Microsoft Kills Cortana in Windows 11 Remotely, Windows Copilot Takes Over

The discontinuation of Cortana is part of Microsoft's shift towards integrating other AI-powered productivity features into Windows.

Cortana deprecated message

has discontinued the app on as announced two months ago, marking the end of the standalone personal assistant app. The latest update, which is currently rolling out to some users on Windows 11, has caused the app to stop functioning. Upon opening the app, users are now greeted with a notice stating, ā€œCortana in Windows as a standalone app is deprecatedā€.Ā 

Transition to AI-Powered Features

The discontinuation of Cortana is part of Microsoft's shift towards integrating other AI-powered productivity features into Windows, including the new AI powered Bing Search, Bing Chat, and Windows Copilot. The company has recommended , which is set to debut with the Windows 11 23H2 update, as an alternative for users seeking an assistant or for their desktop. Microsoft is also testing first-party and Bing third-party plugins for Windows Copilot, which could enhance the Copilot experience.

As another alternative, Microsofts AI Chatbot , powered by ā€˜sĀ  technology, allows users to ask complex questions and get concise answers from reliable sources on the web.

Cortana's Future on Other Platforms

Despite the discontinuation on Windows 11, Cortana will remain functional on until October 2025. Microsoft also plans to remove Cortana from Windows 10 in the coming weeks. However, Microsoft assures users that Cortana will continue to be available inĀ Outlook mobile,Ā Microsoft Teams mobile, Microsoft Teams display, andĀ Microsoft Teams rooms.

Windows Copilot: The Future of AI Assistance

Windows Copilot, available in preview for Windows 11 since June 2023, provides centralized AI assistance. This tool, along with Ā and first- and third-party plugins, is designed to help users focus on bringing their ideas to life, completing complex projects, and collaborating instead of spending energy finding, launching, and working across multipleĀ .