The Windows 10 April 2018 Update arrived this week, and with it came plenty of new features. But while Timeline and additional Fluent Design enhancements may be the new hotness, the update also removes or is setting the stage to remove some older features.
This isn't entirely surprising; Microsoft did something similar with the Fall Creators Update, along with the Creators Update before it. Often, the features that are on the chopping block are either no longer used or in line to be replaced with something else.
For the April 2018 Update, Microsoft has detailed the removal of things like the Groove Music Pass, XPS Viewer, and HomeGroup. It has also revealed that it is no longer developing some other features, such as Phone Companion and Offline symbol packages. Here's a full rundown of what's being removed, or is slated to be removed in a future update.
Removed
- Groove Music Pass
- People - Suggestions will no longer include unsaved contacts for non-Microsoft accounts
- Language control in the Control Panel
- HomeGroup
- Connect to suggested open hotspots option in Wi-Fi settings
- Conversations in the People app when you're offline or if you're using a non-Office 365 mail account
- XPS Viewer
Features no longer being developed
- Software Restriction Policies in Group Policy
- Offline symbol packages (Debug symbol MSIs)
- Windows Help Viewer (WinHlp32.exe)
- Contacts feature in File Explorer
- Phone Companion
- IPv4/6 Transition Technologies (6to4, ISATAP, and Direct Tunnels)
Microsoft has also provided a number of alternatives to use in place of some of these features. For example, even though Phone Companion is no longer being developed, you can use the Phone page (added in the Fall Creators Update) in the Settings app instead. Likewise, HomeGroup users can still share their network printers and share files in File Explorer despite its removal.
For more, check out Microsoft's full rundown of features removed in the April 2018 Update.
Windows 10 April 2018 Update review: It's about the little things
