7 controversial Windows features that divided fans
This year is Microsoft’s 50th anniversary, and many are celebrating its contribution to the tech industry by looking back at some of its iconic operating systems and other achievements. While there’s no doubt about the company’s impact on the computing world with products like Windows, Microsoft Office, and Xbox gaming, it’s had its fair share of misses with products that didn’t resonate with customers.
It’s impossible to please everyone, and many Windows versions included controversial features that people hated because they didn’t work well or meet expectations. These are seven of the most controversial Windows features that divided fans over the last few years.
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7
Cortana
An under-powered AI assistant
Microsoft released its AI virtual assistant, Cortana, in 2015 with Windows 10, but it didn’t take off as expected. Cortana started life as a rival to Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa, but never reached the same heights because nobody wanted it on their desktop at the time, and it had less integration with third-party smart home devices. Microsoft could have put more effort into improving Cortana, but ultimately gave up on it too quickly.
The writing was on the wall, and by 2019, Microsoft had removed it from Windows search and added it as a productivity assistant within the Microsoft 365 app. The Cortana Android and iOS apps were soon removed from global markets, and Microsoft removed it as a default feature in Windows 11 in 2021. Cortana was officially discontinued across the Microsoft ecosystem in 2024 and replaced with the new Copilot AI. Looking back, Cortana could have been better, and it’s a pity that Microsoft didn’t use its vast resources to refine it to its full potential.
6
Windows Vista User Account Control prompts
Windows needs permission to continue
We all want a secure operating system that prevents malicious apps from making unwanted changes to our PCs. However, Microsoft went too far with its User Account Control (UAC) prompts in Windows Vista, which irritated users despite adding more security. The idea was to limit the changes standard apps could make to the system without getting administrator approval, but it didn’t work out so well.
While good in theory, the reality was that users were forced to endure numerous pop-ups asking for permission to continue when making minor settings changes and other standard tasks. The incessant pop-ups got in the way of people’s work and made Vista irritating to use. It’s estimated that around 80% of Vista users eventually disabled the feature, making it worthless. A toned-down version of User Account Control continues to be a Windows feature today but is no longer invasive and fulfills its original purpose without getting in the way.
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5
Windows Gadgets
Love them or hate them
Credit: Vista
Windows Gadgets were widget-like apps that display the time, date, weather, and other useful information on your desktop. The feature was introduced in Windows Vista and continued in Windows 7 as a genuinely helpful tool despite not being one of the most popular features among users.
Unfortunately, Windows Gadgets were vulnerable to malicious exploits and proved a security risk to the system. Microsoft issued warnings that attackers could exploit vulnerabilities in Gadgets to take control of the system and advised users to disable the feature. It was phased out after Windows 7, but its spirit lives on in the Windows 11 widget feature, and you can download third-party alternatives like Widget Launcher, which offers similar functionality today.
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4
Windows 8 interface
Too radical for most users
Windows 7 was hugely successful and tough to follow, and Microsoft didn’t do itself any favors by taking a radical approach with Windows 8. Windows 8 featured the new Metro user interface optimized for tablets and offered a clunky experience on laptops and desktops. To make matters worse, its confusing tile design was unlike any of the previous Windows operating systems and infuriated new and experienced users alike with its steep learning curve.
Besides the interface, Microsoft’s biggest mistake with Windows 8 was removing the iconic Start menu, which had been a defining feature since its introduction in Windows 95. Users weren’t impressed by the complicated interface, and Microsoft was forced to reinstate the Start Button with its Windows 8.1 build. Windows 8 proved users don’t want drastic changes that upend everything they know and prefer incremental updates that make sense.
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3
Windows XP activation
The genuine advantage
Microsoft introduced the product activation feature in Windows XP to thwart piracy, but it caused issues for legitimate users instead. The feature required users to register their operating system with Microsoft online or over the phone. Activation was based on the PC’s hardware configuration, and changing parts required the user to go through the entire process again.
Online activation wasn’t a big deal, but users were forced to do it telephonically in certain instances, such as numerous hardware changes. This meant calling Microsoft, providing the product key, and then getting a new activation code, which you’d need to input into the operating system to unlock. Most users hated this feature, and it did little to affect piracy. Corporate volume licensing keys were widely available online to get past activation, making it irrelevant.
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2
Phasing out the Control Panel
Why not give users both options?
The Control Panel was once the go-to location for changing Windows settings. However, Microsoft is slowly phasing it out and has migrated display settings, privacy options, sharing settings, and other features to the newer Settings app. This makes things inconvenient and confusing for users who need to sift through two interfaces to find the settings they’re looking for.
The change aims to provide a “more modern and streamlined experience,” and Microsoft is pushing users to use the Settings app instead of the Control Panel, which is still around for legacy compatibility. On the other hand, Control Panel fans are hesitant to see it disappear after providing many years of great functionality. There’s no easy solution. If the Control Panel is doomed, Microsoft should remove it so we can all move on. If it will still be around for a while, it should have all its features, and users should be able to decide which app to use to access their system settings.
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1
Recall
A privacy nightmare
The new Recall feature may be great for some users, but most think it’s a privacy nightmare that shouldn’t exist. Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature is built into the latest Copilot+ devices and is meant to track users’ activities so they can always trace their work or sites they visited. To do this, the feature takes snapshots of your desktop every few seconds and then saves them for later viewing, even months later.
The problem is that the system has proven to be insecure, and nobody trusts Microsoft not to harvest their data. Concerns have been raised about the system’s security risks because it still captures credit card information and other sensitive data despite user settings to prevent it. Microsoft claims that all snapshots are encrypted and stored locally, but this seems like an accident waiting to happen, and it’s just a matter of time until hackers find a way to access them.
Are there other controversial Windows features that divided fans?
It’s impossible to please everyone, and there will always be some love or hate features in any operating system. These are just some controversial Windows features from the last few years, and others, like Windows 11’s Microsoft account and online activation requirements, have also divided fans.
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