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Windows 11 Is Starting to Feel Like macOS

And that isn’t a bad thing

By Joshua Hawkins Joshua Hawkins Freelance Technology Reporter Full Sail University Josh Hawkins is a freelance writer for Lifewire who loves writing about the latest tech and gadgets that help make people’s lives easier. As an avid gamer and VR enthusiast, he also enjoys diving deep into the technology that helps bring those kinds of experiences to life. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 22, 2021 02:31PM EDT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Computers Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming

Key Takeaways

Windows 11 has leaked early, allowing users to install and check out an early developer version of the upcoming operating system.Microsoft plans to officially announce Windows 11 during its June 24 event, and the OS is expected to arrive sometime in the fall.While we still haven’t seen the full picture, Windows 11 seems to take a lot of hints from macOS, including its core new taskbar design and overall UI changes.
So far, Windows 11 is shaping up to be an interesting push for Microsoft, though I can’t help but feel it’s taking a few hints from macOS along the way. Microsoft is expected to reveal Windows 11 on June 24, but a leaked copy of an early build has already been making the rounds. The leaked version doesn’t include every change coming to the operating system when Windows 11 drops, but it does give a good look at some of the big UI changes coming. These changes include a centered start menu more akin to macOS’ dock, as well as rounded corners on many of the File Explorer windows. Out of curiosity, I decided to load up the version on a machine and give it a whirl. While there still seems to be a lot missing, so far Windows 11 feels like a push towards making Windows feel more like Apple’s computer OS, and I’m kind of here for it.

Shiny New Looks

One of the things I’ve always loved about macOS is the clean look of its interface. It isn’t cluttered with app labels and the like, and that makes for a smooth and decluttered experience. Windows 11 emulates this a lot by forgoing the tried and true labels we’ve come to rely on in Windows for crisp icons. It can be a little confusing at first, but once you know what each icon leads to, the confusion fades away. The taskbar is also completely centered, similar to the look of the macOS dock and the main taskbar in Chrome OS. You can change it to the left side in the settings, but overall it actually looks clean in the center of the screen. Everything about the UI changes to the main screen feels like an attempt to declutter the screen. As someone who likes to keep a minimum amount of icons on his desktop, I can appreciate the moves Microsoft is making. Much like the taskbar icons, though, getting used to the new start menu can feel a little disjointed at first, especially when you start interacting with the Windows icon. Instead of launching a start menu, the Windows icon opens up an app tray very akin to that seen in the latest Chrome OS update. It’s a weird change from the standard design seen in Windows 10, but it honestly makes sense with the overall clutter-free design.

Building off the Past

There’s another key point Windows 11 seems to follow that we’ve seen in previous iterations of macOS. While the name might be changing, Windows 11 feels more like a natural progression of Windows 10, instead of a completely new operating system. Sure, there are the visual changes, and there are bound to be more changes in the final version, too. But, with what’s already there, and how easily it all connects together with a current version of Windows 10, the newest Microsoft OS feels more like an update than the disjointed version changes we’ve seen in the past. Yeah, it isn’t perfect, and there’s a lot that’s going to feel different to people, especially Windows die-hards. But, if you’re like me, and you’ve waited for Microsoft to declutter the operating system, Windows 11 feels like a nice step forward. Ultimately, there’s still a lot we don’t know about the OS, though. This is an incomplete look at something that probably won’t be released until the fall, so there’s no telling what other changes Microsoft could make between now and then. But, if Microsoft continues with this trajectory, Windows 11 could finally learn a lesson that macOS picked up on a long time ago: not every operating system update has to be revolutionary. Sometimes, we just need to remove the clutter and spruce things up with new features. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Windows 11: News, Release Date, and Specs How to Disable Taskbar Button Grouping in Windows How to Change Brightness in Windows 11 How to Fix Incorrect Windows 11 Audio Icons A Brief History of Microsoft Windows Can I Run Windows 11 on My Computer? How to Fix It When Windows 11 Is Slow How to Open File Explorer in Windows 11 How to Open Internet Explorer 11 in Windows 10 What Version of Windows Do I Have? How to Open Command Prompt (Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, etc.) How to Fix It When Windows 11 Is Stuck in Airplane Mode Windows 10: Release Date, Editions, Features, and More No Sounds on Windows 11? Here's How to Fix It The 5 Best Windows 11 Features to Know The 8 Best Android Emulators for Windows 10 and Windows 11 Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies