Microsoft is preparing tangible user experience improvements for the upcoming Windows 11 26H2 release. Marcus Ash, head of design and research for the Windows and Devices division, confirmed that the company is focusing on system responsiveness and interface refinements based on feedback from the Windows Insider community.
Recent offline meetings with Insider members held in Berlin, Cologne, and Prague highlighted key areas for development. Users specifically requested improvements to the Start menu, taskbar, and File Explorer. Microsoft has already begun rolling out optimizations for the taskbar and Start menu, while File Explorer is receiving updates to improve loading speeds for drives and search functions.
The company is also refining the context menu in File Explorer by reducing redundant items and allowing users to remove unnecessary entries. These changes are part of a broader effort to improve system performance through low-latency configurations and the ongoing refactoring of application interfaces using WinUI.
To improve transparency, Microsoft plans to share early design concepts with testers before features reach the experimental build stage. Additionally, the company is working on a system to categorize similar user feedback, allowing participants to better track the status of their suggestions and see which projects are currently under development.
