Why Is Microsoft Killing Cortana For Android And iOS

Microsoft has revealed that it’s planning to kill off its Cortana app for iOS and Android in January. The software maker has posted a new support article for Cortana users in the UK, Canada, and Australia that clarifies Cortana for iOS and Android will be abandoned in those markets. Microsoft has also confirmed that the Cortana app will disappear in the UK, Australia, Germany, Spain, Mexico, India, Canada, and China at the end of January.

A spokesperson has said:

“Cortana is an integral part of our broader vision to bring the power of conversational computing and productivity to all our platforms and devices,” says a Microsoft spokesperson in a statement released to the press.

The spokesperson also went on to say; “To make Cortana as helpful as possible, we’re integrating Cortana deeper into your Microsoft 365 productivity apps, and part of this evolution involves ending support for the Cortana mobile app on Android and iOS.”

It’s not clear how much longer the Cortana for iOS and Android app will continue to operate in the US after January. A Microsoft spokesperson stated that currently it’s still supported in the US for the moment. The support article also reveals that Cortana will be disappearing from Microsoft’s Android Launcher app also at the end of January.

Microsoft’s Cortana app is also used to configure settings and update the firmware for devices like the companies Surface Headphones. Microsoft has not mentioned how Surface Headphones owners in the UK and elsewhere will avail of these these features which Cortana provides support for. Microsoft originally launched Cortana for iOS and Android back in 2015, and it was originally designed to connect Windows 10 PCs and mobile phones together.

A huge redesign by Microsoft has failed to compete with other digital assistants on phones. Microsoft is now focused on integrating Cortana into the business-end of Microsoft 365 instead. Cortana is also being integrated into Outlook for iOS and Android so it can read emails aloud while you are out on the go.