Every Windows feature Microsoft removed or deprecated in 2025

A lot of different things happened to Windows 10 and 11 in 2025. Microsoft discontinued Windows 10, released a new feature update for Windows 11, announced all sorts of stuff, and dealt with multiple bugs. As usual, some stuff was discontinued or deprecated. Like in 2024, here is a recap of every feature that was deprecated or discontinued in Windows during the last 12 months.

As a reminder, feature deprecation means Microsoft is no longer actively developing something. Deprecated features may continue working for some time until Microsoft removes them for good.

Deprecated and removed Windows features in 2025

Location History | Deprecated in February 2025

The Location History feature was a Cortana-related API. It was responsible for storing 24 hours of location data, allowing the assistant to tap into it to provide relevant and helpful information. Note that this change does not affect location services, and the operating system can still detect your location for position-based details, such as weather, etc.

Line Printer Daemon | Deprecated with Windows Server 2012, Reminder in February 2025

This printing protocol was deprecated over a decade ago, but was still available. Microsoft reminded users about the upcoming removal so that they can prepare their environments, as it affects the ability to print to a server on UNIX systems. Microsoft recommends switching from LPR/LDP to IPP.

Windows UWP Map Control and Windows Maps Platform API | Deprecated in April 2025

These things allowed developers to implement map controls in their UWP apps. While they continue functioning in existing apps, Microsoft no longer provides updates to the control and API. The company recommends that developers switch to Azure Maps in their applications.

VBS Enclaves on older Windows 11 versions | Deprecated in April 2025

This security feature allows applications to create isolated areas in memory for trusted execution environments (like extra-secure rooms for important tasks). In April, Microsoft deprecated VBS enclaves in Windows 11 version 23H2 and older. In May, it clarified that existing enclaves signed with the EKU 1.3.6.1.4.1.311.76.57.1.15 would continue to be supported for all Windows 11, version 23H2 and earlier versions of Windows, so long as no changes are made to the enclave that require a re-sign of it.

Windows Maps | Deprecated in April 2025

Windows 11 no longer has a stock Maps app. Microsoft deprecated it and removed it from the Microsoft Store in July 2025. Existing installations also no longer work, and Microsoft suggests using web-based Bing Maps.

Device Metadata | Deprecated in May 2025

Device metadata was introduced with the release of Windows 7. It allowed manufacturers to bundle their devices with a bunch of extra details, icons, and logos. Device metadata in XML is no longer supported, and OEMs cannot submit it to the Partner Center. However, Microsoft still allows including additional device information using INF.

Dev Home | Killed in May 2025

Microsoft introduced the Dev Home app in 2023, giving devs a special app for managing certain settings and features on Windows 11 systems. In January 2025, users discovered that Microsoft decided to kill the app in May 2025. The most important parts of the app migrated to the Settings app, so nothing of big value was lost.

Windows PowerShell 2.0 | Deprecated in 2017, Reminder in June 2025

PowerShell 2.0 is quite an old version of the app, and it was deprecated eight years ago. It is no longer bundled with Windows 11 (starting with version 24H2). Scripts that rely explicitly on PowerShell 2.0 will fail to launch, so Microsoft told developers to update them to avoid disruptions.

WMIC | Deprecated in 2016, Reminder in September 2025

WMIC was a command-line interface for Windows Management Instrumentation, a method for IT Admins to manage their systems and retrieve information about hardware, software, services, and more. WMIC was turned off by default in early 2024, and the latest Windows 11 releases no longer have it as an optional component. Microsoft replaced WMIC with Windows PowerShell for WMI.

Legacy Web Components | Deprecated in September 2025

Legacy Web View, Windows 8 UWP/HTML/JavaScript apps (hosted Web Apps), Legacy Progressive Web Apps (PWA), and Legacy Microsoft Edge DevTools (EdgeHTML) are now deprecated. These legacy web components from the EdgeHTML (the original Microsoft Edge) era are still available, but Microsoft warned that they would eventually stop receiving security updates, and they would be removed from Windows. Microsoft strongly recommends switching to WebView2.

Do you think there is something else that Microsoft should remove from Windows 11? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Posted Thursday 1 January 2026 at 3:29 pm AEST (my time).

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