What Are the Downsides of Upgrading to Windows 11?

We’ve all seen the pop-up. That little blue icon in the system tray, politely (or maybe not-so-politely) nudging you to make the jump to Windows 11. It’s newer, it’s got that sleek centered taskbar, and it’s the “future” of Windows. As someone who lives and breathes this stuff, I get the appeal of the new shiny object.

But here’s the thing: “newer” doesn’t always mean “better.”

The decision to upgrade has become even more pressing, as Microsoft has officially stated that support for Windows 10 has come to an end on October 14, 2025. From now on, no more security updates, which means staying put becomes a significant risk.

So, we’re caught between a rock (an expiring OS) and a hard place (an OS with some very real drawbacks). I’ve spent a lot of time with Windows 11, and while it has its merits, I think it’s crucial to walk in with your eyes open. Let’s talk about the genuine downsides of upgrading to Windows 11.

1. The Great Wall: Strict Hardware Requirements

This is, without a doubt, the single biggest downside. You might want to upgrade, but your PC might not even be invited to the party.

Windows 11 introduced a list of surprisingly strict minimum hardware requirements that left millions of perfectly capable (and not even that old) computers behind.

The main culprits are:

• TPM 2.0: Requires a “Trusted Platform Module” 2.0 chip. This is a security feature, but many motherboards from before 2017-2018 simply don’t have it.
• CPU: A 1 GHz or faster 64-bit processor with 2 or more cores on a compatible list. This “compatible list” is the real issue. It disqualified many 7th-gen Intel and first-gen AMD Ryzen processors that are still incredibly powerful.
• RAM & Storage: 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. This is less of a barrier, but still a step up.

For many, this means the “free” upgrade to Windows 11 actually costs hundreds of dollars for a new PC. It’s a frustrating and, for many, wasteful proposition.

How to check: You can see the full list of requirements on the official Microsoft Windows 11 specs page.

2. A New Look, But a Clumsier Workflow? (The UI Debate)

My second biggest gripe is the user interface. Microsoft went for a modern, simplified look, but in doing so, they removed a lot of functionality and broke over a decade of user muscle memory.

The Taskbar and Start Menu

Let’s be blunt: the new taskbar is a downgrade in terms of power-user features.

• It’s locked to the bottom: For years, I’ve kept my taskbar on the side of my screen. So have countless developers, designers, and multitaskers. In Windows 11, you can’t. It’s the bottom or nothing.
• No more “Ungrouping”: Windows 10 let you see individual app windows on your taskbar with full labels. Windows 11 forces you to group icons, making it a guessing game when you have multiple Word docs or browser windows open.
• The Start Menu: The new Start Menu is… fine. But it dedicates half its space to a “Recommended” section for files and apps that I, frankly, never use. The “Live Tiles” are gone, for better or worse, and it just feels less customizable.

The Infamous “Show More Options” Context Menu

This one change drives me up the wall. When you right-click on a file, Windows 11 now shows a simplified, touch-friendly menu. To get to the actual menu with all your apps (like “Open with…” or “7-Zip”), you have to click “Show more options” at the bottom.

It’s an extra, unnecessary click that disrupts workflow every single time. It’s the digital equivalent of putting your car keys in a locked box that requires another key to open.

Ads, Bloat, and… Teams

Finally, the OS feels more cluttered with things I didn’t ask for.

• Ads: Microsoft calls them “suggestions” or “badges,” but they are ads. You’ll find them in the Start Menu and on the lock screen, pushing Microsoft 365 or OneDrive.
• Widgets: The new Widgets panel is a button on the taskbar. It’s mostly a portal for Microsoft Start news and weather, and I’ve yet to find it genuinely useful.
• Teams Chat: A “Chat” icon for the consumer version of Microsoft Teams is now baked directly into the taskbar. It can’t be fully uninstalled, only hidden.

3. Performance and Stability: A Roll of the Dice

When you upgrade an OS, you expect it to be at least as fast as the old one. With Windows 11, that’s not a guarantee.

Many users (myself included, on older hardware) have reported that Windows 11 feels “slower” or “heavier” than Windows 10. There seem to be more background processes running, and it can be less responsive on machines that aren’t top-of-the-line.

While many of the initial bugs (like the AMD performance issues) have been ironed out, new ones pop up. For instance, recent 2025 updates have caused known issues with Task Manager, where closing the app doesn’t actually terminate the process, leading to resource drain.

This leads to the classic “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” dilemma. If your Windows 10 setup is stable, fast, and bug-free, upgrading is a gamble.

4. The “Microsoft-ification” of Your PC

This is a more philosophical point, but it’s a real downside. Windows 11 feels less like my computer and more like Microsoft’s computer.

The most glaring example is the setup process. If you install Windows 11 Home, you are required to have an internet connection and sign in with a Microsoft account. You can’t just create an offline, local account from the start.

This, combined with the heavy-handed push for OneDrive, the Edge browser, and the aforementioned ads, makes it feel like you have less control over your own machine.

The Inevitable Catch: That 2025 Deadline

So, with all these downsides, why should anyone upgrade?

One simple, unavoidable reason: security.

As mentioned, Windows 10 support ends on October 14, 2025. After that, your PC will no longer receive critical security updates, making it vulnerable to new viruses, ransomware, and other threats. Your computer will still work, but it will not be safe to use, especially for online banking, shopping, or handling sensitive data.

Microsoft will offer an “Extended Security Updates” (ESU) program, but it will be a paid subscription and is really intended for businesses, not home users.

Read more: You can find the official details on the Windows 10 End of Support page.

Holding Pattern: What’s the Final Verdict?

So, what are the real downsides of upgrading to Windows 11? They are significant.

You may be forced to buy a new PC. You’ll have to relearn your workflow to accommodate a less functional UI. You might even experience new bugs or performance issues.

My advice? If your PC can’t run Windows 11, start saving up. Eventually, you will need to upgrade.

If your PC can run Windows 11, the choice is yours. You can hold out on the stable, familiar Windows 10 for as long as possible. But eventually, that security deadline will force your hand. The downsides are real, but unfortunately, so is the calendar.