Microsoft Puts An End To Support For Cortana in Windows 11

The Cortana app for Windows 11 has been discontinued by Microsoft. The company made the announcement via a blog post. Three years after also discontinuing its Cortana apps for iOS and Android, Microsoft is now rolling out an upgrade for Cortana that merely turns the digital assistant off.

Cortana will now display a warning that it is deprecated and a link to a support article when you try to launch it on Windows 11. Microsoft has announced that Cortana support for Teams mobile, Teams Display, and Teams Rooms would stop “in the fall of 2023.” Unexpectedly, Cortana on Outlook mobile “will continue to be available,” the company says. 

Prior to Microsoft introducing Cortana to Windows 10 in 2015, the digital assistant first debuted in Windows Phone. With the ability to open programs, support for voice commands, reminders, and other features, it was tightly incorporated into the Windows 10 taskbar. Cortana was later removed from the taskbar and the initial boot of Windows 11 by Microsoft, but the standalone app was kept up until this week.

Ultimately, despite a significant overhaul for iOS and Android, Cortana found it difficult to compete with rivals like Alexa or Google Assistant. Microsoft’s struggles with Windows Phone were largely responsible for Cortana’s shutdown, and in 2019, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella confirmed that Cortana was lagging behind rivals.

Windows Copilot, a new sidebar for Windows 11 that runs on Bing Chat and can control Windows settings, provides centralized AI assistance, and do much more, is currently being developed by Microsoft. The release of Windows Copilot is anticipated for this autumn as part of a Windows 11 update that will also feature native support for RAR and 7-Zip.

Also on the list of new releases by Microsoft is Microsoft 365 Copilot,  a new feature that turns your words into a powerful productivity tool using AI. Another exciting way users can get help with their tasks, calendar, email, and more.is through Voice access in Windows 11. This new feature in Windows 11 allows users to control their PC and write text using their voice. Open and switch between apps using voice commands, browse the web, and read and write emails as well.

In conclusion, “We are excited to keep innovating and using AI to help you work smarter and faster. We hope you enjoy the new ways to use AI to save time and focus on what matters most to you.” says Microsoft.