Microsoft really wants you to upgrade to Windows 11 by touting its start menu as a 'game changer'

Windows 12 may not be coming this year after all. Perhaps one reason is that Microsoft is already struggling to get users to give up Windows 10 and migrate to Windows 11. How can Microsoft encourage users to make the switch? Promote its best features? Better performance? AI functionality? Apparently not.

In its latest YouTube advertisement (via The Register), Microsoft begins by talking about how easy it is to make the switch. To be fair, the process is not much more complicated than any other Windows update, but I'll expand on that shortly. After talking about that, the happy narrator mentions how—of all things—the Start Menu is a 'game changer'. Er, I'm not quite sure I'd lead off with that. I think the Windows 11 start menu is a downgrade from Windows 10.

After that, the ad goes on to explain how good the Windows File Explorer and security features are. Honestly, there's not much wrong with either of those in Windows 11. I like File Explorer's tab function, though I'd like to see Defenders' phishing functionality improved. The thing is, Windows 10 has reasonable security capabilities and we got on just fine with its File Explorer for years. Neither of these upgrades are anywhere near enough in themselves to encourage users to make the switch.

But promoting a new start menu? Sheesh! I hardly use the Windows 11 start menu for anything other than to turn off my PC. I have the important File Explorer and settings icons pinned to the taskbar and I dislike the way it pops up right in the middle of the screen. Windows 10's resizable tiles were a benefit to me, I liked having the ability to resize my favorite apps tiles. It was especially beneficial on my laptop's touch screen. I don't think the Windows 11 start menu is in any way a game changer.

Obviously this ad is targeted at less computer savvy users who are chugging along happily with Windows 10. But, why risk breaking all your files and apps if you don't have to? I totally understand the reluctance of users to