Windows 11 is brimming with problems, and Microsoft knows it

Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 11 will be available – for some – later this year. The all-new desktop operating system brings a huge number of changes, including a radically reimagined Start Menu, interactive widgets, new options to juggle multiple windows across multiple screens, and more.

It’s all incredibly exciting …but don’t let that excitement push you to download the beta version yet. Microsoft has started testing the next major iteration of its operating system with Windows Insiders to work out the kinks ahead of the launch. And the early reports suggest there are a lot of kinks to iron out.

The first batch of laptops, desktop PCs and tablets preinstalled with Windows 11 will launch later this year, Microsoft has confirmed. But there’s plenty of work to do before the release date. That’s not uncommon with these major upgrades.

Some of the biggest issues plaguing Windows Insiders right now is the lack of search within the Start Menu. Starting with Windows 11, Microsoft is incorporating its universal search bar into the Start Menu. The search bar – which lets users trawl through documents, contacts, applications and web results – was found on the task bar in Windows 10, but has been moved into the new-look Start Menu, which will appear in the centre of the screen by default.

If you’re a developer using the Windows 11 beta to test compatibility with your software or hardware, this isn’t too much of an issue. After all, these issues are exactly the sort of thing that need to be sorted before the launch. However, if you’re excited to use Windows 11 ahead of its launch – the lack of search is a real deal-breaker. If you only have a single machine at home and need it to work or send emails, it’s worth holding off installing the Windows 11 beta right now.

And the broken search bar isn’t the only headache for beta-testers.

Despite promising a glossy new design language across its desktop operating system …it’s not quite ready yet. Yes, Microsoft is still working one bringing the sleek new design to File Explorer. In the current beta version, the File Explorer looks almost identical to Windows 10.

Other known issues, acknowledged by Microsoft, in the current beta version are…

• System text scaling will scale all widgets proportionally and may result in cropped widgets
• Taskbar will not be shown across multiple monitors but will return in an upcoming build
• The preview window may not display the entire window when hovering over Task View on the taskbar
• A small set of Settings legacy pages as well as fit and finish bugs will be addressed in future releases
• When using Quick Settings to modify Accessibility settings, the settings UI may not save the selected state
• The install button might not be functional yet in some limited scenarios in the Windows Store
• Rating and reviews are not available for some apps

With months of beta-testing to go before Windows 11 launches worldwide, there’s plenty of time to iron out the quirks. While anyone can sign-up to become a Windows Insider and get the latest features ahead of launch, we’d advise against it right now – as it’s packed with bugs.