Windows 11: Six features that will disappear in 2024
Microsoft continues to update Windows 11, adding new features like Copilot and other smart tools. However, with each update, some older features stop being supported. In 2024, expect big changes for Windows 11 with the release of a new version called 24H2.
Here's What We Know
With the release of the upcoming major update 24H2 for Windows 11, a lot of changes are expected in the system. But it's also learnt that Microsoft will also remove some apps with the release of 24H2 that have become familiar to users. Here are 6 features that will soon no longer be supported:
- 32-bit Arm apps: The tech industry has long been moving away from using 32-bit Arm apps. Microsoft is officially ending support for these apps in Windows 11 in 2024.
- Steps Recorder app: Steps Recorder was a handy tool in Windows that allowed you to record activities on your computer. However, this tool may be removed soon.
- Windows Speech Recognition: Another feature that will be phased out is the classic Windows speech recognition. In 2022, Microsoft introduced a new tool called Voice Access, which is more modern.
- WordPad: The removal of WordPad is probably one of the most significant losses here. WordPad is a text editor that was positioned between Notepad and Microsoft Word in terms of functionality. It's a free tool that offers some text formatting options, albeit with fewer features compared to Word. Microsoft seems to be pushing users to choose between using Notepad and switching to Word, which makes good business sense. WordPad will be removed with the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 version later this year.
- Windows Mixed Reality: When Windows 10 came out, Microsoft was confident about the big future of mixed reality technology. However, despite supporting the concept, Microsoft hasn't made significant steps in this direction on Windows in a long time. New headsets haven't appeared in years and now Microsoft is abandoning the idea. Windows Mixed Reality will be removed from Windows 11 with version 24H2. However, if you have a headset, you can continue to use it with Steam apps if you avoid installing the update.
- Windows Subsystem for Android: The big news concerns support for Android apps in Windows 11, which was a big deal when it was first announced and finally arrived in early 2022. However, just two years after launch, Microsoft suddenly announced the closure of the platform with immediate effect. The Windows subsystem for Android was no longer available even before that point. The only way to (officially) access Android apps now is if you already have them installed. But if you're setting up a new computer, you no longer have that option. And as early as next year, this feature will be removed entirely.
The loss of these Windows apps may not be such bad news. It's certainly disappointing to watch some Windows features slowly disappear, especially features like the Windows subsystem for Android, which was introduced relatively recently. However, the outlook for Windows 11 looks promising with the upcoming version 24H2 and its suite of new features, particularly artificial intelligence capabilities.
Source: XDA Developers
