Microsoft shuts down the Cortana app on Android and iOS
- Microsoft shut down the Cortana app for Android and iOS on March 31, 2020.
- You need to access your reminders and lists through Windows or the Tasks app.
- The move takes another voice assistant out of the competition on mobile devices.
You now have one less choice for important voice assistants on your phone. MacRumors reports that Microsoft shut down the Cortana app for Android and iOS about two and a half years after it launched in November 2018.
Any content you created with Cortana will no longer work in the app, including lists and reminders. You’ll need to use either Cortana on Windows or the Tasks app on Android and iOS to get your information.
Connected: Best list list apps for Android
The end had come for a while. Microsoft warned against shutting down Cortana for Android and iOS in July 2020 when it said it would be the focus of the gloriole-inspired AI wizard to assist users with Microsoft 365 services. Harman Kardon even started removing Cortana from his Invoke smart speaker, a showcase for Microsoft’s helpers, in early March.
It is an unfortunate loss when you are immersed in the Microsoft ecosystem. At the same time, it’s a confirmation that Cortana never really launched on the phone due to the established, more accessible competition. Android users had little reason to choose Cortana when the Google Assistant was built in, while iOS fans were more likely to use Siri. And if you wanted a device-independent alternative, you probably went with Amazon Alexa – Microsoft even partnered to bring Alexa to Windows 10. Cortana just wasn’t in great demand, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Microsoft couldn’t. t justify the maintenance of the mobile apps.
