Features removed in Windows 10 April 2018 Update

A new feature update to an operating system brings in a lot of new stuff to it. It takes a lot of time and effort to code all these new features into the operating system. It is also difficult to maintain existing features. The developers of the operating system have to ensure that existing features are still compatible with devices and also does not interfere with the new restructured code. For this reason, developers look for existing features in the operating system which are obsolete or is used very rarely by the users. Removing such features will save a lot of time and effort taken by developers. In some cases, it will also reduce the overall size of the operating system.

Windows 10 April 2018 (version 1803) update brought a lot of new features to the table and also removed and discontinued a few features which Microsoft feels are not needed anymore. Discontinued features are the features that are no longer in development and may be removed in the future. Microsoft says that they remove features because they have added better features that are better than the original.

Windows 10 April 2018 Update removes the following features

Groove Music Pass: Microsoft has already removed Groove Music Streaming service and music sales from the Microsoft Store in 2017. With the April 2018 update, Microsoft has updated Groove Music app in accordance with these changes. The Groove Music app can still be used to play songs stored in the device or Onedrive but the option to stream or buy music is no longer available. Microsoft recommends you to use any other streaming services like Spotify for streaming or buying music.

People suggestions: The People app will now stop suggesting unsaved contacts for all non-Microsoft accounts like Google account. Instead, you will have to manually save contacts of people you send and receive mail.

Language control in Control Panel: Microsoft has a long-term plan to completely remove the Control Panel from Windows 10. All the functionality will then be available in the Settings app. With the April 2018 update, Microsoft moved Language control from the Control Panel to the Settings app. So to access this feature, users would now have to use the Settings app.

HomeGroup: A HomeGroup is a group of PCs that are connected to the same network particularly a home network that can share files and printers. HomeGroup is secure and makes it easier to share pictures, videos, music, documents and printers with other devices connected in the same HomeGroup. Unfortunately, Microsoft is removing this feature in Windows 10 April 2018 update but the ability to share files and printers is still present.

Instead of using HomeGroup users can share files and printers by using the available options in Windows 10 like the Printers option in the Devices section. This can be accessed by going to the Settings app and selecting Devices. From there go to Printers and Scanners.

Connect to suggested open hotspots: Microsoft has already disabled to feature which allows you to connect to suggested hotspots. This option is now removed from the Wi-Fi settings page. To connect to free Wi-Fi hotspots, users would have to use Network and Internet settings to connect manually.

Conversations in the People app: Conversations in the People app will no longer work offline and also will not work with email accounts other than Office 365 accounts. To use Conversations in the People app, users would have to be online and also should sign in with either an Office 365 account or a work or school account.

XPS Viewer: Microsoft is changing the way users get XPS Viewer. In Windows 10 version 1709 and earlier versions, XPS Viewer was already present. PCs which already had XPS Viewer installed and updated to version 1803 will not have to do anything because the app will still be there. However, in a new device with Windows 10 version 1803 or if you are performing a clean installation of Windows 10 version 1803, you would have to manually install XPS Viewer from Apps and Features in the Settings app or through Features on Demand.

Let us know in the comments if you will miss any of these features.