Security News > 2024 > May > Microsoft: Windows 24H2 will remove Cortana and WordPad apps

Microsoft says the Cortana, Tips, and WordPad applications will be automatically removed on systems upgraded to the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 release.

In September, Microsoft announced that it would deprecate WordPad-automatically installed on Windows systems for 28 years, since 1995, and an optional Windows feature since the Windows 10 Insider Build 19551 release in February 2020-with a future Windows update.

"Please note that Cortana, Tips, and WordPad are removed after upgrading to Windows 11, version 24H2. These apps are deprecated," the Windows Insider Program Team said on Thursday.

Windows Insiders can install Windows 11 24H2 on devices that meet the Windows 11 hardware requirements from Settings > Windows Update.

Five years ago, the company announced it would remove the classic Windows Paint app with the Windows 10 Fall Creator's Update in July 2017.

As part of a broader effort to remove Windows and Office features used as attack vectors in malware attacks, Redmond also revealed this week that it will start deprecating VBScript in the second half of 2024, making it an on-demand feature before disabling it by default and eventually removing it from Windows.

News URL

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-windows-24h2-will-remove-cortana-and-wordpad-apps/