Some Features were Removed by Microsoft Last Year
Here are the most noticeable removed tools and what they mean in real life:1. Cortana app
Microsoft finally retired the standalone Cortana app in early 2025. In my testing, I rarely used it for voice commands. However, I definitely missed its "Remind Me Later" Quick Tasks feature. Now, I rely on the less interactive Windows Copilot.
2. Timeline view in Task View
This feature lets you scroll through past activities on the device. I used it as a quick breadcrumb trail when I forgot where I saved a file. Without it, I've relied more on cloud sync and OneDrive search.
3. Mail and Calendar apps
The new Outlook for Windows has replaced it. Outlook is more powerful, though. It's heavier on system resources, and my old laptop felt sluggish as well.
4. Legacy system tray icons
The feature to easily move some icons around is no longer there and has been replaced by a similar "hidden icons" flyout. It looks cleaner. But I miss having my VPN and volume controls right where I wanted them.
5. WordPad
After decades, WordPad is officially gone. I only opened it occasionally. But it was useful for quickly editing .rtf without opening Word. Now, I use Notepad by default, which is better, but it still lacks rich text formatting.
2. Timeline view in Task View
This feature lets you scroll through past activities on the device. I used it as a quick breadcrumb trail when I forgot where I saved a file. Without it, I've relied more on cloud sync and OneDrive search.
3. Mail and Calendar apps
The new Outlook for Windows has replaced it. Outlook is more powerful, though. It's heavier on system resources, and my old laptop felt sluggish as well.
4. Legacy system tray icons
The feature to easily move some icons around is no longer there and has been replaced by a similar "hidden icons" flyout. It looks cleaner. But I miss having my VPN and volume controls right where I wanted them.
5. WordPad
After decades, WordPad is officially gone. I only opened it occasionally. But it was useful for quickly editing .rtf without opening Word. Now, I use Notepad by default, which is better, but it still lacks rich text formatting.
From my perspective, the removal of icons this year is intended to streamline Windows 11 and attract users to Microsoft's new, integrated tools. What's the downside? Less customizability for those of us who like to fine-tune our setup.
Quote from Microsoft
In Microsoft's own words from the Windows Insider blog:"We're removing features that are less frequently used and that are better provided by modern alternatives, allowing us to focus on innovation and quality."
How to Get It Back: Microsoft Removed Apps
Although you can't officially roll back some features, here's what I've tried:1. Reinstall missing apps via optional features
- Open Settings > Apps > Optional Features.
- Choose "Add a feature" and search for "Notepad", "Paint", or other basic features—unfortunately, WordPad isn't there.
2. Use third-party tools for old behavior
- StartAllBack can restore the classic system tray layout and taskbar flexibility.
- Rainmeter offers live widgets to replace the removed Start menu live tile function.
3. Roll back temporarily
- Go to Settings > System > Recovery and choose Roll back (within 10 days).
- This is useful if you've just updated and think you've forgotten something important.
4. Take advantage of web versions
- Outlook Web for lightweight email use.
- Microsoft Designer or other cloud tools to replace older, smaller apps.
If you want to keep using older apps, something you can try in this pro tip is to keep a portable apps folder on a USB drive that runs older tools without installing them. My advice? Keep an eye on the update notes, be sure to back up your favorite workflows, and be prepared for alternatives. Which Windows 11 feature removal upset you the most this year?