Is Windows 11 worth the upgrade?

Plus a mind-blowing Task Manager tip  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Thanks for reading this special early preview edition of Windows Intelligence, brought to you in partnership with [Thurrott.com](=). This design is merely a placeholder for what's to come. Stay tuned! ​ Windows 11 is getting a big update this fall, and Microsoft might even start talking about Windows 12 soon. Let's slow down, though: Most PCs aren't even using Windows 11 yet. Windows 10 is still the most popular option. If you're still using Windows 10, you're not alone — you're with most people. This week, I answer the question so many readers have asked me: Is Windows 11 better than Windows 10? Is it really worth the upgrade? Scroll down to this week's "Things to Know" section to learn more. Whatever you choose — whether that's Windows 10 or Windows 11 — I'm writing Windows Intelligence for you. I myself use both, and I'll keep covering both. Chris Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 1 minute 30 seconds ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 1 minute 30 seconds ⌚ Top Thurrott Thoughts: 30 seconds ⌚ Just for Fun: 30 seconds [] ❱❱ 3 Things to Know This Week 1. Windows 11 isn't always better than Windows 10 ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Windows 11 was released nearly two years ago, but most PCs are still running Windows 10. Not every PC can upgrade to Windows 10, but some can. So should you upgrade? 🔎 KNOW MORE: The transition to Windows 11 has been much messier than the transition to Windows 10. If you're thinking about upgrading, there's a lot to keep in mind: - Most Windows 10 PCs just can't upgrade to Windows 11 — not without unsupported "hacks" that may cause issues in the future. - The latest version of Windows is missing a few useful features some people love from Windows 10, so even if you can upgrade, you may still not want to. - Windows 11 is still a solid operating system, and it's the best choice on modern PCs — in fact, if you buy a new PC, Windows 11 may run faster on it than Windows 10 would. 📌 READ MORE: My [latest column over at Computerworld]() will help you answer this thorny question for yourself. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Microsoft Edge will be more respectful of your choices ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Microsoft has been attempting to force Microsoft Edge onto Windows users in every way it can — at least, that's how it feels. Now, Microsoft is backing off a bit and being more respectful of your browser choice. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Back in March, Microsoft promised "a principled approach to app defaults in Windows." That approach is about to arrive in stable form on Windows 11 PCs. - Edge will have to set itself as your default web browser in the same way as other browsers, not via a sneaky Edge-only method that Microsoft blocks other browsers from using. - The change should make it easier to change your default browser to Chrome, Firefox, or whatever other web browser you might prefer. - Microsoft is still forcing the use of Edge when you click web links in the Start menu, Widgets, Outlook, Teams, or the upcoming Windows Copilot AI interface, so the company isn't ready to entirely respect your default web browser choice just yet. 📌 READ MORE: Read Microsoft's promise of "[a principled approach](" going forward, and take a look at[how annoying Microsoft made the process](=) when Windows 11 launched. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Windows 11 will let you uninstall more preloaded apps ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Microsoft bundles a lot of apps with Windows. These can clutter your Start menu, but Microsoft doesn't let you uninstall all of them. That's improving. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The company is now making it possible to uninstall more of these apps in just a few clicks, making it easier to get apps you don't use out of your way. - You can uninstall the Camera, Cortana, Photos, People, and Remote Desktop apps in the latest Insider Preview versions of Windows 11 — and this feature should come to the stable edition of Windows 11 in the fall. - Just right-click an app in the Start menu and select "Uninstall" to get rid of it. - It may be possible to remove these bundled apps via text-based commands, but Microsoft is making it possible in just a few clicks 📌 READ MORE: This quick article [explains what's changing](=). ​ [] ❱❱ 3 Things to Try This Week 1. Pause the Task Manager for easy clicking The Windows Task Manager is the place you have to go to end a misbehaving program. But the list dances around under your mouse cursor as it refreshes, making it hard to click things. This week, I'm one of the many people who had my mind blown by a hidden little Task Manager shortcut that pauses the list, making it easy to click something. ⌚ Pausing the list will take you 5 seconds. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. ➜ First, open the Task Manager. Here are some ways you can do it: - Right-click an empty space on the taskbar and click "Task Manager." - Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc on your keyboard. - Use the Ctrl+Alt+Delete shortcut, and then click "Task Manager." With the Task Manager open, press the Ctrl key and hold it down. The list will freeze and stop refreshing, so now you can click anything you like. (Thanks to Microsoft's [Jen Gentleman]( for highlighting this one!) --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Turn any website into an app Microsoft wants developers to add their web apps to the Microsoft Store for easy installation. Many companies may never bite, but you have another option. Did you know you can turn any website into a Windows "app" with its own taskbar icon and app window in just a few clicks? For example, even though Google may never bring Gmail to the Microsoft Store, you can turn Gmail into an "app" and put it in your taskbar. ⌚ Turning a website into an app will take 10 seconds. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. 📌 Check out [my quick guide]() to learn how to upgrade your web app experience on Windows. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Sign PDFs without installing anything Signing digital documents can be annoying. Sure, you could print them out, scribble a signature on them with a pen, and then scan them back into your computer. But that’s a lot of unnecessary work, especially if you don’t have a printer on hand. Luckily, you can sign PDF documents right on your computer without printing them out first. You don’t even need anything extra to do it on Windows. ⌚ Signing a document will take you just 15 seconds. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. 📌 Check out [my step-by-step instructions](=) for signing a PDF on any Windows PC. ​ [] ❱❱ Top Thurrott Thoughts Some standout links and expert analysis from our friends at Thurrott, who have been covering Windows since 1994: - ​[Lenovo’s Handheld Gaming PC Leaks]( - The success of Valve's Steam Deck is leading to a wave of handheld gaming PCs — and these ones run Windows. - ​[Apple to Pay Out $500 Million to Users in Batterygate Settlement]() - The settlement over the class-action lawsuit is moving forward, and you'll be getting about $65 if you submitted a claim. - ​[Cute, But Not a Game Changer (Premium)]() - Microsoft's big AI investments in Bing Chat don't seem to be paying off. Paul Thurrott digs into what's going on.​ - ​[Microsoft to Shut Down Xbox 360 Store in July 2024](=) - At least you'll still be able to redownload the games you bought. - ​[Subscription Sticker Shock: Streaming Video, Music, Storage, and More (Premium)]( - Paul looks at how much his family is paying for streaming services. ​ [] ❱❱ And Just for Fun... Have you heard of "that cloud thing" everyone is talking about? In 2023, "the cloud" is no longer the hot new thing. We're all excited about the next big thing: The metaverse. Wait, no — that didn't pan out. It's AI! Forget we ever talked about the metaverse. AI is definitely the hot new thing. (It wasn't long ago that Facebook renamed itself Meta, and Microsoft said its acquisition of video game company Activision-Blizzard would [help Microsoft build the metaverse]().) But, years ago, the hype was all about "the cloud." [This classic two-minute video from The Onion](=), circa 2012, hilariously makes fun of how every company tried to hop on the latest bandwagon of the day without truly understanding it. [[video preview]​](=) I've always loved this video, and honestly? It's even more amusing to me in 2023 than it was a decade ago. I hope you get a laugh out of it, too. ​ Onwards and upwards That's a wrap for another edition of Windows Intelligence! I hope you learned something new — or rediscovered a great trick you haven't used in a while. Personally, I feel like I've seen that "hold Ctrl to pause the Windows Task Manager" trick before, but I definitely forgot it until I was reminded of it this week. There's so much more to discover — and rediscover — ahead of us. Thanks for reading Windows Intelligence and being a part of our early preview phase! We'd love to hear what you think so far. ​[Submit your feedback here]() — or just reply to this email. We'll read every single comment, and your thoughts will absolutely help shape and guide what this newsletter becomes. You received this email because your address was signed up for the Windows Intelligence early preview. If you didn't mean to sign up or no longer wish to be subscribed, you can [unsubscribe or update your preferences here](=).