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...