Microsoft has ended support for its digital assistant Cortana on Windows 11, thereby bringing an end to an era. This decision comes three years after removing the Cortana Android and iOS applications. Cortana users on Windows 11 will now get a message saying the program has been deprecated and providing a link to an article explaining the decision. Importantly, in the autumn of 2023, Microsoft will stop providing updates. The company will also stop bug fixes for Cortana in Microsoft Teams Display, Microsoft Teams Rooms, and Teams Mobile. However, Users can still use Cortana through Outlook on the go.
The digital assistant Cortana first appeared on Windows Phone and has now been fully integrated into Windows 10’s taskbar. Reminders, voice commands, and program launches were only some of its features. Over time, Cortana faced challenges in competing with other virtual assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant, despite significant redesign efforts for iOS and Android platforms.
Microsoft’s decision to discontinue Cortana is, infact, the result of its poor performance with Windows Phone. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, acknowledged in 2019 that Cortana had lagged behind the competition. In response, Microsoft is shifting its focus to Windows Copilo, an upcoming sidebar for Windows 11 that harnesses the capabilities of Bing Chat. Users may expect more granularity in configuring Windows, faster troubleshooting, and other benefits from Windows Copilot. A future upgrade to Windows 11 will provide this and native support for RAR and 7-Zip.
Microsoft’s shifting goals in the field of digital support and productivity tools the company reflects in its plan to phase out the Cortana app for Windows 11. Cortana was first incorporated into Windows Phone and Windows 10, however, it encountered difficulties staying competitive and was eventually discontinued. Windows Copilot is Microsoft’s latest initiative to aid users in the Windows 11 ecosystem.
