As part of the ongoing story, even during setup, you have to click your way through numerous prompts. Microsoft account, OneDrive, Microsoft 365, location sharing, diagnostic data, personalized advertising — time and again you have to actively opt out before you even reach the desktop. Anyone installing Windows 11 from scratch today will quickly realize that the operating system no longer wants to be just an operating system.
Industry observers note that but that’s precisely the point: Many users now see this as a pattern. Windows feels less and less like a neutral tool — and more and more like a ecosystem designed to steer you towards Microsoft’s services, subscriptions, and cloud offerings. This might just be a nuisance if it were an isolated incident.
In a fresh development, switch on your PC, log in, work or play. Of course, Windows was never perfect, but it got in the way less. Windows used to be, above all, the foundation on which you ran your programs.
In a fresh development, microsoft is increasingly pushing users to set up Windows using a Microsoft account. Local accounts haven’t completely disappeared, but they’re much harder for many users to find. Depending on the version and installation method, you may need workarounds to set up Windows 11 without an online account. Nowadays, the hassle often starts as early as the installation stage.
In a fresh development, a Microsoft account links Windows more closely to services such as OneDrive, Microsoft 365, Edge, Bing, and the Microsoft Store. This makes strategic sense for Microsoft. For many users, however, it feels as though they have to sit through an advertising campaign before they’re allowed to use their own PC. This is no coincidence.
In a fresh development, microsoft 365? OneDrive? Location sharing? Diagnostic data? Personalized adverts? Recommendations? Additional convenience functions? When performing a fresh installation of Windows 11, you’ll be asked time and again whether you want to enable certain services.
According to the latest update, for less experienced users, it’s a problem. This is because many options are worded in such a way that you quickly click ‘Next’ and end up granting more access than you actually intended. For experienced users, this is annoying.
Industry observers note that the problem is how intrusively these services are now integrated into Windows. An operating system should, first and foremost, allow you to control your own computer. However, many users feel that Windows is gradually taking that control away from them. The problem isn’t that Microsoft offers these services.
In a fresh development, it used to be a simple overview of your programs. Today, it functions sections such as ‘Recommended,’ references to apps or services, and, time and again, elements that seem less like useful functions and more like product placement. This is particularly evident in the Start menu.
According to the latest update, oneDrive is advertised, Edge is constantly being pushed to the fore, the search function uses Bing by default, and certain system functions continue to open Microsoft’s own services. Microsoft services also capability prominently in other places.
In a fresh development, after all, Windows is not a free-to-play product. Anyone who pays for a Windows license or buys a PC with Windows is rightly expecting an operating system — not a constant stream of prompts telling them which services they should use, try out, or subscribe to. For many users, this crosses a line.
The report highlights that in the past, Microsoft has repeatedly made it increasingly difficult for users to switch consistently to alternative browsers or services. While the default browser can be changed, Windows still prefers to open Edge for certain functions or uses Bing for searches. Another source of annoyance is the handling of default programs.
As part of the ongoing story, from Microsoft’s perspective, this is understandable: The more users employ Edge, Bing, OneDrive, and Microsoft 365, the more valuable its own ecosystem becomes. This applies, for example, to widgets, search functions, or certain system links.
As part of the ongoing story, anyone wishing to use Firefox, Chrome, Google Drive, Dropbox, LibreOffice, or other alternatives should be able to do so without any obstacles. An operating system should allow freedom of choice and not constantly try to override that choice. From the user’s perspective, however, it comes across as patronizing.
In a fresh development, depending on the settings, Windows 11 collects a significant amount of diagnostic data. This includes information about the device, the devices, system errors, the use of certain functions and — where options are enabled — further data to improve services, input, or personalized experiences. Added to this is the issue of data privacy.
Industry observers note that but that is precisely the problem: Users have to actively seek them out. Anyone who simply clicks their way through the Windows setup may be revealing more than they realize. Many of these options can be disabled.
According to the latest update, then it is no longer just a matter of a local operating system, but an entire network of services, accounts, and servers. For private users, this is a matter of convenience and data protection. For public authorities, schools, and businesses, it can become a strategic dependency. The situation becomes particularly critical when data ends up in cloud services or is linked to a Microsoft account.
As part of the ongoing story, in Germany and other European countries, there are repeated reviews of whether public authorities should rely more heavily on open source, Linux, and more independent office solutions. Discussions within government departments and public institutions show that this dependency is not merely a perception held by individual users.
The report highlights that at the same time, however, they become heavily tied to a single provider. Windows, Office, Teams, OneDrive, Azure, and Microsoft 365 are all interlinked. This makes switching increasingly difficult. The reason is clear: Anyone using Microsoft products gets a very powerful all-in-one package.
Industry observers note that in the public sector in particular, this raises the question of whether this dependence makes sense in the long term — especially when sensitive data, cloud services, and international legal jurisdictions are involved.
As part of the ongoing story, the broader pattern is this: more and more subscriptions, less and less ownership. Windows itself is only part of the problem.
As part of the ongoing story, cloud storage instead of local files. Platform release Pass instead of buying individual platform releases. This can be practical, no question. Many services offer real added value. But users increasingly feel they have no choice. Microsoft 365 instead of a traditional Office license.
As part of the ongoing story, today, you pay monthly — and if you stop paying, you lose functions or access. For businesses, this model may be more predictable. For many home users, it feels like a constant burden. In the past, you could buy programs and use it for years.
The report highlights that among other things, Microsoft requires TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and supported processors. From a security perspective, these requirements are justifiable. In practice, however, they exclude many PCs that are still perfectly serviceable from a technical point of view. A particularly controversial issue is the devices requirements for Windows 11.
Industry observers note that from October 2025, Windows 10 will no longer receive regular security updates, unless you register for the Extended Security Revision program for Windows 10. Anyone with an incompatible device faces a difficult decision: Continue using it unsafely, buy fresh devices, resort to workarounds, or switch to a different operating system. The problem became even more apparent with the end of support for Windows 10.
As part of the ongoing story, for businesses, schools, and public authorities, this is usually not an option. They need official support, clear patch paths, and legally compliant systems. This creates enormous pressure to replace devices that is still in working order. For home users, there are DIY solutions.
According to the latest update, when millions of PCs are phased out not because of faulty devices, but because of programs requirements, this sits poorly with the sustainability pledges of many tech firms. This is also problematic from a sustainability perspective.
According to the latest update, on the contrary. Windows is powerful, versatile, and remains the most important ecosystem for PC programs. It offers enormous compatibility, strong tech industry support, and many specialist programs only run on Windows. Despite all the criticism, Windows is not fundamentally a bad operating system.
According to the latest update, you can’t simply install Linux and carry on exactly as before. Some programs are missing, some workflows change, and some platform releases or anti-cheat systems don’t work without issues. That is precisely why making the switch is difficult for many users.
In a fresh development, but that is precisely what makes this development so frustrating. Microsoft knows that many users have little choice but to stick with it. And the more dominant Windows remains, the more Microsoft can push its own services, accounts, and subscriptions into people’s everyday lives. So Windows remains a necessity for many people.
As part of the ongoing story, linux has made enormous progress in recent years, particularly in the tech industry sector. Thanks to Proton, Steam Deck, and specialized distributions such as Bazzite, many platform releases are now much easier to play on Linux than they were a few years ago. At least there are now genuine alternatives.
In a fresh development, but it’s no longer just a system for tech enthusiasts. Anyone who mainly plays platform releases, surfs the web, uses Office alternatives, and doesn’t absolutely need Windows-exclusive programs can seriously consider switching today. Linux isn’t the perfect solution for everyone.
As part of the ongoing story, they just want a version of Windows that’s less of a nuisance. Even stripped-down versions of Windows or projects that rid Windows of bloatware make one thing very clear: Many users don’t necessarily want to move away from Windows.
As part of the ongoing story, the biggest problem is that Microsoft is straining the trust of many users. The biggest problem with Windows isn’t that it fails technically.
In a fresh development, it should be stable, secure, easy to understand, and controllable. Windows is fundamentally capable of all this. Yet, with mandatory accounts, adverts, cloud services, recommendations, Edge, Bing, and subscription offers, Microsoft is increasingly inserting itself between the user and their device. An operating system should run in the background.
As part of the ongoing story, not because they don’t understand computers. But because they want to use their computer as their own again. This is precisely why many long-standing Windows enthusiasts are frustrated.
The report highlights that but for many users, it feels less and less like their own. And in the long run, that could prove more dangerous for Microsoft than any single bug in Windows 11. Windows is still powerful.
In a fresh development, this article originally appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and localized from German.
As part of the ongoing story, he is always up to date on the most recent platform releases, graphics cards and other devices. Kris also likes to test unusual gadgets and is part of the duo "Team Hölle", which plans and implements the 'Machine from Hell' project every year. As a big tech industry and devices fan, Kris gives these topics a face on YouTube.