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After three years, it’s finally time to upgrade to Windows 11.

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Windows 11 Pro

Price When Reviewed:199.99Best Prices Today:$59 at PCWorld Store – Win 11 Pro Upgrade Only | $79.99 at PCWorld Software Store

With Windows 11, Microsoft shifted into productivity mode, and to this day Windows 11 still feels like the operating system for work, while Windows 10 still feels lively and fun. But Windows 11 not only is where entertaining new features are landing, but also includes new AI capabilities that may improve your lives. It’s time to embrace the change.

Last year, I was split: I wrote five reasons to switch to Windows 11, and five more to remain on Windows 10. In my initial review of Windows 11 I called it “unnecessary,” and I know that many of you will still agree with me. But I’m less reluctant now, and I think we’re approaching a tipping point for most people. I’m already past it.

Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft

Windows 11 is betting big on AI-powered Windows apps

So why switch to Windows 11? Let’s start with the acronym Microsoft cares most about: AI. And no, I don’t mean Copilot.

Microsoft has bet big on Copilot, of course, but its AI chatbot is available within Windows 10, Microsoft Edge, the web, mobile — you name it. If you want to chat with an AI, Microsoft has made Copilot as ubiquitous as possible. What it hasn’t done is sprinkle AI on the Windows 10 apps, in the same way it has for Windows 11.

Some of my favorite AI-powered applications and features within Windows 11 include:

Paint: Microsoft added its Cocreator AI generation technology to Paint, plus background removal and even layers, like Photoshop. Those features aren’t in Windows 10. Part of the reason I like all of this AI art is that while I can write, I certainly can’t draw. Paint goes beyond any of the AI art services by allowing me to add or subtract, using layers.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Live Captions: As outlined in our Windows 11 2022 Update review, Windows 11 can transcribe incoming or recorded audio on your PC, including Teams calls or just a home movie that you recorded years ago.Windows Studio Effects: Though Zoom and Teams automatically blur your background, this collection of utilities can pan and zoom to lock in on your face, and help fool people into thinking that you’re paying attention. And the AI audio filtering they do in conjunction with your laptop’s hardware can be just plain magical.AutoHDR: Windows 11 can automatically add HDR features to games that don’t natively support them.Windows Automatic Super Resolution: Microsoft has begun testing a way to automatically upscale your PC’s frame rate (using a compatible PC graphics card or GPU) on Windows 11.

To be fair, Microsoft took one cool AI-powered feature in the Windows 11 Photos app, Generative Erase, and said it would add it to the Windows 10 (preview) version of the app, too. (It’s essentially Google’s Magic Eraser technology, but within Windows.) So, well, yeah.

If Microsoft’s smart — and they usually are — the company is simply going to find more and more ways to boost Windows 11 apps via AI, enticing you to switch. If you switch to Windows 11, you’ll be there as those changes roll out.

Core AI improvements within the Windows 11 OS

You don’t have to be a psychic to know that Microsoft is going to lean heavier on AI as time progresses. Since Windows apps move at their own pace with their own development roadmaps, it makes sense that they’ll integrate AI capabilities first. But reports also say that Microsoft plans to improve Windows 11’s own built-in search capabilities with an AI-powered tool that should “know” more about you and what you want. That could roll out as early as this summer.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

This sounds like an AI-infused resuscitation of Timeline, a feature that Microsoft has rolled out before — then deprecated after no one used it. An OS that “knows” you can feel a little disconcerting. If it is, don’t think about what your smartphone already knows about you.

Microsoft isn’t calling this new AI-powered OS Windows 12, as once thought. Instead, it will be Windows 11. PC makers have already said that it will debut in June. That’s when the Surface Laptop 6 and Surface Pro 10 are also expected, too. Switch now, and you’ll be ready for the next wave of AI PCs.

Quality-of-life improvements

I know this isn’t a big deal for some of you, but Windows 11 automatically stores the positions of my monitors when I undock them. Since I review the best Thunderbolt docks as part of my job (and I recently reviewed one which allowed for four 4K displays) this matters! To me, at least. I can’t imagine the pain it would be to configure each display just so after I undocked my laptop.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Likewise, snapping Windows via Windows Snap feels far more intuitive in Windows 11 than in Windows 10. While you can snap a window to the side of the screen via the Windows + [direction arrow] key in Windows 10, being able to hover your cursor over the “maximize window” icon and see suggested layouts makes much more sense.

I don’t see as much value in Snap Groups (where, in addition to the suggested layouts, Microsoft suggests which apps should go where) but it’s still an attempt at convenience that just isn’t there in Windows 10.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Windows can automatically also lock your PC when you leave, which isn’t a big deal for a home with a trusted family, but may be for a shared apartment or workplace. And Microsoft is also providing a Narrator feature that can read to you in a natural tone. Phone Link now connects to iPhones, but it won’t on Windows 10.

Some of these features aren’t tremendous advantages. (In the spirit of full disclosure, Microsoft provides a cheat sheet of feature differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11.) Widgets, for example, serves more as a nuisance than as a genuine source of news.

But you may see under-the-hood changes, too. Intel launched its 12th-gen “Alder Lake” processors in 2021, and said then that its Thread Director management software wouldn’t offer the same advantages on Windows 10 as they would over Windows 11. Usually it works the other way around — an OS eventually drops support for older processors. Over time, who knows? As processors and the OS become more tightly integrated, we can’t say for certain what will happen to Windows 10 performance.

Further reading: Windows includes built-in ransomware protection. Here’s how to turn it on

Windows 10 is dying, and Windows 11 is the future

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Windows 11 Pro

Price When Reviewed:199.99Best Prices Today:$59 at PCWorld Store – Win 11 Pro Upgrade Only | $79.99 at PCWorld Software Store

So far, we’ve focused on the positives, but there’s a real consequence to remaining in Windows 10: the end-of-life date. Windows 10 users have about eighteen months before Windows 10 runs out of support on Oct. 14, 2025. And if you want support after that, Microsoft will force you to pay up.

That fact’s a bit troubling, as Microsoft still hasn’t convinced a majority of users to adopt Windows 11. As I write this, it’s 883 days since the launch of Windows 11. Windows 11’s North American market share is dragging: 64.3 percent of PCs are still running Windows 10, according to StatCounter, versus 31.3 percent which have jumped to Windows 11.

If you go back in time, 883 days after Microsoft launched Windows 10, it commanded a 47.8 percent market share. But a year earlier, in Jan. 2017, Windows 10 was dead even at 41.3 percent with Windows 7 — the OS that everyone proclaimed their love for at the time.

So why does this matter? For two reasons: the 2017 releases of the Windows 10 Creators Update and the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. Microsoft didn’t deliver quite everything it promised, but both updates were chock full of consumer-friendly features nevertheless. Not surprisingly, the two were the most consequential Windows 10/11 updates Microsoft has ever delivered, and they convinced users to jettison the beloved Windows 7 in favor of something new, cooler, and more useful.

That’s the bar Microsoft has set for itself as it heads into 2024: can it convince users that they need AI? I think that what Microsoft has already added to Windows justifies the switch, with more to come.

Do I miss Windows 10? A little

Some people I know work within Windows 11, but maintain a separate Windows 10 PC for gaming and fun. I can totally understand why they would. When Windows 11 rolled out, it felt somewhat sterile, and still does — the Start menu doesn’t offer much configurability, the Taskbar doesn’t move and expand, and so on. I really missed Windows Spotlight’s rotating backgrounds, and am happy they’re now on Windows 11.

If you’re in the camp that argues that Microsoft hasn’t done enough to win you over to Windows 11 — part of me agrees with you. But I also think that I’ve developed workarounds for the things I dislike with Windows 11. Time has dulled the pain. I rarely touch the Start menu, launching apps by name via the Windows key. The Mail app (never die, Mail) shows numerical icon badging, even if most Taskbar icons do not. The technical improvements Windows 11 promises simply outweigh the aesthetic elements I disagree with.

So, god help me, I’m done with Windows 10. And I’m not going back.

Author: Mark Hachman, Senior Editor

As PCWorld’s senior editor, Mark focuses on Microsoft news and chip technology, among other beats. He has formerly written for PCMag, BYTE, Slashdot, eWEEK, and ReadWrite.

Recent stories by Mark Hachman:

Microsoft’s Copilot AI is stealing one of Midjourney’s best featuresMore workers are using AI, but they’re ashamed to admit itMicrosoft says it’s pausing Windows Copilot UI tests

Microsoft said this week that the most recent Windows security update for Windows 10 and Windows 11 may break VPN connections.

According to Microsoft (via Bleeping Computer), “Windows devices might face VPN connection failures after installing the April 2024 security update, or KB5036893.”

Microsoft has no fix at the current time, the company said. “We are working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release,” the company said.

Unfortunately, the list of affected clients is rather lengthy: Windows 11 (23H2, 22H2, and 21H2) as well as Windows 10 (22H2 and 21H2). If you’re a consumer and run into this issue, Microsoft advises that you first launch the Windows “Get Help” app to inform Microsoft of the problem and possibly work through a solution.

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Windows 11 Pro

Price When Reviewed:199.99Best Prices Today:$59 at PCWorld Store – Win 11 Pro Upgrade Only | $79.99 at PCWorld Software Store

It doesn’t really sound like there is a solution, though. You could always try to uninstall the most recent security update. (Of course, you lose the protections that accompany the most recent patch, too.) Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until Microsoft fixes the problem — if there is a problem. Microsoft at least hasn’t said that all VPNs are affected, possibly including our best VPN recommendations.

It’s all bad news, of course, for anyone who likes to work at a coffee shop or airport, or who is travelling overseas where VPNs can be a way of life. Hopefully Microsoft finds a fix soon.

Broken VPN connections aren’t the only issue with this update. Microsoft’s support page also warns that “After installing this update, you might be unable to change your user account profile picture.”

Further reading: 13 important Windows settings to adjust immediately

This article published on May 1, 2024, but was updated May 3 to mention that user account profile pictures may be broken by this update as well.

Author: Mark Hachman, Senior Editor

As PCWorld’s senior editor, Mark focuses on Microsoft news and chip technology, among other beats. He has formerly written for PCMag, BYTE, Slashdot, eWEEK, and ReadWrite.

Recent stories by Mark Hachman:

Microsoft’s Copilot AI is stealing one of Midjourney’s best featuresMore workers are using AI, but they’re ashamed to admit itMicrosoft says it’s pausing Windows Copilot UI tests

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Dell makes some of the best monitors around and they’re usually very competitive in terms of price, too. Today you can get the best of both worlds with a basic 24-inch Dell monitor for a rock-bottom price: just $99.99 at Amazon. And unlike some other super-cheap display options, this one uses a high-quality IPS panel.

If you’re unaware of the different kinds of LCD panel, in-plane switching (IPS) is superior to the cheaper VA and TN panels, offering much better color accuracy while being a bit slower on refresh. For a basic monitor that would do well as an add-on for a laptop or an expansion into a multi-monitor system, it’s a very desirable feature, and one that isn’t often seen at this price.

The other parts of the spec list on the Dell Dell S2421HS are a bit threadbare, with the 23.8-inch screen offering the standard 1920×1080 resolution and a slightly boosted 75Hz refresh rate. You can connect via HDMI or DisplayPort, but there are no USB ports to be found. The included stand is pretty good, with vertical height adjustment and 90-degree rotation, but you can also use a standard VESA mount monitor arm. Again, great for multi-monitor setups.

Amazon is showing this as a $60 discount off the regular price, with no indication of when the sale will end. A 27-inch version of the same design, still limited to 1080p resolution, is also on sale for $119.99.

Get a Dell 24-inch IPS monitor for just $99.99

Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer

Michael is a former graphic designer who’s been building and tweaking desktop computers for longer than he cares to admit. His interests include folk music, football, science fiction, and salsa verde, in no particular order.

Recent stories by Michael Crider:

Gigabyte’s 49-inch OLED gaming monitor hits its lowest price yetSamsung’s humongous OLED ultrawide monitor is $800 offWacom’s first OLED tablet is meant for drawing on the go

I’m trying to love Logitech’s Signature AI Edition M750 Wireless Mouse. I really am! But I’m continually tripping over this small detail, and it literally is making me more frustrated than I should be.

It’s an intriguing, polarizing concept: By placing an “AI” button on the top of the mouse, Logitech gives users one-click access to ChatGPT to do one thing: simplify the writing and rewriting of text via an AI app called Logi Prompt Builder. It’s a tiny bit like Windows running on top of DOS.

It’s a novel idea, and one you might expect Microsoft to develop, given the Copilot key that’s already appearing on laptop keyboards. Instead, Logitech is leading the way. What’s important to note is that Logi AI Prompt Builder is basically supported by every mouse and keyboard Logitech makes, so the M750 is just the showcase for this new technology. You can probably use it, too!

The problem is that Logitech’s Prompt Builder doesn’t support one of the most basic functions of a mouse, and it’s very annoying. And did I mention that Microsoft already does it somewhat better, already?

Logitech Signature AI Edition M750 Wireless Mouse

Price When Reviewed:$49.99Best Prices Today:$49.99 at Logitech

The mouse itself

Let’s talk briefly about the mouse itself. The Logitech M750 clearly is based on other Logitech “Signature” hardware like the M650.

The M750 is a quasi-ambidextrous mouse, with a neutral grip but thumb buttons that can only be used by right-handers. The mouse is small, about 4.25 inches long and 2.5 inches wide, and best suited to those users who like to control a mouse with their fingertips, rather than resting your entire hand’s weight upon it. It can be used either via Bluetooth or the small dongle stored within the mouse itself. Logitech’s Smart Switch technology allows it to be paired with up to three PCs, and the mouse supports the cool PC-to-PC Logitech Flow technology that debuted in 2018. It uses a single AA battery.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

The M750 includes two primary buttons, of course, with a scroll wheel that can double as a third button. Out of the box, one of the two thumb buttons is set up to launch Windows’ voice typing, while the other launches a dedicated ChatGPT window. (That window differs from Prompt Builder, in that it accesses ChatGPT directly.)

I typically use a dedicated lefty gaming mouse, but M750’s gliding action is smooth, and the click travel is short and efficient.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Although Logitech typically offers multiple color options on its mice, the M750 is a monochromatic gray, with a bright green button in the center. Clicking that launches AI Prompt Builder.

Logi Prompt Builder in Action

The Logi Prompt Builder is essentially a component of the Logi Options+ app, which Logitech uses to control the functions of its various peripherals. Logitech seems to like downloading Options+ whether I ask for it or not, and it appeared on my PC as if by magic. Logitech says that Options+ users will have to set up Prompt Builder, and I was asked to do so, as well, through a quick introduction to what each function does.

Logitech

Logitech

Logitech

Think of Prompt Builder as a GUI of sorts on top of ChatGPT. (You’ll use ChatGPT 3.5 by default, but if you have a subscription to ChatGPT Plus, sold separately, you can log in to use that too.) It’s a small window that hovers over your other applications.

Prompt Builder does four basic things; you can Rephrase a block of text, Summarize a block of text (or a webpage), Reply (as if writing an email), and Create Email. Each function has two options attached to it, which can vary; you’ll usually have a “Length” option as well as “Style” or “Tone.” Each of the drop-down menus offers pre-selected options.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

What Prompt Builder is doing is providing an easy-to-use interface on top of ChatGPT. Your preferences are transformed into a text prompt when you hit submit.

Say I want to rephrase this block of text, for example:

If you’re a Mac user who has stumbled across this article, welcome. But please be aware that early Apple MacBook Pros powered by Intel silicon supported up to two 4K displays. The first MacBook Pros powered by the Apple M1 chip only support a single 4K display. Many Mac users have recently left negative reviews on Thunderbolt docks on shopping sites because of this. Buy a PC!

My Prompt Builder selections add the following instructions for ChatGPT:

Rephrase the following text: If you’re a Mac user who has stumbled across this article, welcome. But please be aware that early Apple MacBook Pros powered by Intel silicon supported up to two 4K displays. The first MacBook Pros powered by the Apple M1 chip only support a single 4K display. Many Mac users have recently left negative reviews on Thunderbolt docks on shopping sites because of this. Buy a PC! Present it in a short and concise way. Could you rework it to convey a more playful tone?

Logitech calls all these functions “Recipes,” and allows you to make your own, too. You’re essentially prompting ChatGPT to do something for you, so you have a “Prompt” option, an “Input” text field, and two predefined parameters. It’s not a bad idea, and if you want your prose rewritten in the style of Abraham Lincoln or translated into French in the style of Baudelaire, all you need to do is prompt it.

Where Prompt Builder stumbles

Logitech is already making some interesting choices in the service of making AI-rewritten text better. But there’s one thing Prompt Builder doesn’t do that drives me insane: paste. Yes, paste. If I select a block of text and right-click it to copy, tap the AI button, and then try to right-click to launch paste…nothing happens. The right-click menu just doesn’t seem to work within Prompt Builder. Yes, I can CTRL+V my text into the box, but what’s the good in that?

What you may or may not know, though, is that Microsoft Copilot already offers something similar, and arguably better. It’s a little obnoxious, actually. If you’re typing in a text field within Edge (as I’m am, writing this article) you can highlight a block of text and Copilot will volunteer to rewrite it for you. (You can also use Alt+I, instead.) Copilot will then automatically replace the text, if you wish.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

With Prompt Builder, there’s no right-click option to select a block of text and take action from the right-click menu. You have to copy the text, paste it in with the keyboard, make any adjustments, launch ChatGPT via Prompt Builder, and then copy the text and paste it back into Word or your text editor. At least you can use Edge, Word, or Windows to right-click-paste the edited text back in.

What a peripheral maker like Logitech should excel in, though, is ergonomics. If Logitech is going to make software such an intrinsic part of our workflow, it needs to nail this particular aspect. It hasn’t, not totally. To steal the metaphor: Logitech Prompt Builder and the M750 still feels somewhat like a rough draft.

Author: Mark Hachman, Senior Editor

As PCWorld’s senior editor, Mark focuses on Microsoft news and chip technology, among other beats. He has formerly written for PCMag, BYTE, Slashdot, eWEEK, and ReadWrite.

Recent stories by Mark Hachman:

Logitech’s new mouse summons AI with a button pushMicrosoft PC peripherals are now collector’s items

While there are many free office tools on the market, few utilities are as powerful as Microsoft Office. And right now, you don’t have to break the bank to get it. Now through 4/30, we’re offering Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows or Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac for $200 off.

Rated 4.8/5 stars by purchasers, both of these versions of Microsoft Office come with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Teams. That’s everything you need to unleash your productivity and even run your own business. With the Windows edition, you’ll also get Publisher and Access, giving you greater creative and database capabilities. Regardless of your preferred system, you’re getting a great deal.

Take advantage of this deal while it’s available through 11:59 pm PT on 4/30.

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If you’re in the market for a hard drive or SSD, act fast! Otherwise, you could be paying more than you’d like.

According to Taiwan analyst company TrendForce, storage makers Western Digital and now Seagate have sent letters to customers warning them that the companies will be raising prices on hard drives. WD’s letter said that it would be raising prices on SSDs, too.

“[D]emand recovery continues across several segments of our business and our reduced manufacturing capacity is limiting our ability to meet all of our customers’ demand and is resulting in longer lead times,” the letter says, signed by BS Teh, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Seagate. “As a result, we will be implementing price increases effective immediately on new orders and for demand that is over and above previously committed volumes.”

WD sent a similar letter earlier this month. In it, WD warned that is seeing “higher than expected demand across its entire flash and hard drive portfolio resulting in supply constraints.

“Given these circumstances, we will continue to implement price increases on flash and hard drive products this quarter, with some changes taking effect immediately,” WD senior vice president Scott Davis wrote, as noted by TrendForce and TomsHardware. “These updates will apply to our entire product portfolio.”

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The letters both companies sent are addressed to their commercial partners, including PC makers who are responsible for ordering hard drives and SSDs for PC production. But with two of the world’s largest storage companies warning of price hikes, it’s hard to believe such increases wouldn’t hit retail products as well. In other words, if you’re interested in upgrading your SSD or buying an external hard drive or SSD, prices may be increasing in the near future.

The warning signs were there, however. In November, analysts warned that the price of SSDs was going up. That prediction appears to be coming true, and has sucked in hard-drive prices, too.

The good news? Hard drives prices are typically a fraction of the price of an SSD — this 1TB external Seagate hard drive is currently priced at $60 on Amazon, while a quality WD 1TB external SSD is $109. Could those prices climb? It certainly appears possible.

Further reading: The best SSDs we’ve tested

Author: Mark Hachman, Senior Editor

As PCWorld’s senior editor, Mark focuses on Microsoft news and chip technology, among other beats. He has formerly written for PCMag, BYTE, Slashdot, eWEEK, and ReadWrite.

Recent stories by Mark Hachman:

SanDisk’s shows off the world’s first stupendously large 4TB SD cardDRAM and NAND flash prices are definitely rising, analyst saysAs flash prices rise, the end of great SSD deals may be near

Do you like dealing with advertising, even in software that you’ve already paid for? Of course you do! According to Microsoft, anyway, which continues to shove ads for its own products into every corner of Windows. A new glimpse at an upcoming Windows 11 “feature” from a prolific leaker said that the Start Menu was going to get some ad injections soon.

And now it’s official, Microsoft added on Friday.

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Windows 11 Pro

Price When Reviewed:199.99Best Prices Today:$59 at PCWorld Store – Win 11 Pro Upgrade Only | $79.99 at PCWorld Software Store

Phantom Ocean, a Twitter leaker who’s been rock-solid on Microsoft topics, previously said that the Windows 11 Start Menu is testing “app promotions” in an upcoming build. They’ll appear in the Recommended section of the menu, which at present includes applications that have recently been installed or frequently run by the user. This area of the Start menu also shows tips and shortcuts.

The Twitter user’s leaked photo shows Opera Browser with a “Promoted” tag indicating that it’s an advertisement, along with the “browse safely” promo text. The Windows Game Bar appears next to it, in an example of a more standard Recommended app you might see today.

Twitter user @PhantomofEarth

Twitter user @PhantomofEarth

Twitter user @PhantomofEarth

A screenshot from Phantom Ocean shows the personalization settings for the Start Menu with a toggle for recommended “tips, app promotions, and more,” whereas the current version of that setting is labeled “tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more.” In some beta builds these promotions had been labeled as more straightforward “ads.”

As it turned out, Phantom Ocean basically had it right. Microsoft rolled out Windows Insider Preview 22635.3495 in the Beta Channel on Friday, and confirmed that these changes are coming. And this is the Beta Channel, which means that Microsoft has it slated to hit your desktop sooner or later.

“We are now trying out recommendations to help you discover great apps from the Microsoft Store under Recommended on the Start menu,” Microsoft wrote. “This will appear only for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel in the U.S. and will not apply to commercial devices (devices managed by organizations).”

Can the ads be turned off? Yes, it sounds like it, thankfully.

“This can be turned off by going to Settings > Personalization > Start and turning off the toggle for ‘Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more.’” Microsoft wrote.

Advertising is becoming a ubiquitous sight in Windows. We’ve been reporting on Microsoft’s encroaching advertising in its flagship operating system for the better part of a decade now, and it’s only getting worse. Advertising isn’t bad in concept — it’s how this website stays in business, for example — but Windows is still a product that you pay real money for, either outright via a license or as an extra cost of buying a PC.

This, to use a highly technical industry term, sucks.

This story was updated at 3:04 PM on April 12 with new details from Microsoft. It was written by Mark Hachman.

Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer

Michael is a former graphic designer who’s been building and tweaking desktop computers for longer than he cares to admit. His interests include folk music, football, science fiction, and salsa verde, in no particular order.

Recent stories by Michael Crider:

Microsoft made DOS 4.0 open-source, but not everyone is happyControversial Windows 11 Start menu ads begin rolling outGrab a copy of Windows 11 Pro for just $20

Working with large data sets is complicated enough, but communicating insights and conclusions can feel next to impossible. With a tool like Microsoft Visio Professional 2021 for Windows, however, it’s a lot easier. During our Digital Blowout, you can get this top-rated software for just $24.97.

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Microsoft not only introduces new features or programs with Windows updates, it also removes obsolete functions.

Many people don’t notice this until they need a specific feature or the outdated program. One example is WordPad, which will soon be removed from Windows, or Windows-to-Go and the Homegroup.

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Windows 11 Pro

Price When Reviewed:199.99Best Prices Today:$59 at PCWorld Store – Win 11 Pro Upgrade Only | $79.99 at PCWorld Software Store

If you use WordPad, you should look for a replacement in good time. In most cases, however, Microsoft does not remove features immediately, but instead marks them as “obsolete.”

This means that no more improvements are being developed for these features or tools and that Microsoft will remove them from Windows in a future version. Here’s a list of the Windows features destined to get the axe soon.

Further reading: How to fight the new Windows Outlook app and keep Mail…for now

WordPad will no longer be part of Windows

Microsoft has announced that WordPad will be completely removed from Windows. Although the limited word processor is still included in Windows 11 23H2, this may change with the update to Windows 11 24H2 later this year. Microsoft is already no longer updating the program.

Thomas Joos

Thomas Joos

Thomas Joos

Anyone who relies on WordPad should therefore look for a replacement. Microsoft recommends using Word Online on the Internet at this point. Google Docs, OpenOffice, and LibreOffice are also useful.

Cortana no longer exists

The stand-alone Cortana application in Windows is also outdated and is being replaced by Microsoft’s new Copilot AI. If you use Cortana for certain areas, you should familiarize yourself with the possibilities of Copilot.

VBScript is being removed from Windows

Anyone who uses their own scripts with VBScript will also have to find a replacement: Microsoft will completely remove VBScript in the next Windows versions, presumably in Windows 11 24H2.

WebDAV will no longer be part of Windows

With the removal of the WebClient, Microsoft is removing WebDAV from Windows. This means that the protocol cannot be used to connect network drives with WebDAV. Users often use the protocol to integrate cloud storage directly as a drive in Windows, for example.

This won’t be so easy in future. Microsoft no longer wants to start the service at bootup, and one of the next steps will probably be to remove it, perhaps even in Windows 11 24H2.

TLS certificates under 2,408 bits will be removed

Microsoft is removing support for TLS certificates with an RSA key of less than 2,048 bits from Windows 10 and Windows 11. If you are therefore still using older certificates for applications, there is a risk that these will no longer work after an update in the future.

You should therefore replace them as soon as possible if you become aware of this. However, this mostly affects companies that operate their own web applications.

Problem logging is coming to an end – psr.exe

With problem recording, users can create step-based screenshots to create documentation or recreate errors so that a support employee can help.

Microsoft wants to remove the recording completely from Windows. Here too, you should obtain a replacement if you use the problem recordings. Microsoft recommends using the snipping tool in Windows for this purpose.

Windows Mail and Outlook Express will be removed and replaced by Outlook

Microsoft is removing the Windows Mail app in Windows 10 and Windows 11 and replacing it with the new, free Outlook app. This is currently being criticized not only due to Outlook’s lackluster feature set compared to the original Mail app, but because it routes all emails via Microsoft servers. This also applies to mail accounts that are not hosted by Microsoft. Many users are already swapping Windows Mail for Mozilla Thunderbird.

Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft

Wmic.exe to be discontinued: Use WMI queries in Windows

With “wmic.exe”, users and administrators can use Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) for queries – for example, for information about a computer’s hardware. Microsoft has marked “wmic.exe” as obsolete and will permanently remove this command line program from Windows 10 and Windows 11. However, there is the option of using PowerShell and the Get-WmiObject cmdlet in future.

Windows-to-Go no longer part of Windows

With Windows-to-Go, it was previously possible to save Windows on an external hard drive and start it on different computers. This option will be removed from Windows. Microsoft is already no longer providing support for this feature.

No more HomeGroup in Windows

Microsoft has discontinued support for HomeGroups/home network groups. If you have created shares based on HomeGroups, these will be retained, but the HomeGroup view will be completely removed from the operating system. Resources can still be shared via workgroups and Active Directory domains.

This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.

Author: Thomas Joos, Autor

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