It looks like Microsoft's New Year resolution for 2025 includes sweeping its software closet, starting with the not-so-beloved "Suggested Actions" feature in Windows 11. It’s official: this feature, designed with the noble intention of enhancing user productivity, is getting the axe. While it aimed to make your life simpler by suggesting contextually relevant actions, the execution left much to be desired. So, let’s take a closer look at why one of Microsoft’s ideas packed its bags for the tech graveyard and what this means for the future of Windows.
Here’s how it worked—or, let's say, was supposed to work:
Here’s where Windows 11 is heading instead:
If anything, the feature’s removal highlights Microsoft’s ability to listen to users and pivot. Remember, feature failure isn’t necessarily a company failing—it’s feedback in disguise. Will the replacement AI-driven advancements win our hearts? The jury’s out, but Windows 11 users are clearly ready for smoother, more thoughtful features.
Until then, farewell, Suggested Actions. You were an idea ahead of your time but short of your potential. Microsoft, now’s your shot to refine your "smarts" for the OS we rely on daily—and we’ll be watching closely.
Source: TechRadar Microsoft nixes Windows 11’s “Suggested actions” feature: a smart idea that didn’t quite work
What Was "Suggested Actions"?
Unveiled during a 2022 preview build for Windows Insiders and rolled out to all users by 2023, "Suggested Actions" was Microsoft's attempt to sprinkle some smarts into your workflow.Here’s how it worked—or, let's say, was supposed to work:
- Context Recognizer: If you copied a date, it would offer to create a calendar event for you immediately.
- Phone Numbers & Contacts: Snag a phone number? Suggested Actions aimed to let you call or text it right away.
- URLs: Sometimes, it would offer to open a website based on a link you copied.
Where Did It All Go Wrong?
As with many well-intentioned tech features, “Suggested Actions” suffered from a classic case of execution mismatch. What seemed like a clever idea on paper turned into a headache for Windows 11 users. Here are the main culprits behind its downfall:1. Inconsistency
Ever had a helper that’s just there sometimes? Yeah, that's how users felt about Suggested Actions. Too frequently, it wouldn’t show up when needed. For instance, you’d copy a date or a number, only to get… crickets. Then there were times when the feature appeared for tasks where its presence made absolutely no sense—like when working with dates in Excel, a program designed specifically for date handling.2. False Suggestions
Attempting to copy a phone number to share it with someone? Users reported the feature either suggesting actions only partially related to the text selected—or doing absolutely nothing. Furthermore, some found the feature redundant, intruding on workflows they already managed just fine manually.3. User Sentiment
This is where the rubber hits the road. Feedback from Microsoft's Insider Feedback Hub revealed frustration from users. Complaints ranged from irrelevant or annoying suggestions to outright glitches. While some users might tolerate teething issues during early beta use, it seemed to impact the trust necessary for wider adoption.Why Microsoft Pulled the Plug
Microsoft tends to reimagine features (or outright rebrand failed ones) rather than discard them completely. However, judging by the brevity of this experiment—lasting only two years after testing—it’s clear this was different.Missed AI Integration?
Initially, Microsoft alluded to making Suggested Actions a more AI-driven service, leveraging machine learning to adapt better to user behavior. But something seems to have derailed these efforts entirely. Given that Microsoft is doubling down on broader AI-powered improvements (such as their Windows Copilot assistant), it appears the company thought it wiser to focus engineering efforts elsewhere.The Competition Factor
In the realm of user productivity, Microsoft's biggest competitor—Google—is setting the bar high. Google has refined similar contextual suggestions tailored for workflows within ChromeOS as well as Android’s Clipboard. Meanwhile, Suggested Actions paled in comparison, almost feeling like a beta project that escaped the lab too soon.What’s Next? Microsoft’s Vision Beyond the Graveyard
Ah, the "Microsoft Graveyard." It’s getting crowded these days. From Groove Music to the ill-fated Windows 10X, Microsoft has no shortage of ideas that didn’t pan out as planned. But this is arguably a good thing—it shows the company isn’t afraid to pivot.Here’s where Windows 11 is heading instead:
- AI Powered Features: Microsoft has already teased a future where Windows AI assistants and services integrate seamlessly into workflows. Think of new iterations of Copilot: instead of a rigid list of contextual actions (like Suggested Actions), the assistant could conversationally handle entire tasks—such as scheduling multiple meetings or extracting data intelligently from repeated clipboard content.
- User Experience Refinement: Based on the lessons from Suggested Actions, expect better testing and feedback collection before major rollouts. Microsoft's growing penchant for crowd-sourcing user input (via the Windows Insider Program) will likely sharpen feature rollouts moving forward.
What Should You Do?
There’s no proactive action required on your part as Suggested Actions is being quietly phased out. For now:- If you’re running Preview Builds in the Beta Channel, the feature is already disabled.
- Expect complete removal from Windows 11 by February 2025 through cumulative updates.
So… Will You Miss It?
Chances are, no. Suggested Actions never became a must-have tool, with many users probably forgetting it was even there. It’s almost poetic: the same inconsistency that caused its failure ensures that its absence will feel like the tech equivalent of deleting a bloatware app you didn’t ask for but tolerated passively.If anything, the feature’s removal highlights Microsoft’s ability to listen to users and pivot. Remember, feature failure isn’t necessarily a company failing—it’s feedback in disguise. Will the replacement AI-driven advancements win our hearts? The jury’s out, but Windows 11 users are clearly ready for smoother, more thoughtful features.
Until then, farewell, Suggested Actions. You were an idea ahead of your time but short of your potential. Microsoft, now’s your shot to refine your "smarts" for the OS we rely on daily—and we’ll be watching closely.
Source: TechRadar Microsoft nixes Windows 11’s “Suggested actions” feature: a smart idea that didn’t quite work