7 frustrating Windows 11 annoyances, and how to fix them（1-4）
Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2022 9:25 am
For a while, it looked like Microsoft might never move past Windows 10, but then it dropped Windows 11 in late 2021. Even with a longer gap between new versions, it was impossible for Microsoft to make everyone happy. Despite some notable improvements in Windows 11, there are still some nagging issues. Thankfully, a lot of them are fixable with varying degrees of legwork—here’s how you can patch the biggest annoyances in Windows 11.
Bypass the TPM 2.0 check
The first big Windows 11 headache starts before you even install it. Microsoft requires a TPM 2.0 module (among other hardware features), and not all machines have one of those. If your computer is otherwise capable of running Win11, you can safely bypass this check. The quickest way to fix this issue is to make a small tweak to the registry during the setup process.
Windows 11 TPM bypass
Bypassing Windows 11’s TPM check bypass via a registry edit.
While in the Windows installation dialog, you can hit Shift + F10 to open a command prompt, and from there you can launch the Windows registry editor by typing “regedit”and pressing enter. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup and then right-click. Select New > Key and name it LabConfig. Under that key, we need to add two values using New > DWORD (32-bit value). One of them should be called BypassTPMCheck and the other will be BypassSecureBootCheck. Double-click to change the values, setting them both to “1.”
With that done, you can go back to setup and continue your Windows installation adventure.
Move the Start menu and taskbar icons to the left
Windows 11 completely revamped the taskbar, and one of the first things you’ll notice about it is that your icons are no longer left-justified. Now, the icons are in the middle, along with the start button. If this change rubs you the wrong way, Microsoft will let you change it. However, the option is a bit buried.
Windows 11 taskbar options
Change the alignment of Windows 11’s taskbar icons and Start menu with this setting. You want ‘left’ to make it look like Windows 10.
The feature you need is available in Settings > Personalization > Taskbar. Scroll down to the bottom, and expand the “Taskbar behaviors” section. Near the top of this list is the alignment option. Change it from “Center” to “Left,” and you’re all set. It’s one of the many tweaks you can perform to make Windows 11 look like Windows 10.
Get the Windows 10 context menu back
One of the most frustrating experiences in Windows 11 shouldn’t come as a surprise. There are two different context menus now, matching the two settings apps. When you right-click, Windows 11 gives you a simplified context menu that’s missing a ton of options, just like the Windows 11 Settings app. If you want the full shebang, you have to click Show more options to get the rest of the context options. Luckily, you can go back to the proper context menu with a little registry editing.
Windows 11 context menu
Either run “regedit” or search the start menu for “registry editor” to get started. Navigate to Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID and then right-click. Use New > Key to create a new key folder. Name the key {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2} and then right-click on it to add another subkey, this one named InprocServer32. By default, this key contains a default with no value set. Double click on it, leave the data value blank, hit Ok, and you’re done. When you restart your computer, you’ll have the classic menu back.
Scheduled dark mode
It’s always nice when the fix for a problem is an open source app, and such is the case for Windows 11’s dark mode. We applaud Microsoft for adding a dark mode in Win11, but it’s almost useless without the ability to schedule activation like every other platform with a dark theme. That’s why Auto Dark Mode is around.
Windows 11 schedule dark mode
Auto Dark Mode’s scheduling options.
You can get this free app from the GitHub page or in the Microsoft Store. After installing, you’ll have the option to configure a schedule in the app. You can use custom hours for light and dark mode, or automate it based on your geographical location. Auto Dark Mode also includes options to control which parts of the interface change color, pausing theme changes while gaming, and more. Did we mention it’s free?
Bypass the TPM 2.0 check
The first big Windows 11 headache starts before you even install it. Microsoft requires a TPM 2.0 module (among other hardware features), and not all machines have one of those. If your computer is otherwise capable of running Win11, you can safely bypass this check. The quickest way to fix this issue is to make a small tweak to the registry during the setup process.
- Win11-TPM-bypass.jpg (126.33 KiB) Viewed 1460 times
Bypassing Windows 11’s TPM check bypass via a registry edit.
While in the Windows installation dialog, you can hit Shift + F10 to open a command prompt, and from there you can launch the Windows registry editor by typing “regedit”and pressing enter. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup and then right-click. Select New > Key and name it LabConfig. Under that key, we need to add two values using New > DWORD (32-bit value). One of them should be called BypassTPMCheck and the other will be BypassSecureBootCheck. Double-click to change the values, setting them both to “1.”
With that done, you can go back to setup and continue your Windows installation adventure.
Move the Start menu and taskbar icons to the left
Windows 11 completely revamped the taskbar, and one of the first things you’ll notice about it is that your icons are no longer left-justified. Now, the icons are in the middle, along with the start button. If this change rubs you the wrong way, Microsoft will let you change it. However, the option is a bit buried.
- Win11-taskbar-icons.jpg (54.41 KiB) Viewed 1460 times
Change the alignment of Windows 11’s taskbar icons and Start menu with this setting. You want ‘left’ to make it look like Windows 10.
The feature you need is available in Settings > Personalization > Taskbar. Scroll down to the bottom, and expand the “Taskbar behaviors” section. Near the top of this list is the alignment option. Change it from “Center” to “Left,” and you’re all set. It’s one of the many tweaks you can perform to make Windows 11 look like Windows 10.
Get the Windows 10 context menu back
One of the most frustrating experiences in Windows 11 shouldn’t come as a surprise. There are two different context menus now, matching the two settings apps. When you right-click, Windows 11 gives you a simplified context menu that’s missing a ton of options, just like the Windows 11 Settings app. If you want the full shebang, you have to click Show more options to get the rest of the context options. Luckily, you can go back to the proper context menu with a little registry editing.
Windows 11 context menu
- win11-context-menu.jpg (129.24 KiB) Viewed 1460 times
Scheduled dark mode
It’s always nice when the fix for a problem is an open source app, and such is the case for Windows 11’s dark mode. We applaud Microsoft for adding a dark mode in Win11, but it’s almost useless without the ability to schedule activation like every other platform with a dark theme. That’s why Auto Dark Mode is around.
- Win11-schedule-dark-mode.jpg (82.77 KiB) Viewed 1460 times
Auto Dark Mode’s scheduling options.
You can get this free app from the GitHub page or in the Microsoft Store. After installing, you’ll have the option to configure a schedule in the app. You can use custom hours for light and dark mode, or automate it based on your geographical location. Auto Dark Mode also includes options to control which parts of the interface change color, pausing theme changes while gaming, and more. Did we mention it’s free?