Microsoft frequently updates Windows 11 with new features, but it also discontinues others. If a favorite program or app disappears after a Windows upgrade, don’t panic! Plenty of alternative software can fill the void. Here are nine replacements for Windows features Microsoft has abandoned.
Finding a WordPad Replacement
Microsoft has declared WordPad obsolete, meaning it will no longer receive updates and will be removed in Windows 11 version 24H2. Microsoft recommends the paid Microsoft Word as a replacement. While Microsoft Office Online is free with a Microsoft account, it lacks the full functionality of the desktop version. For those seeking a simple, free word processor outside the Microsoft ecosystem, options are more limited.
WordPad is still available: This small word processor fulfills basic requirements and can open common document formats – often with formatting loss.
Abiword, while no longer developed for Windows, is available as a portable application. It opens and saves common document formats, though some formatting might be lost. It offers essential word processing features, including document and format templates.
FocusWriter caters to a different audience, launching in full-screen mode for distraction-free writing. The toolbar appears only when the mouse hovers at the top. While it handles basic word processing, it doesn’t support image insertion. Common file formats like .docx, .odt, and .rtf are supported, but with limitations.
Fast word processing: Textmaker from Softmaker Free Office offers more than just basic features. It accurately displays most third-party formats from Word or LibreOffice.
LibreOffice, while not as lightweight as WordPad, is a robust alternative to Microsoft Office 365. It provides a comprehensive feature set comparable to Word and Excel, but document exchange with Microsoft Office users might suffer from import/export filter limitations.
SoftMaker FreeOffice, the free version of SoftMaker Office, is another strong contender against Microsoft Office and LibreOffice for personal use. Its import/export filters sometimes outperform LibreOffice, preserving formatting more effectively.
From Windows Mail to Alternative Email Clients
The Mail and Calendar app, a successor to Outlook Express, is a standalone email client supporting IMAP and POP3. Microsoft plans to replace it with “The New Outlook” in 2024. Currently, users can switch back to the old Mail app, but this is temporary and resets upon restarting the app.
“The New Outlook” doesn’t offer groundbreaking new features, primarily a modernized interface. Calendar and contacts are now integrated, eliminating separate apps. While no Microsoft account is required, “The New Outlook” functions as a front-end for Outlook on the web, storing emails in the Microsoft Cloud.
Forced switch: Users of the “Mail and Calendar” app are prompted to switch to Outlook, a transition that's difficult to avoid.
Many users prefer web-based email clients for their accessibility across devices. However, for local email archiving, Thunderbird is a powerful option. While complex, it offers advanced features like filtering, searching, and integrated PDF viewing, with extensive add-on support.
Efficient Windows Cleanup Alternatives
Over time, PCs accumulate digital clutter, impacting performance. Disk Cleanup, a Windows staple since Windows 98, is being phased out. While still present in Windows 11 23H2, Microsoft recommends using the limited System > Storage options in Settings.
Cleanmgr+ effectively replaces Disk Cleanup. Run it as administrator, choosing between two included programs. “Cleanmgr” launches the Burnbyte tool, allowing drive selection. Select the system drive (C:), choose cleanup options, and click “Clean Up.” Avoid selecting “Downloads” to preserve downloaded files.
Delete superfluous files: Burnbytes, included in Cleanmgr+, replaces Disk Cleanup, which Microsoft plans to remove from Windows soon.
“Cleanmgr+” within the suite provides more options. Select areas, click “Preview” to see affected files, and proceed with cleanup. For browser files, click “More” to select specific browser caches. Exercise caution when cleaning browser caches, as it removes saved sessions and forces content reloading.
Streamlining Program Uninstallation
Uninstalling programs in Windows 11’s Apps > Installed apps is cumbersome and doesn’t always remove everything cleanly. Windows 10’s Control Panel offered a more convenient “Programs and Features” option, now absent in Windows 11.
Missing in Windows 11: “Programs and Features” is still present in the Windows 10 Control Panel. It provides a faster software list than “Apps” in “Settings.”
Revo Uninstaller presents a clean interface for uninstalling multiple programs simultaneously and thoroughly. Desktop programs are listed under “Uninstall Applications,” while “Windows Apps” lists Microsoft Store apps and pre-installed Windows components.
Creating Windows-To-Go USB Drives with Rufus
Windows-To-Go, allowing booting Windows from a USB drive, was exclusive to Windows 10 Enterprise Edition and required specific USB drives. Microsoft discontinued it in Windows 10 version 2004.
Rufus enables installing any Windows 10 or 11 edition on most USB drives, provided they are sufficiently fast. Download the desired Windows ISO file within Rufus, select the USB drive, and choose “Windows To Go” under “Image Property.” Start the process, select the Windows edition, and customize the installation. After Rufus completes, boot from the USB drive and follow the setup wizard.
Restoring the Full Context Menu
Windows 11’s simplified context menu hides many options. While this reduces clutter, it also hinders quick access to frequently used commands. Accessing the full menu requires clicking “Show More Options” or holding Shift while right-clicking.
Winaero Tweaker restores the classic context menu. Navigate to Windows 11 > Classic Full Context Menus, enable the option, and restart Explorer. This tool also offers various Windows customization options, including adding “Control Panel” and “Command Prompt (Administrator)” to context menus.
Edit context menu: With Context Menu Manager, you can hide and add entries to the Windows Explorer and Desktop context menus.
Context Menu Manager edits the classic context menu in Windows 10/11. Select an area (File, Folder, Background) to view and enable/disable entries. The cogwheel icon allows renaming entries, while “Details > Change Command” customizes commands. The “Win-X” menu editing, accessible by right-clicking the Start button or using the Win+X key combination, is only supported in Windows 10.
Extend the Windows 11 context menu: Context Menu Custom adds new entries, for example, to open specific file types with different apps.
Custom Context Menu modifies the Windows 11 context menu and is available in the Microsoft Store. Add new entries by specifying the title, executable path, and target folders. New entries appear directly in the menu or within “Open With” if multiple entries are added.
WebDAV Access After Deprecation of Web Client
WebDAV (Web-Based Distributed Authoring and Versioning) facilitates access to online files. Many cloud providers utilize it. In Windows 11, map WebDAV resources to drive letters by navigating to “This PC” in Explorer, clicking the three dots, and selecting “Connect network drive.” In Windows 10, this option is in the ribbon.
Use WebDAV: Cyberduck provides access to online storage. After logging in, browse directories and upload/download files.
Microsoft plans to remove the built-in WebDAV client. Cyberduck, a free alternative, supports WebDAV, FTP, SFTP, and various cloud services like OneDrive, Dropbox, and Google Drive. Files must be downloaded before opening.
Mountain Duck, from the same developer, offers drive letter mapping for WebDAV resources, enabling direct access without downloading (paid software).
Further Replacements for Microsoft Apps
With Internet Explorer retired, Microsoft Edge, based on Chromium, is a modern browser. However, users concerned about Edge’s AI integration can consider alternatives like Google Chrome, Srware Iron, or Mozilla Firefox.
Back up data: The free Hasleo Backup Suite offers full functionality for backing up the system, partitions, or individual folders.
While Windows offers backup functionality, it’s limited to OneDrive. “Backup and Restore (Windows 7)” is outdated and unreliable. Hasleo Backup Suite Free provides reliable backups of folders or entire drives. Duplicati is suitable for regular file backups, supporting local drives, FTP, SFTP, and various cloud services, using incremental backups to save only changes.
Windows 11 can unpack 7z and RAR archives but not create them. 7-Zip, a free archiving utility, supports numerous formats, including password-protected 7z and Zip archives.
Managing Clipboard History
The Timeline, introduced in Windows 10 version 1803 and removed in Windows 11, displayed recently used documents, websites, and applications across devices.
Manage clipboard: Copy Q saves clipboard history to files. Share these files via a network drive for collaborative access.
Copy Q replicates this functionality, saving copied images, text, and HTML, persisting even after restarts. Configure a synchronization folder under File > Settings > Elements > Synchronize. Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, Linux, macOS) facilitates data exchange between operating systems.
