What’s Missing in Windows 11 Version 23H2

While Windows 11 is in many ways an improvement over Windows 10, it is also missing many features from its predecessor. Some of this can be tied to the simplification efforts in Windows 11, while some simply reflect poor usage.

Where possible, we will describe how you can work around these changes, which are described throughout this book.

Windows 10 features that are deprecated in Windows 11

The following features are deprecated in Windows 11, meaning that they are still available but are no longer being actively updated. Deprecated features will likely be removed from a future version of Windows.

Cortana. Cortana won’t blow out your eardrums during Setup’s first boot experience and it is no longer pinned to the Taskbar, as it was in Windows 10.

Microsoft has replaced Cortana with Copilot, its “everyday AI companion,” in Windows 11 version 23H2. You can learn more about this feature in the Copilot chapter.

S mode. S mode is now available only in Windows 11 Home.

Snipping Tool. There is still an app called Snipping Tool in Windows 11, but it is a renamed version of the Snip & Sketch app from Windows 10.

You can learn more about the Windows 11 Snipping Tool in the Screenshots and Screen Recordings chapter.

Tablet mode. Windows 11 does not support Tablet mode, which means that you can no longer manually switch to a tablet-optimized user experience.

Touch keyboard. The Touch keyboard continues in Windows 11 but it no longer supports docked and undocked layouts on screen sizes 18 inches and larger.

Windows 10 features that are not available in Windows 11

The following Windows 10 features have been removed from Windows 11.

Mail, Calendar, and People. The lackluster Mail, Calendar, and People apps from Windows 10 have finally been replaced by a modern alternative, the new Outlook app.

We discuss managing email, schedules, and contacts with this new app in the Outlook chapter.

3D Viewer and Paint 3D. The “Creator Update” era of Windows 10 saw the introduction of 3D object creation, viewing, and management capabilities. But none are available in Windows 11.

Where did it go?

You can download 3D Viewer and Paint 3D from the Microsoft Store.

Desktop wallpaper sync. Windows 11 cannot sync desktop wallpaper from PC to PC when you sign in with a Microsoft account, as was the case with Windows 10.

Where did it go?

There is no direct workaround for desktop wallpaper sync. But Windows 11 does support a neat Windows Spotlight wallpaper option that will deliver a new Bing-based photo wallpaper to each of your PCs. We explain how to enable this feature in the Desktop chapter.

Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer is no longer supported by Microsoft and is not available in Windows 11.

Where did it go?

Microsoft Edge has an optional Internet Explorer compatibility feature (IE mode) that can render legacy websites, like those you might need for work, similarly to Internet Explorer. To enable and manage this feature, open Edge and navigate to Settings and More (“…”) > Settings > Default browser.

Lock screen quick status icons. The Windows 10 lock screen allowed you to configure up to 7 apps that could deliver quick status updates via icons. This feature is no longer available in Windows 11.

Where did it go?

There is no workaround to this limitation, but the Windows 11 lock screen still supports a single detailed status icon, as was the case with Windows 10.

Math Input Panel and Math Recognizer. The Math Input Panel is no longer available in Windows 11, but the Math Recognizer is now an optional install and includes the Math Input Control and Recognizer in a single experience.

Where did it go?

To install the Math Recognizer, open Settings (WINKEY + I) and navigate to Apps > Optional features.

My People. The My People experience in the Taskbar is not available in Windows 11.

Where did it go?

There is no workaround for My People.

News & Interests. The News & Interests experience in the Taskbar is no longer available in Windows 11.

Where did it go?

News & Interests has been replaced by the nearly identical Widgets feature in Windows 11. You can learn more in the Widgets chapter.

OneNote for Windows 10. This note-taking solution is no longer available in Windows 11 and is no longer being actively updated. Microsoft recommends that customers use the desktop OneNote app that is part of their Microsoft 365 subscription instead.

Where did it go?

You can download OneNote for Windows 10 from the Microsoft Store.

Timeline. In Windows 10, Task view included a Timeline view that showed your app, website, and document history across multiple PCs and devices, allowing you to pick up where you left off if you moved between those PCs and devices. It is no longer available in Windows 11.

Where did it go?

There is no direct workaround, but the History feature in Microsoft Edge will show your browsing history across multiple PCs.