- Microsoft’s list of features that have been removed or deprecated from Windows 11.
- The most noticeable components being removed in 2023 include Cortana, WordPad, Maps, Movies & TV apps, and Windows Mixed Reality.
UPDATED 12/21/2023: Microsoft proactively releases new features and improvements for Windows 11 but sometimes removes features and other components based on different reasons. For example, the company removes or deprecates features that are no longer relevant components and wants to focus on developing new features, show low user usage, are no longer compatible, or could be a security risk.
Ultimately, whether or not to remove or deprecate a feature is a complex session that Microsoft makes on a case-by-case basis. The company considers various factors, including the reasons listed above and the overall impact that removing or deprecating will have on users.
For example, in 2023, the software giant announced about a dozen features that are not or won’t be part of the operating system moving forward, including Cortana, Maps, WordPad, Movies and TV apps, and even the Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool.
Here are some specific examples of features that Microsoft has removed or deprecated on Windows 11.
2023 features removed or deprecated
In 2023, Microsoft is removing and deprecating several features, including:
- Windows Mixed Reality: This feature has been deprecated, and the company plans to remove it from the operating system in future updates.
- Microsoft Defender Application Guard for Edge: Microsoft has stopped developing its Defender Application Guard and the Windows Isolated App Launcher APIs. The feature will continue to be available, but it’ll eventually be removed from the operating system.
- Legacy console mode: The legacy console mode is no longer being developed, and the company plans to remove this mode in future updates.
- Windows speech recognition: The feature is now and is no longer being developed. This feature is being replaced with voice access.
- Microsoft Defender Application Guard for Office: This feature has been deprecated.
- Tips: The app has been deprecated and will be removed in a future release of the operating system.
- Steps Recorder: As of preview build 23590, this application has been deprecated.
- Windows Maps: As of preview build 25987, Microsoft is removing this app from Windows 11.
- Movies and TV: As of preview build 25987, Microsoft is removing this app from Windows 11.
- Computer Brower: This driver and service are now deprecated. The browser (browser protocol and service) is outdated and insecure.
- Webclient (WebDAV) Service: This service has also been deprecated. The Webclient service is not started by default on Windows 11.
- Remote Mailslots: The protocol is outdated and no longer secure, so it has been deprecated.
- Timeline for Microsoft Entra accounts: Microsoft is also deprecating cross-device syncing of Microsoft Entra user activity history in 2024.
- VBScript: This feature has been deprecated, but it’ll continue to be available for some time as a feature on demand.
- WordPad: The app has been deprecated and will be removed in future Windows releases.
- AllJoyn: The implementation that includes the Windows.Devices.AllJoyn API namespace, a Win32 API, a management configuration service provider (CSP), and an Alljoyn Router Service have been deprecated.
- TLS 1.0 and 1.1: The protocols are no longer secure, and they’re now disabled by default. This feature will be removed in future releases.
- Cortana: The digital assistant standalone app is deprecated, and it has been replaced by Copilot.
- Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool (MSDT): This feature is deprecated and will be removed in a future release of Windows.
- Universal Windows Platform (UWP) Applications for 32-bit ARM: Support for 32-bit ARM versions of applications will be removed in a future release of Windows 11.
2022 features removed or deprecated
In 2022, Windows 11 no longer includes or supports these features:
- Update Compliance: This cloud-based service for the Windows client is now retired.
- Windows Information Protection: This feature is no longer being developed.
- Store uploader tool: Support has been removed for the store uploader tool.
2021 features removed or deprecated
Once you upgrade to Windows 11 or get a device with the new operating system, these are some of the features that may be removed or deprecated:
- Start menu: The class experience found on Windows 10 will be replaced with the new design. As a result, named groups and folders of apps are no longer supported, and the layout is not currently resizable. Pinned apps and sites will not migrate when upgrading from Windows 10. And Live Tiles are no longer available.
- Taskbar: This feature is evolving. As a result, it will cause some changes. For example, My People will no longer be present on the taskbar. Some icons may no longer appear in the System Tray (systray) for upgraded devices, including previous customizations. Alignment to the bottom of the screen is the only location allowed. And apps can no longer customize areas of the taskbar.
- Timeline: Windows 11 will no longer include the feature to pick up where you left off on documents. However, some of the functionalities will be available on Microsoft Edge and the Start menu.
- Cortana: The digital assistant will no longer be included in the first boot experience or pinned to the taskbar.
- Desktop background: You will still be able to change the desktop wallpaper, but you can no longer sync them across devices when signed in with a Microsoft account.
- Internet Explorer: The legacy browser will be disabled and replaced with Microsoft Edge.
- Math Input Panel: This feature will be removed. Math Recognizer will be installed on demand and includes the math input control and recognizer.
- News & Interests: The Widgets feature will replace the old experience.
- Quick Status: The feature from the Lockscreen and associated settings are removed.
- Windows in S Mode: This restricted mode is only available now for Windows 11 Home Edition.
- Snipping Tool: The app will continue to be available, but the old design and functionality have been replaced with those of the app previously known as Snip & Sketch.
- Tablet Mode: This feature has been removed, and new functionality and capability are included for keyboard attachment and detachment postures.
- Touch Keyboard: This feature will no longer dock and undock keyboard layouts on screen sizes 18 inches and larger.
- Wallet: Windows 11 will remove this feature.
In addition to the above features being removed or deprecated, the following apps will no longer be installed on new devices or after a clean installation of Windows 11. These apps include 3D Viewer, OneNote for Windows 10, Paint 3D, and Skype.
As you can see, there are not a lot of features that the company is scrapping from Windows 11. However, the list points out some significant changes to the experience. For example, you will no longer be able to resize the Start menu or change the taskbar position since it will only be available at the bottom of the screen.
Update December 21, 2023: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect new changes.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].