Windows 11 is starting to look better but Microsoft’s apps are letting it down

Despite what you’ve read, 2026 has been a good year for Windows 11, and the 26H2 update about to land on everyone’s system is, dare I say, a real cause for celebration. Refinements and customization for Explorer, Taskbar, Search, and the Start Menu go far beyond visual changes, delivering meaningful updates to the OS for speed and responsiveness that speak for themselves.

So, why then, is it continually Windows 11 first-party apps that feel like a neglected problem dragging down the rest of the Windows 11 experience?