Microsoft is preparing to remove the built-in Microsoft Teams client from Windows 11, two years after the first announcement of the integration. The more adaptable free version of Microsoft Teams will replace the Chat capability. This version is also available as a Windows 10 app. Microsoft revealed these improvements in a recent Windows 11 test release.
According to a blog post by Brandon LeBlanc, Microsoft’s senior programme manager, “Starting with this build, Chat is now Microsoft Teams – Free.” “Microsoft Teams – Free is pinned to the taskbar by default and can be unpinned like other apps on the taskbar.” Microsoft was contacted for comment about the removal of Chat, but did not provide one in time for publication.
The initial Teams integration in Windows 11, called Chat, was closely woven into the OS. The Chat app was automatically on the taskbar and needed to be turned off in Settings. Microsoft Teams’ chat feature allows users to connect with their friends and family. However, it was only available to consumers, making it useless for most Microsoft Teams customers who use the enterprise version of the service. Additionally, Windows 11 users risk having two confusing versions of Teams installed to manage both business and personal calls.
Microsoft is adding fresh features to Chat in Windows 11, like improved video conferencing, Discord-style communities, and an AI art tool. They built the new Microsoft Teams software for organizations and integrated Chat in Windows 11 based on the Microsoft Teams 2.0 client.
Exploring the Changes: Microsoft’s Decision to Remove Teams from Windows 11
Recently, Microsoft revealed plans to discontinue support for Cortana on Windows 11 later this year. Now, the company has decided to do the same with the built-in Teams client in Windows 11. As the start of a new fiscal year approaches, Microsoft is focusing on new Windows initiatives, such as its AI-powered Windows Copilot application.
Windows CEO Panos Panay spoke at CES earlier this year about the importance of AI for Windows, saying that “AI is going to reinvent how you do everything on Windows.” AI will undoubtedly be a significant component in Windows 10 as well.
Additionally, Microsoft agreed to stop integrating Teams with Office a few months before the changes to Teams. In April, Microsoft, in response to EU authorities and a complaint by Slack in 2020, opted to no longer make it obligatory for Office users to install Teams on their devices. This move followed a formal antitrust investigation by the European Commission into Microsoft’s practices.
