Windows 11 File Explorer Right-click Menu was changed to include icons

Anonymous
2021-12-06T15:53:47+00:00

Who did this and why do they do it (see picture below)? The File Explorer right-click menu has had the options: Cut, Copy, Paste, Rename, Delete listed (as words) in this menu FOREVER and now some genius decided that after all these years, Windows users are too dumb to read. The words were replaced with icons. THIS IS SO ANNOYING. THE MUSCLE MEMORY IN MY HANDS IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO RETRAIN AFTER YEARS OF THE MENU BEING THE SAME WAY. Now I have to stop and think about something that I've done instinctively for years. I can get to the ORIGINAL right-click menu by selecting "Show More Options," shown in the photo below, but WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO, THAT'S AN EXTRA STEP? If I am intelligent enough to boot up a computer, then certainly I can read the words: Cut, Copy, Paste, Rename and Delete. I don't need you to create icons to represent those functions. IF IT'S NOT BROKEN THEN DON'T TRY TO FIX IT. STOP DUMBING DOWN THE SOFTWARE AND MAKING THINGS HARDER PLEASE.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-08-13T17:05:58+00:00

    Thank you for writing the words for me.

    The silly icons suck and take more time than the written words did!

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-08-04T12:54:11+00:00

    This is the exact reason why 30 years ago I decided to never buy an Apple product and I never have. I found it so frustrating to waste my time trying to figure out what each of their little pictures meant instead of either seeing the names next to them or being able to see thee names by hovering y mouse over them. At the time Apple was pushing the Mac as more "user-friendly" and they were very arrogant about it, but I thought they were the opposite!

    Windows 11 only downloaded to my computer last night and I have already 4run into too many annoying issues. If Microsoft wanted to make it more personalizable, how about putting in a feature where I can decide how m icons are to be arranged on the desktop. I do not arrange them alphabetically, nor in any other order others might use. I group them in various locations on the desktop based upon how I work with them and every time there is some major update or something to interrupt Explorer, I have to spend an hour rearranging them because Microsoft thinks everyone should have their desktop icons arranged starting on the left hand side.

    I'm now spending time trying to figure out how to make Windows 11 stop using those new horrible looking "folder with contents" icons they now have. I already had to get rid of their annoying background picture on my desktop so I can actually see my icons. It looks like this is going to be another day wasted trying to undo the mess Microsoft made of my computer.

    And, I didn't even want Windows 11. I tried to refuse to allow it to be downloaded, but they finally got around that.

    I'm seriously considering going with Linux on my next laptop.

    Microsoft, you do NOT know the best way for each individual to work and your design decision makers are too arrogant because they think they can simply change something people have been working with for years and we just have to accept it. One word: LINUX!

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-07-16T07:56:04+00:00

    Isn't this only if PowerToys is installed though...?

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-04-21T18:07:14+00:00

    Couldn't agree more. Just "upgraded" to Windows 11. Spent I don't know how long trying to make it work effectively and efficiently again. Microsoft seem to be keen on two things: finding ways to get more advertising in their products and giving 'updates' so things are 'new' and 'fresh' and 'different' - even if they are pointlessly faffing around with the system.

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