Microsoft wants to know what you would like Windows to look like! Propose and review Windows features to shape the next version of Windows.
If the Windows 8 debacle taught Microsoft one thing, it's that the customer can make or break a product. While the average consumer might not always know what exactly they want, they can be very clear about what they don't want. Hence, pushing out novel features without giving the public a chance to review them remains a risk.
For the continued development of the Windows operating system, Microsoft is tapping into the ingenuity of its crowd, allowing them to suggest Windows features via its Windows portal, powered by UserVoice.
Who Can Participate?
The target audience of the particular forum introduced here are Windows PC and tablet users. If you would like to provide Microsoft with feedback on a different platform (e.g. Windows Phone) or specific software or services, please find the respective forum, listed towards the end of this article.
To participate, you need to provide your email address or log in using your Facebook or Google account.
How Can I Participate?
You can...
- suggest features,
- vote on the suggestions of others,
- comment on and discuss feature suggestions, and
- share suggested features via social media.
Once you are logged in, you are given a maximum of 20 votes to upvote suggestions. For each suggestion you submit, you must commit at least one vote. Each suggestion can receive a maximum of three votes per voter.
How Can I Find Existing Suggestions?
Suggestions can be browsed by category, hot ideas, top ideas, and new ideas.
Presently, some of the most voted for suggestions include tabs for Windows Explorer, the return of Aero Glass, a better Notepad application, Cortana in Windows 8.1, and making Windows free for everyone.
How Can I Support A Suggestion?
To support a suggestion, you need to vote for it. Simply click the Vote button and select the number of votes you would like to give the idea. You can add up to 3 votes to each suggestion.
How Can I Suggest A Feature?
To suggest a feature, scroll down on the start page or click the Post a new idea... link in the right-hand sidebar. As you are entering your keywords into the text field, similar suggestions from others will show up below.
If after checking the list of potential matches you think your suggestion is unique, click the Post a new idea... button (see screenshot above) to proceed with submitting your own suggestion. Select a category and description for your idea, decide how many votes you'd like to commit to it, and click Post idea.
I Changed My Mind! How Can I Get My Vote(s) Back?
Click My feedback in the right-hand sidebar to see all the suggestions you submitted and voted for. If you'd like to re-distribute points to different suggestions, find one you no longer want to support, click the Vote button and either change the number of votes or select Remove votes.
You can also remove votes from your own suggestions or you can delete them. Note that leaving a suggestion with 0 votes will most likely cause it to be closed.
If an idea you voted for is closed, your votes are automatically returned to you.
I Have Suggestions For Other Microsoft Products!
The Windows Observer recently compiled a list of UserVoice feedback portals they found via Bing. Below is an updated and alphabetically sorted list.
Are we missing any forums? Please leave a link in the comments!
Are You Ready To Shape The Next Version Of Windows?
Compared to Windows Phone or OneNote, the Windows portal shows only modest participation. That's probably because it was launched only recently. We don't know whether Microsoft will really listen to the features its users are requesting. The only way to find out is to try.
Which Windows features have you suggested or which ones do you support? Post a link below so fellow readers can help you get the idea off the ground with their votes.
Image Credits: 3d ear Via Shutterstock