Security News > 2024 > May > Microsoft to start killing off VBScript in second half of 2024
Microsoft announced today that it will start deprecating VBScript in the second half of 2024 by making it an on-demand feature until it's completely removed.
"Beginning with the new OS release slated for later this year, VBScript will be available as features on demand. The feature will be completely retired from future Windows OS releases, as we transition to the more efficient PowerShell experiences," said Microsoft program manager Naveen Shankar.
The first phase will begin in the second half of 2024, with VBScript enabled by default as an optional feature in Windows 11 24H2. During the second phase, which will start around 2027, VBScript will still be available as an on-demand feature but will no longer be pre-installed.
As a result, all VBScript dynamic link libraries will be removed, and projects that use VBScript will stop functioning.
The company first revealed in October that it would kill off VBScript in Windows after 30 years of availability as a system component.
Microsoft disabled VBScript by default in Internet Explorer 11 on Windows 10 with the July 2019 Patch Tuesday cumulative updates.