Microsoft stops pre-installing Maps, Movies and TV apps in Windows 11

Microsoft will no longer install the Maps and Movies & TV apps by default during the installation of Windows 11. This change is now being tested first for Windows Insiders, in preview build 25987 of the Canary Channel.

Starting with this preview build, both apps are no longer automatically downloaded during the Windows 11 installation, Microsoft writes in a blog post. The Maps and Movies and TV apps are not removed with existing OS installations. The company also promises that both apps will remain available in the Microsoft Store and will continue to receive updates. Microsoft gives no reason for why it will stop pre-installing both apps.

The Maps app is the counterpart of applications such as Google Maps and Apple Maps and allows users, among other things, to search for different areas in the world and use route descriptions. At the end of this year, the ability to download and display offline maps in the app will be discontinued. The Movies & TV app allows users to purchase or rent a selection of movies and TV shows.

Preview build 25987 continues with a number of changes. This makes it possible to view and edit the metadata of PNG files in Windows Explorer. This allows users to add a description and keywords, among other things. The Delivery Optimization settings page has also been redesigned “to more closely align with Windows 11 design principles.” It’s not clear when the changes from this preview build will be available to all Windows 11 users.

Maps app