Alongside the new features and improvements coming with the Windows 10 October 2018 Update (version 1809), Microsoft is also doing a house-cleanup removing and deprecating functionalities that are obsolete, no longer useful, or are being replaced with new experiences.
Usually, the features that Microsoft takes out aren’t significant, but starting with the October 2018 Update, you’ll find a number of missing features, including the Hologram and Phone Companion apps, and Distributed Scan Management (DSM), and while you’ll still be able to use the Snipping Tool and Disk Cleanup, these features are no longer being maintained.
In this guide, we’ll outline the features that are no longer part of Windows 10, or they’re still available, but they’re not actively being developed and might be removed in future releases.
Features removed with the October 2018 Update
In version 1809, Windows 10 is removing the following features and functionalities:
- Business Scanning, also called Distributed Scan Management (DSM): Microsoft is removing this secure scanning and scanner management capability.
- FontSmoothing setting in unattend.xml: This setting let you specify the font antialiasing strategy to use across the system. Microsoft changed Windows 10 to use ClearType by default, as such it’s no longer necessary.
- Hologram app: Windows 10 replaced the Hologram app with the Mixed Reality Viewer. If you would like to create 3D word art, you can still do that in Paint 3D and view your art in VR or Hololens with the Mixed Reality Viewer.
- Phone Companion: When you update to Windows 10, version 1809, the Phone Companion app will be removed from your PC. Use the Phone page in the Settings app to sync your mobile phone with your PC.
- limpet.exe: Microsoft releasing the limpet.exe tool, used to access TPM for Azure connectivity, as open source.
- Trusted Platform Module (TPM) management console: The information previously available in the TPM management console is now available on the Device security page in the Windows Defender Security Center.
- Future updates through Windows Embedded Developer Update: Microsoft is no longer publishing new updates to the WEDU server. Instead, you may secure any new updates from the Microsoft Update Catalog.
Features deprecated with the October 2018 Update
In version 1809, Windows 10 is no longer developing the following features and functionalities:
- Disk Cleanup: Starting with the October 2018 Update, Windows 10 is retiring support of the Disk Cleanup legacy tool in favor of the Storage sense, which include all the equivalent features and more.
- Companion device dynamic lock APIS: The companion device framework (CDF) APIs enable wearables and other devices to unlock a PC. Because third party partners didn’t adopt the CDF method, Microsoft is no longer developing CDF Dynamic Lock APIs.
- OneSync service: The OneSync service synchronizes data for the Mail, Calendar, and People apps. Microsoft added a sync engine to the Outlook app that provides the same synchronization.
- Snipping Tool: Microsoft is no longer developing the Snipping Tool as a separate app but are instead consolidating its functionality into Snip & Sketch.
Some features have been replaced with other features, while others are now available from different sources.
You can always check this Microsoft support site for more details on the features removed or planned to be replaced with this version of Windows 10.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He is also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.