Microsoft is Removing the Mobile Plans App from Windows 11

Microsoft announced today that it will retire the increasingly superfluous Mobile Plans app in Windows 11 in February 2026.

“We are retiring the built-in Mobile Plans app in Windows to simplify how you connect your PC to mobile data,” a new Microsoft post to the Tech Community blogs explains. “Instead of using Mobile Plans app to buy or manage cellular plans, you’ll use your web browser and the Settings app going forward. This change means a more integrated experience with no extra app installations, just a direct link between Windows and your mobile operator’s website.”

The Mobile Plans app is provided by Windows 11 when your PC has integrated cellular data capabilities via a physical SIM card or an eSIM, and it lets you find mobile operators that sell pay-as-you-go cellular data plans. But the app is largely pointless now, as you can simply purchase and activate cellular data plans directly on the web and Windows 11 supports activating a cellular data connection via the web, a QR code, or manually.

So while the Mobile Plans app is being retired, those with cellular-equipped PCs can continue using that functionality normally. The only thing that’s changing is how you find and activate a plan. Existing eSIM profiles in the PC will continue to work as well, Microsoft says, though you will have to manage the related plan at the carrier’s website.

At some point between now and February 27, 2026, those using Mobile Plans will see a notification about the end of support date. After that date, the app will be retired and removed from the Microsoft Store, and users can uninstall it from their PCs. Windows 11 will no longer link to the app, and the online documentation for cellular connectivity will be updated.

Cellular carriers already offer various ways to add an eSIM to a mobile device, and they are adapting their systems to support Windows 11 via web-based activations as well. Some carriers have been trialing this functionality since June to help Microsoft ensure everything is working properly before the broader transition.

“The retirement of the Mobile Plans app is a move toward a simpler, web-powered, and more streamlined future for Windows connectivity,” the company adds. “For users, it means one less app and an easier way to get your device online. For operators, it gives them direct control of the customer purchase experience. We’re confident that moving to a web-centric solution will provide a smoother, more consistent connectivity experience for everyone.”