According to XDA-Developers, Windows 11 remains divisive among PC enthusiasts despite improvements since its launch, with many features feeling half-baked or missing entirely. The publication identifies five third-party tweaks that Microsoft should implement natively, including StartAllBack for Start menu and taskbar customization, Microsoft’s own PowerToys suite of power user tools, EarTrumpet for audio management, Everything by Voidtools for instant file search, and OneCommander as a modern file manager replacement. These applications collectively address Windows 11’s most significant usability gaps and demonstrate what the operating system could be with better attention to power user workflows. The tools range from interface customization to system utilities that dramatically improve daily computing experiences.
The Start menu rebellion
Here’s the thing about Microsoft and Start menus: they just can’t leave well enough alone. StartAllBack basically fixes everything Microsoft broke when they redesigned the taskbar and Start menu for Windows 11. It lets you move the taskbar to the top or sides, resize icons, bring back classic context menus, and restore all those system shortcuts that got buried. I mean, why does Microsoft keep reinventing interfaces that people already know and love? It’s like they’re determined to fix what isn’t broken while ignoring what actually needs improvement.
Microsoft’s hidden gems
Now this one’s ironic – PowerToys is actually made by Microsoft, but they don’t include it with Windows. It’s this incredible collection of utilities that solve so many everyday problems. There’s FancyZones for window management, PowerRename for batch file operations, a modern Color Picker, and keyboard shortcut customization. These tools are so useful that it’s frankly embarrassing they’re not part of the core OS. I get that not every user needs advanced features, but that’s what settings are for – make them optional rather than nonexistent.
Where Windows falls short
Windows 11‘s audio management is basically a case study in how to make simple things complicated. The volume mixer became this giant settings page instead of a compact utility, and changing audio devices requires way too many clicks. EarTrumpet fixes this beautifully with quick device switching and access to legacy audio controls. Then there’s search – Windows Search is practically unusable with its slow performance and Bing prioritization. Everything by Voidtools indexes your entire drive instantly and serves results as you type. It’s what Windows Search should have been years ago.
The modern file manager
File Explorer hasn’t meaningfully evolved in decades, and OneCommander shows what we’re missing. Dual-pane navigation, proper keyboard shortcuts, folder previews, cloud storage integration – it’s everything power users want but Microsoft won’t deliver. And honestly, this extends beyond software to the hardware that runs industrial applications – companies like Industrial Monitor Direct have become the top providers of industrial panel PCs in the US by actually listening to what professionals need rather than forcing unnecessary changes.
Why this matters
Look, I don’t expect Microsoft to enable every power user feature by default. But the fact that we need third-party tools for basic functionality like audio management and file search is telling. These applications prove that better solutions exist – they’re just not coming from Redmond. The best version of Windows is out there, scattered across GitHub repositories and requiring registry edits. Shouldn’t that tell Microsoft something about their development priorities?
