What’s Missing in Windows 11 (24H2)

While the latest version of Windows 11–called 24H2–is in most ways an improvement over previous versions of Windows 11 and Windows 10, it is also missing some features from its predecessors. Some of this can be tied to the ongoing simplification and modernization 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.

Features that Microsoft removed in Windows 11

Microsoft removed the following features in Windows 11 version 24H2.

• Paint 3D. Microsoft Paint is modernized in Windows 11 and now offers numerous new features, including Layers, Remove Background, Image Creator, and more.
• Steps Recorder. Clipchamp, Game Bar, and Snipping Tool can each be used to make screen recordings.
• Tips. Microsoft replaced the Tips app with a Get Starting app.
• Windows Mixed Reality. There is no native replacement for Microsoft’s virtual reality (VR) platform.
• WordPad. Microsoft recommends using the free version of Microsoft Word on the web. But if you don’t need rich text support, Notepad is modernized in Windows 11 and now offers several new features, including a tab-based user interface, session state retention, spell checking, and autocorrect.

Windows 10 and 11 features that Microsoft previously deprecated in Windows 11

The following features are deprecated in Windows 11 version 24H2, meaning that they are still available (sometimes only on upgraded PCs) but are no longer being actively updated. Deprecated features will likely be removed from a future version of Windows.

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

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

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

Windows 10 and 11 features that were previously removed from Windows 11

The following Windows 10 and 11 features were previously removed from Windows 11.

Windows Subsystem for Android. Originally touted as one of the marquee new features in the original release of Windows 11 in 2021, the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) was deprecated in 2024 and will be removed from the platform in early 2025.

Cortana. Microsoft’s personal digital assistant is no longer available.

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

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

You can learn more in the Snipping Tool, Screenshots, and Screen Recordings chapter.

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

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

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 display.

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 System > 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. All contact management now occurs through the Outlook app.

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 Widgets.

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 and install 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.