suggested actions Archives

Winsage

March 21, 2025

Windows 11’s File Explorer will soon unzip files faster

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Preview Build 27818 to Insiders on the Canary Channel, optimizing the extraction process for zipped files in File Explorer. The update improves performance when unzipping large archives with many small files. Additionally, the update removes the "suggested actions" feature for clipboard items, which was related to Skype, as Microsoft plans to retire Skype on May 5.

Winsage

March 20, 2025

Windows 11 File Explorer is about to get a speed boost

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Build 27818 for users in the Canary Channel, enhancing File Explorer's performance for extracting zip files. The update includes general improvements and fixes, such as displaying additional details about Pluton TPM chips in the Windows Security app. The suggested actions feature for copying phone numbers or future dates is being deprecated. A critical fix addresses a d3d9.dll crash affecting application launches. Other improvements include enhanced performance for unzipping files, fixes for File Explorer Home loading issues, taskbar app window preview corrections, resolution of a ctmon.exe crash impacting typing, fixes for Settings launch errors, graphics performance improvements, resolution of Visual Studio Code installation issues with Admin Protection, and fixes for Remote Desktop freezing issues. Additionally, a fix addresses application opening failures related to a virtual machine component error.

Winsage

March 19, 2025

Mysterious Windows 11 “actions” menu appears in latest preview build — here’s what it’s for

Microsoft has begun rolling out a new Windows 11 preview build for Dev Channel testers, introducing a new "Actions" menu in the Settings app. This feature allows users to manage which applications can present suggested actions in the operating system. Currently, contextual suggestions appear only in the Click To Do feature, available exclusively on Copilot+ PCs. The Actions menu provides an overview of applications using this functionality, enabling users to toggle their visibility. Access to these features is limited to Copilot+ PCs, which require a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of 40+ TOPS. Microsoft plans to introduce more proactive Copilot features across the Windows 11 interface later this year, allowing the AI assistant to suggest actions based on user engagement. The new settings menu for suggested actions aligns with potential integration of third-party applications into the Copilot experience.

Winsage

March 18, 2025

Mysterious Windows 11 “actions” menu appears in latest preview build — here’s what it’s for

Microsoft has released a new preview build of Windows 11 for Dev Channel testers, introducing an undocumented "Actions" menu in the Settings app. This feature allows users to manage which applications can present suggested actions throughout the operating system. Currently, contextual suggestions appear only in the Click To Do feature, which is exclusive to Copilot+ PCs that have a Neural Processing Unit (NPU). Microsoft plans to introduce more proactive Copilot features later this year, which will suggest actions and tasks based on users' ongoing work. The new Actions menu is designed to enhance user interaction with the operating system, especially if third-party applications can participate in the Copilot experience.

Winsage

February 15, 2025

Microsoft removes Windows 11 feature responsible for collecting and storing location data

Microsoft has begun deprecating certain features in Windows 11 in 2025, starting with the Location History feature, which has been used to collect and store location data for users. The Location History feature will be removed from the latest preview build for Dev and Beta insiders, meaning that location data will no longer be saved locally, and the corresponding settings will be removed from the Privacy & Security > Location page in Settings. Other recently deprecated features include Suggested Actions, Paint3D, and Legacy DRM services.

Winsage

February 3, 2025

Microsoft explains why it’s deprecating legacy features on Windows 11 like WordPad

Microsoft is evolving Windows 11 by introducing new features and deprecating certain legacy applications and tools, particularly in the Windows 11 24H2 release. The company aims to modernize the operating system and reallocate resources towards new developments. Deprecation serves as a preliminary warning to users rather than an immediate removal of features. Recently, WordPad was announced for deprecation and will be removed with the Windows 11 24H2 release on October 1, 2024, while other applications like Paint 3D have been deprecated but remain available. Deprecated products will still receive support until their official retirement, although they will not undergo active development. Other recently deprecated features include Suggested Actions and legacy DRM services associated with Windows Media Player, with uncertain timelines for their removal.

Winsage

December 15, 2024

Rest in peace to another undercooked Windows feature

Microsoft has discontinued the "suggested actions" feature in Windows 11, which aimed to provide contextual suggestions after copying content. The feature faced limitations and struggled to gain user traction due to its restricted availability and counterintuitive integration. Its removal may be related to the upcoming Click To Do in Copilot+, which is expected to offer similar functionalities more efficiently.

Winsage

December 14, 2024

Microsoft deprecates Suggested Actions in Windows 11

Microsoft has announced the retirement of the Suggested Actions feature in Windows 11, as confirmed in their Deprecated Features list. This feature, which provided contextual suggestions based on copied text, was part of the Windows Insider Dev Channel for less than three years. Despite its intended purpose to enhance user efficiency, it struggled to gain traction and faced complaints regarding its functionality, particularly in recognizing phone numbers and causing unwanted pop-ups. Microsoft is shifting focus towards its Copilot initiative, an AI-driven assistant, while other elements of the Windows 11 interface, like the right-click menu, have been modified without facing similar retirement.

Winsage

December 13, 2024

Windows 11’s ‘suggested actions’ feature is headed to the Microsoft Graveyard – but here’s what’s replacing it

Microsoft is retiring the “Suggested Actions” menu from Windows 11, a feature introduced in 2022 to provide quick shortcuts for copying information. This decision is part of Microsoft's efforts to streamline Windows 11 by removing underused features. The removal is speculated to be due to low user engagement. In its place, Microsoft is introducing a new AI-driven tool called “Click to Do,” which will only be available on newer Copilot+ PCs. Users on older devices will not have a replacement for the “Suggested Actions” feature. In 2023, Microsoft has retired a total of 16 features from Windows 11, focusing on outdated or underutilized ones.

Winsage

December 12, 2024

Microsoft kills a handy Windows 11 feature that allowed quick calls or event creation

Microsoft has deprecated the "Suggested actions" feature in Windows 11, which was introduced in May 2022 as part of build 25115. This feature allowed Windows 11 to recognize phone numbers and dates to provide shortcuts for tasks like making calls or scheduling events. Microsoft announced that "Suggested actions" will be removed in a future update, although a specific timeline for this removal is not provided. Other recently deprecated features include Android app support, Paint 3D, Windows Speech Recognition, the Tips app, Steps Recorder, and WordPad.