Microsoft has announced that some legacy features will be removed in both Windows 11 and Windows 10. These features are no longer useful and will be removed in future versions of the operating systems. Feature deprecation is a normal process of removing existing components that are no longer needed to be maintained. In this article, we will explore the main features that will be removed and discuss available alternatives.
WordPad
One of the features that will be eliminated is WordPad, the basic Windows text editor. WordPad supports Rich-text format (RTF) and will be replaced by other alternatives such as Word. Although it may be a bit annoying to have to download a new text editor when installing a fresh copy of Windows, Microsoft suggests using Word as an alternative to WordPad.
Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool.
Another feature that will be eliminated is the Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool. This tool is used for troubleshooting and will soon be removed. Although you can use other troubleshooting tools such as “Get Help,” it may take some time to get used to these alternatives.
Cortana
Cortana, Microsoft’s virtual assistant, will be removed from versions of Windows 11 and Windows 10. However, it will still be available in Microsoft 365 as a productivity-enhancing solution. If you have already updated theCortana app from the Microsoft Store, you will no longer be able to use it.
Steps Recorder
StepsRecorder is an app focused on troubleshooting that allows you to record images and text and combine them into a presentation. This feature will soon be removed, but you can use other tools such as the updated “Screen Capture” and other apps that support screen recording.
Windows Mixed Reality.
Microsoft‘s virtual reality, known as Windows Mixed Reality, has not been as successful as expected and will be eliminated. This decision means the deprecation of the “Mixed Reality Portal” app and “Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR and Steam VR Beta.” Microsoft will stop providing support for mixed reality after November 1, 2026.
These are just some of the features that will be eliminated in Windows 11 and Windows 10. Other features that will be eliminated include the “Tips” app that explains new operating system features, the new “Voice Access” that will replace Windows speech recognition, and support for “Microsoft Defender Application Guard” in Edge and Office.
It is important to note that most of these features do not fit the modern design of Windows and appear outdated. While some of these features will surely be missed by users, there are better alternatives available to replace them.