Microsoft provides up on unpopular Home windows 11 characteristic and removes it

One among Home windows 11’s key launch options will quickly be faraway from the working system.

In a weblog publish saying a brand new Insider Preview Construct, Microsoft has confirmed that the taskbar-based “Chat” characteristic shall be changed by a separate “Microsoft Groups – Free” app. This new standalone app will nonetheless be pinned to the taskbar by default, however you’ll be able to simply take away it like some other app.

Examine that to the present expertise with the Chat app, which acts as a simplified model of the principle Groups app. Whilst you do have fast hyperlinks to start out conferences, it’s designed for text-based communication with pals, household and colleagues. You may conceal it through Settings, however not take away completely.

Whereas not all options in early builds make it right into a ultimate model, it’d be an enormous shock to see Chat nonetheless right here by the point the 23H2 replace arrives later this 12 months. It seems to be an admission from Microsoft that most individuals weren’t a fan of the Chat app.

Whereas its alternative is already accessible, Microsoft has confirmed that it’ll “proceed to reinforce Microsoft Groups – Free with extra options and enhancements”.

One other Home windows chat software fails

The combination of a ‘Chat’ perform inside the Home windows 11 taskbar was promoted as an vital characteristic when Home windows 11 launched two years in the past. Regardless of solely being a simplified model of the principle Groups app, Microsoft hoped that it will appeal to individuals to make use of the characteristic with family and friends, fairly than simply for work functions.

It definitely felt like a threat value taking, particularly after the variety of individuals utilizing Groups and different videoconferencing instruments grew vastly through the pandemic. Nonetheless, it seems like Microsoft is now abandoning this try to get extra individuals utilizing Groups of their private lives.

This isn’t the primary time has tried to unsuccessfully impose a communication software on Home windows customers. Whereas Apple’s iMessage has remained pretty constant on the Mac aspect, Home windows has by no means had a real different. One high-profile instance is MSN Messenger, which launched in Home windows XP and was later often called Home windows Reside Messenger.

It wouldn’t be a shock to see Microsoft strive its hand at new messaging apps once more sooner or later.