Welcome to the new Windows Central for 2022

The new look of Windows Central in 2022.
The new look of Windows Central in 2022. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Over the last 15 years, this site has gone through many transitions from names (e.g., WMExperts, Windows Phone Central) to significant site redesigns.

Today is another one of those days. Although we're not changing the name, thankfully, you may have noticed this morning that the site has an all-new look. The layout aligns with other sites owned by Future PLC (our parent company) and is also more optimized for web and mobile traffic.

Of course, like any transition, there are bumps and issues along the way during the migration process. We're working on these fixes behind the scenes over the coming weeks, including fixing layout quirks (both on PC and mobile).

To better summarize in a tl:dr way questions you may have about the redesign.

Why the site redesign?

In short, the old site (including our backend editor) was getting too dated to keep up with emerging web technologies. In addition, all sites owned by Future PLC are eventually going to be on the same system to ensure servicing and compatibility needs and make management more effortless. Heck, we now even have a live blogging system for whenever we start doing live events again!

The new site looks boring.

We're sorry you feel that way. We're hoping that the cleaner, more streamlined look (including faster load times, especially on mobile) will outweigh having a custom-designed site and layout. We will continue to push our overlords for more customization and design choices in the coming months.

Will there be a dark mode?

Windows Central using Dark Reader extension (Image credit: Windows Central)

Unfortunately, no. This feature is something the Windows Central staff wants, but it doesn't look like it will happen. 

The good news is you can use a browser extension like Dark Reader or Night Eye to force it (it looks terrific!). Our advice: If using Dark Reader, under Site List, choose to use "Invert Listed Only," and add windowscentral.com so only our site runs in forced dark mode.

Where are the comments?

Good question! We're not getting rid of comments. In fact, we're finally switching over to the popular Disqus system after many years of people asking for it. However, it will take a few more weeks for it to be migrated over, but it is a top priority for the web team, so sit tight! You can always argue with me on Twitter if you like.

Do you have a Discord we can use instead?

The official Windows Central Discord Server. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Yes! We have a very active Discord channel with over 2,000 members, with hundreds online at any given time. Jump in and talk about Windows, Surface rumors, Xbox, and more, including all the news today.

Need more? You can also join our weekly live podcast every Friday at 1:30 PM ET on our YouTube channel.

What about the ads?

Website ads are rarely enjoyable, and, unfortunately, our site is no different for many. While we try our best to balance the site's appearance with the need to pay our staff, it rarely works in a way that satisfies everyone (it's also something we seldom have direct control over).

However, we also understand the reality of the web today and users' desires. If you do obscure our ads, we ask that you click through our links next time you buy a game or laptop, as that commission helps us offset the loss of ad revenue.

What happened to the Android and Windows apps for the site?

Windows Central as a PWA in Edge while using the free Dark Reader extension.  (Image credit: Windows Central)

Unfortunately, those apps are no longer supported or working and have been pulled from their respective stores. Mobile apps dedicated to websites are just not something en vogue anymore, and the costs of maintaining the apps (versus return) are hard to justify. While we took a lot of pride in our older apps (especially the one for Windows Phone), it's time for us to move on.

Of course, you could pin our "app" to your Task Bar, Start, or desktop by installing our site as a PWA in either Android or Windows with Edge. It's a very similar experience and looks great, too.

Wrap up

Hopefully, that answers some of your top questions regarding Windows Central. We appreciate you bearing with us as we go through this process, and we're always listening to your feedback. The team has been hard at work on this transition and has been under a lot of stress as we must learn an entirely new system, too, so thank you for your patience!

CATEGORIES
Daniel Rubino
Editor-in-chief

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central. He is also the head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007 when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and wearable tech. He has reviewed laptops for over 10 years and is particularly fond of 2-in-1 convertibles, Arm64 processors, new form factors, and thin-and-light PCs. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, performed polysomnographs in NYC, and was a motion-picture operator for 17 years.

Read more
Nokia Lumia 1020 camera bump
Windows Phone 'revived,' Windows 95 in the news, and Halo back on TV? Did someone invent a time machine?
Surface Laptop 7
The Surface you know and love (or hate) is dead — Microsoft's Windows hardware enters a new era
Nightingale ROG Ally and Steam Deck.
Xbox Gaming Handheld details emerge as millions of soon-to-be stuck Windows 10 PCs get an unlikely savior in ChromeOS and Microsoft prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary
Themes section of the Microsoft Store on Windows 11
Two of my least favorite things about the Microsoft Store are about to get fixed
Surface Laptop 7
Amazon warns Surface Laptop 7 shoppers as Mojang unveils massive visual update to Minecraft and Microsoft leaks a potential new feature for the Xbox app on Windows 11
This is fine meme with the Microsoft logo on the dog surrounded by flames.
Microsoft News Roundup: Nightmare week of price hikes, rebrands, and remembering how Bill Gates lost $400 billion
Latest in Microsoft
Cloud servers
Microsoft has killed "several" data center projects in the U.S. and Europe, according to reports — Microsoft responds (Updated)
Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates, former CEOs of Microsoft.
Bill Gates says Satya Nadella almost missed the cut for CEO of Microsoft — Even with Steve Ballmer's support
HP Reverb G2 VR headset
Was Windows Mixed Reality as bad as I remember? I look back at the failed VR platform that was ahead of its time.
Microsoft Majorana 1 chip designed for quantum computing
Microsoft dismisses quantum computing skepticism: "There is a century-old scientific process established by the American Physical Society for resolving disputes"
The Microsoft logo on a smartphone and laptop arranged in Crockett, California, US, on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023.
"Would you say there is a reasonable balance between what you contribute to Microsoft and what you get in return?" Two-thirds of Microsoft employees say YES — as AI engineers get preferential compensation packages.
Like a Dragon Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii screenshot
Microsoft blocks (some) Windows 11 pirates while Lenovo steals the show at Mobile World Congress
Latest in News
Cloud servers
Microsoft has killed "several" data center projects in the U.S. and Europe, according to reports — Microsoft responds (Updated)
Photo of Microsoft's new sign-in page for Xbox.com using the Microsoft Edge browser.
Over one billion users will get a new Microsoft user experience, and it has a dark mode
The Thing: Remastered key art
The Thing comes to Xbox Cloud Gaming's "Stream Your Own Game" library alongside other new arrivals
Promotional screenshot of heroes fighting a giant in Pillars of Eternity
Obsidian's classic Baldur's Gate successor 'Pillars of Eternity' is getting a surprise turn-based mode later this year, alongside other updates
Atomfall
Atomfall reviews and Metacritic scores are in: Here's a roundup of what everyone's saying about this new Game Pass survival game
Screenshot of one of the new flat world presets in Minecraft.
Minecraft testing new flat world presets and a better way to locate your friends in-game