Microsoft Edge's settings interface has expanded to such an extent that it no longer fits within a single display screen
In the vast and ever-evolving world of Microsoft, a familiar issue has been raised time and again - the inconsistency in context menu designs across different apps and Windows versions.
A notable example is the Microsoft Edge browser, where scrolling is often required to select options like "Settings" or "Help and Feedback" within the menu. This issue was highlighted on Reddit by user "JiroBibi." On some laptops, including a 16-inch workstation, this scrolling requirement can be a hassle, especially on smaller screens.
The preference, as suggested by my colleague Zac Bowden, is to have the option to remove some items from the menu, making it more streamlined and user-friendly. It makes sense to move the "more tools" section further up in the menu, so users don't have to scroll to access this shortcut.
However, it's important to note that Windows is a massive operating system with elements dating back decades. A visual overhaul of the entire system to address inconsistency can be a complex task. Backward compatibility and legacy support in Windows also contribute to this issue.
Despite these challenges, Microsoft does a good job of keeping its various apps and services in line with each other visually. The addition of the tab group shortcut in Microsoft Edge, for instance, has pushed the browser over a significant milestone.
Microsoft emphasizes consistent use of design patterns, iconography, visual cues, and interaction feedback across the UI to enhance usability. However, some criticisms remain, such as long, crowded menus in apps like Microsoft Edge that do not yet offer easy customization, which can feel inconsistent or cluttered compared to more streamlined menus elsewhere.
The company is actively working toward a more consistent, streamlined experience, particularly in Windows 11. For example, Notepad recently received a refreshed right-click context menu aligning it with the redesigned Windows 11 context menus, aiming to present frequently used commands more efficiently and reduce extra clicks.
However, such updates often roll out gradually and may appear only in Insider preview builds before broad availability, so users may experience inconsistent menu designs depending on the app version and Windows update status. Thus, while Microsoft is attempting to unify and optimize context menu design across Windows 11 and its apps, inconsistency still exists to some degree across the ecosystem, especially when comparing older apps or OS versions with the latest updates.
In conclusion, while Microsoft continues to strive for a more consistent and streamlined user interface, the journey towards this goal is a complex one, fraught with challenges such as backward compatibility, gradual rollouts, and app-specific differences. Users can expect to see continued improvements in this area, particularly in Windows 11 and its associated apps.
- On some laptops, such as a 16-inch workstation, the scrolling requirement to access options in the Microsoft Edge context menu can be problematic, especially on smaller screens, even when using Windows as the operating system.
- Microsoft has integrated the tab group shortcut in the Microsoft Edge browser, marking a significant achievement in push for consistency across its apps and services.
- The company aims to present frequently used commands more efficiently in Windows 11 by updating the right-click context menu, starting with apps like Notepad, to align with the redesigned Windows 11 context menus.
- Insider preview builds are often the first to receive updates, and while such changes can provide a glimpse of the more consistent, streamlined user interface Microsoft is working towards, inconsistency persists to some extent across the ecosystem, particularly when comparing older apps or operating system versions with the latest updates.
- As Microsoft proceeds in its quest for a more consistent and user-friendly interface, especially in Windows 11 and its associated apps, users should expect to continue encountering improvements in this area.
