can control the app’s volume or the music’s volume separately, and the operating system allows third-party apps to do so. My suggestion is that Microsoft should be more flexible and give apps like Modern Flyout the ability to adjust the volume, so you could turn the music up or down without affecting the overall system volume. Honestly, it’s surprising that something as basic as this hasn’t been implemented yet in the most widely used operating system. 3: Lack of flexibility in the Windows 11 search bar; It’s unbelievable that even in Windows 11, the system still limits users and developers to a rigid and impractical search bar. Apps like Fluent Search, Flow Search, and Everything Toolbar are much faster and more powerful, but they’re confined to taskbar icons or floating search bars, while the native search bar takes up space without offering the same efficiency. Microsoft needs to be more flexible and release an API that allows third-party apps to appear as a search bar directly on the taskbar. This isn’t a complex feature; it’s something simple and obvious that should already exist. If the official search bar itself isn’t improved, the least they could do is give other apps the freedom to offer a superior experience. It’s frustrating to see Windows remain limited in such basic aspects, while other systems offer more modern and practical solutions. Microsoft needs to listen to users and stop holding Windows back with an outdated model. 4: Windows Task Scheduler and other menus and tools need to be updated The native Windows Task Scheduler is completely outdated and inconsistent with the Fluent 2 style. Independent projects like the Fluent Task Scheduler show that it’s possible to have a modern, organized, and much more user-friendly interface. It’s frustrating that these apps have to coexist with outdated system tools, without being able to replace them or integrate with the system. Microsoft, as a trillion-dollar company, should invest in modernizing its own utilities or hire independent developers who have already proven capable of creating superior solutions, such as the Fluent Task Scheduler. The lack of visual and functional consistency in Windows is glaring and needs to be addressed 5: Lack of flexibility in naming user folders Compared to the Android system; Windows is very inflexible and lacks practicality in many ways. Here’s one example: C:\Users\eagl<- Here for example, I can’t correct my name—which would simply involve adding an “e”—; I have to create an entirely new account and move all my files to that account because of a typo. This should be a basic and simple fix. On Android, I was already so used to the system’s practicality that when I switched to Windows—which was supposed to be a more robust and powerful system—I was surprised to find it lacks even such a basic feature. 6: Differences in user experience between home and business users, and inconsistencies in Fluent 2; Microsoft seems to be focusing more and more on businesses, consistently applying Fluent 2 to apps like Teams, Outlook, and Office, while everyday users are left with a Windows full of outdated and inconsistent menus. This contradicts the marketing that promotes Fluent 2 as the standard, yet is frequently violated by the official apps themselves. It’s frustrating to see that Microsoft can’t deliver on its promises. If it really wants to preserve old elements for the sake of businesses, then it should separate the systems: a legacy one for compatibility and a modern one for home users. Or, at the very least, adhere to the Fluent 2 style across all of Windows. I love Fluent 2 and really want to see significant progress in this area, but seeing that Microsoft itself hasn’t made much effort in this regard has been a disappointment. The trillion-dollar company that talks so much about innovation shouldn’t be delivering a fragmented and outdated system. 7: Digital Wellness and productivity; Microsoft should make a native app with fluent style to help users watch their screen/app time. In 2026 there haven't any app that's free, solid and that feels native in Windows 11, because there aren't any API for that. Apps like Activity Watch for some reason don't work in my PC and apps like SolidTime are paid and not really fluent. Naturally, something like this should be made by Microsoft itself. Android has it since the beginning, why Windows doesn't have it yet?Bring Back Timeline Feature in Windows 12
Dear Microsoft Engineers, I'm writing to request the return of the Timeline feature in Windows 12. Timeline was a powerful productivity tool that allowed users to seamlessly continue activities across devices. Its removal disrupted workflows for many who relied on cross-device continuity. Key Benefits of Timeline: Cross-device activity sync (PC, Android, iOS) Quick access to recent files across time Seamless workflow continuity Request: Please bring back Timeline in Windows 12, ideally with: Enhanced cross-platform support Better integration with Microsoft 365 Optional cloud sync control for privacy This feature truly embodied Microsoft's vision of seamless computing. I hope the engineering team will consider its return. Thank you for your time and consideration. Please go to the 'Feedback Hub' to cast a vote in favor: https://aka.ms/AA1048j9 Sincerely, —— A Windows EnthusiastA Vision for the Start Menu/Screen in Windows 12
Hi Windows Community, After exploring various Start menu designs across Windows versions (from 7 to 11), I’ve put together a concept for what Windows 12’s Start Menu/Screen could look like. The goal is to blend productivity, flexibility, and visual personalization while respecting the strengths of past designs. Here’s my wishlist: 1. Streamlined Layout Four dedicated zones: Top-left: User account (quick switch/lock). Far-left: Shortcuts to folders (Documents, Downloads, etc.). Left-center: App list (with “Most used” and “Recommended” sections). Right: A resizable, four-column tile area (drag edges to adjust width). 2. Full-Screen Start Screen Returns Combine Windows 7’s vertical app list (easy scanning) with Windows 8.1-style live tiles (dynamic updates). Tiles can be arranged horizontally or vertically—your choice. 3. Tile Flexibility Six sizes: Small (1x1), Medium (2x2), Long (4x1), Wide (4x2), Large (4x4), Tall (4x6). Smooth animations when resizing tiles. 4. Deep Personalization Tile color options: Solid, gradients, light/dark, transparent (default), semi-transparent, and even rainbow effects. Match your mood or desktop theme effortlessly. 5. Seamless Upgrades When moving from Windows 7/8.1/10/11, your pinned apps, websites, and layout should automatically migrate—no rebuilding from scratch. 6. Rainbow Glow A subtle rainbow shimmer option for tiles (because why not add a bit of fun?). Why This Matters A Start menu should be both a launchpad and a reflection of your workflow. By combining the clarity of Windows 7, the visual energy of Windows 8.1, and the adaptability of Windows 10/11, Windows 12 could finally deliver a "best of all worlds" experience. What do you think? Would you add or change anything? Let’s discuss! Welcome to the 'Feedback Hub' upvote the individual customization requests that interest you: https://aka.ms/AA105dd9
Windows Update fails with “Something went wrong – Undoing changes” unless installed via ISO
Hi everyone, I'm facing a strange issue with Windows Update on my laptop and I wanted to know if anyone else experienced something similar. Problem: When I install updates through Windows Update, the update downloads normally and during restart it goes up to 100%, but then I get the message: Something went wrong. Undoing changes. After that, Windows rolls back the update. Observation: Interestingly, updates that start directly from the “You're there” stage sometimes install correctly. Policy change I made: Previously Windows would automatically download and install updates and frequently ask for restarts. Because of that behavior, I changed the policy to manual download and install so updates would not start installing automatically. Thermal precaution I tried: Since my laptop has a faulty CPU fan, I also limited the maximum CPU state to 99% in Power Options to prevent aggressive turbo boosting and reduce potential thermal throttling during the update process. Another important observation: If I install the same update using a Windows ISO (in-place upgrade / repair install), the update installs successfully and does not fail at 100%. Possible hardware issue: My laptop currently has: A broken battery A faulty CPU fan So I'm wondering if the update process might be failing due to power or thermal issues during the installation phase. System info: OS: Windows 11 Pro Insider Preview Channel: Release Preview Current build: 26200.7840 Update that fails: KB5077241 (Build 26200.7922) Questions: Can hardware issues like a damaged battery or faulty CPU fan cause Windows Update installation failures? Why would updates succeed when installing from an ISO but fail through Windows Update? Which logs should I check to identify the exact cause? (CBS.log, WindowsUpdate.log, etc.) Any suggestions, troubleshooting steps, or similar experiences would be appreciated. Thanks!
Hardware-Level Resilience (RMAU) (Remote Acess Management Update)to mitigate Ring 0 Kernel Outages.
Proposal: Windows RMAU (Remote Access Update) Resilience Architecture Author:CAB4devs Credits:CAB4Devs Unabbreviated name: RAMU (Remote acess management update) Project Name: RAMU the best fix for mass malware attacks and Driver failures! Head of idea: CAB4devs Professions of author: Unofficial IT Computer science Programming (Non of these are degrees) 1. Executive Summary: The "Global Kill-Switch" Problem The 2024 global outage proved that when the Windows Kernel (Ring 0) fails, the OS becomes a "brick." Current recovery requires manual, physical intervention (Safe Mode + BitLocker keys), which is impossible to scale for 8.5 million+ devices. RMAU (Remote Access Update) is a proposed system that allows Microsoft to "tap into" any bricked Windows machine via a secure, hardware-independent "Emergency Hatch." It allows a central Microsoft engineer to perform mass file deletions, registry fixes, or command execution on millions of devices simultaneously, without the local user doing anything. 2. How It Works (The "Zero-OS" Logic) To work without new physical hardware, RMAU leverages the existing UEFI (Firmware) and Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). The "Heartbeat" Trigger: If Windows fails to boot 3 times, the UEFI triggers the "RMAU Pre-Boot Agent." The "Main Server" Connection: This agent bypasses the broken Windows OS and establishes a tiny, encrypted network tunnel directly to Microsoft’s RMAU Central Command. Zero User Interaction: The user sees a screen saying "System Recovery in Progress – Managed by Microsoft Support." They do not need to type passwords or BitLocker keys; the hardware "handshakes" with the server using the device's unique TPM (Trusted Platform Module) ID. 3. The Microsoft Employee Experience (The Admin UI) When an outage happens, a Level 4 Microsoft Engineer logs into the RMAU Master Console. The Admin UI View: Global Map: A real-time heatmap showing millions of Blue-Screened devices. Mass-Action Command Line: A console where the engineer types: TARGET: ALL_BSOD_DEVICES_WITH_DRIVER("C-00000291*.sys") ACTION: DELETE_FILE("C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\C-00000291*.sys") ACTION: REBOOT Remote Desktop (Individual): For single-user bugs, the employee sees a "Ghost Screen"—a low-latency view of the target PC’s file system and registry, allowing them to type commands as if they were sitting at the desk. 4. Security: The "Nuclear Launch" Protocol Because this system can "do anything," it must be the most secured system on Earth. The Physical Cord (Center-Side): To prevent a hacker from "mass-tapping" into computers from home, the RMAU Master Console is Air-Gapped. The only way to send a global command is to physically plug a "Golden Key" (USB-HSM) into the server inside a Microsoft high-security vault. The Quorum (3-of-5): No one person can fix the world. Five high-ranking officials (CEO, CISO, etc.) must each provide a unique biometric scan (Retina/Fingerprint) and a code from an OOB Android Device to authorize the "Global Delete" command. ID-Locked: Every keystroke an employee makes is recorded and tied to their biometric ID. If an employee tries to "spy" on a user, the system automatically flags them for federal investigation. 5. Real-World Use Case: 2024 Scenario vs. General Bugs Scenario A: The 2024 CrowdStrike Event Without RMAU: IT teams drove to offices for weeks to manually fix PCs. With RMAU: The Microsoft Engineer identifies the bad file C-00000291*.sys. They send a Mass-Tap Command. Within 60 seconds, all 8.5 million computers receive the "Delete" signal at the hardware level. The PCs reboot, and the world is back online in under 5 minutes. Scenario B: The "Random Driver" Bug If a specific brand of laptop (e.g., Dell) starts crashing due to a bad update, the PM can target only those specific Serial Numbers. They can remotely open a CMD Prompt on the bricked device, run sfc /scannow, and repair the system while the user sleeps. 6. Legal & Privacy Compliance To stay legal, RMAU follows the "Emergency-Only" doctrine: Consent by Terms: Users agree to "Emergency Remediation" in the EULA. Strict Limitation: The hardware hatch only opens if the OS is non-functional. It cannot be used to "spy" on a working computer. Immutable Audit: All logs are made available to government regulators to prove Microsoft only deleted the "Bad File" and didn't touch user data. 7. The "No-Hardware" Update (How to Deploy) This doesn't need a new PC. It can be sent as a BIOS/Firmware Update. Code Implementation: Microsoft writes a "RMAU UEFI Extension" and sends it via Windows Update. It installs into the motherboard's firmware. The "Silent Guard": Once installed, it sits dormant. It never turns on unless it detects a Kernel Panic or a Boot Loop, ensuring zero impact on battery or performance. Final Verdict for the Forum: "Microsoft, we need to stop relying on 'Safe Mode.' We need a system that assumes the OS is dead and fixes it from the outside. RMAU is the answer." (Pronunciation: Ram MooWindows Insider update stuck in endless download install restart loop
Hi everyone, I accidentally enrolled my PC into the Windows Insider Preview Program and since then I am stuck in a continuous update loop. A new Insider update appears in Windows Update, it downloads to 100 percent successfully, installs successfully, then Windows asks me to restart to complete the update. After restarting Windows shows Updating for around 30 minutes but it never completes, then the system boots normally and when I check Windows Update again the same update starts downloading again from the beginning. This cycle repeats every time so the update never finishes, I cannot properly leave the Windows Insider Preview Program and Windows Update is effectively stuck. I would like to stop this update loop, safely unenroll from the Windows Insider Preview Program and return to the stable public release of Windows without losing any data. Has anyone experienced this before or knows how to fix it. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Muhammad Hasnain
[tab-group feature suggestion] Add a 'current tab' notion in tab groups
I like the tab group feature to organize tabs, but clicking a tab group tab has a completely different user experience as clicking a non-grouped tab. By adding a current tab in a tab group, the user experience can be more unified: clicking a tab activates it (brings it to the foreground), clicking a tab group tab activates the current tab in the tab group. This allows for quickly swithing between the 'documentation' for the tab you're working with and the 'project' for the tab you're working with, for instance. The current functionality of 'expanding' the tab group can be moved to the right-click context menu.
