Microsoft Says Goodbye to Wordpad, Snipping Tool, and Other Utilities

Microsoft Windows announced deprecated features for Windows clients 11 and 10.

In this article, we’ll delve into the features and functionalities that are no longer actively developed for Windows clients. 

Please note that the information below is subject to change and might not encompass every affected feature or functionality.

- Advertisement -

WordPad (Deprecation Announced: September 1, 2023)

WordPad, the simple text editor, is no longer receiving updates and is slated for removal in a future Windows release. For rich text documents (.doc and .rtf), it’s recommended to use Microsoft Word, and for plain text documents (.txt), Windows Notepad is the way to go.

AllJoyn (Deprecation Announced: August 17, 2023)

Microsoft’s implementation of AllJoyn, a protocol for Internet of Things scenarios, has been deprecated. Customers seeking alternatives should refer to Iotivity.org for options like Iotivity Lite or Iotivity.

TLS 1.0 and 1.1 (Deprecation Announced: August 1, 2023)

In response to evolving security standards, TLS versions 1.0 and 1.1 will be disabled by default, starting with Windows 11 Insider Preview builds for September 2023. This shift encourages the adoption of modern protocols, enhancing Windows’ security posture.

Cortana in Windows (Deprecation Announced: June 2023)

Cortana, as a standalone app in Windows, is deprecated. However, Cortana remains available in various other forms, including Outlook mobile, Teams mobile, Microsoft Teams display, and Microsoft Teams rooms.

Update Compliance (Deprecation Announced: November 2022)

The cloud-based service Update Compliance for Windows clients is no longer under development. It’s been replaced by Windows Update for Business reports, accessible from the Azure portal.

BitLocker To Go Reader (Deprecation Announced: 21H1)

Reading BitLocker-protected removable drives from Windows XP or Windows Vista in later operating systems is deprecated. Associated items like ADMX policies and the BitLocker 2 Go Reader app may also no longer be available in future Windows releases.

Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) tool (Deprecation Announced: 21H1)

The WMIC tool is deprecated in Windows 10, version 21H1, and the 21H1 General Availability Channel release of Windows Server. Windows PowerShell for WMI supersedes this command-line management tool.

Microsoft Edge (Deprecation Announced: 2004)

The legacy version of Microsoft Edge is no longer being developed.

OneSync Service Deprecation

The OneSync service, previously responsible for synchronizing data across the Mail, Calendar, and People apps, has changed. Microsoft integrated a sync engine directly into the Outlook app to enhance synchronization capabilities. This new engine offers the same robust data synchronization experience.

Snipping Tool Deprecation

The Snipping Tool, a utility in Windows 10 for capturing screen content, has evolved with the introduction of Windows 10, version 1809. Microsoft introduced Snip & Sketch, a universal app that retains the screen-snipping functionality and brings additional features to the table.

This comprehensive list of deprecated features provides insights into Windows’ evolution and encourages users to adapt to newer alternatives. Keep an eye out for further updates and announcements as Windows evolves.

For more details on these deprecated features and additional information, visit Microsoft’s official documentation.

Keep informed about the latest Cyber Security News by following us on Google News, Linkedin, Twitter, and Facebook.