Microsoft has announced its plans to retire the Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool (MSDT) and the legacy inbox Troubleshooters in Windows 11. This move has been deemed necessary as the company is redirecting its focus towards its new Get Help troubleshooting platform. In this article, we will explain what this means for users and the timeline for the retirement of these tools.
What is MSDT and the legacy inbox Troubleshooters?
The MSDT and the legacy inbox Troubleshooters are built-in tools in Windows that help diagnose and correct common problems for a variety of Windows features. These tools have been around for a long time, but Microsoft has decided that it’s time to retire them in favor of its new Get Help platform.
Deprecation Timeline
The deprecation timeline for MSDT and the legacy inbox Troubleshooters will take place over the next three years. In 2023, Microsoft will begin redirecting some of the troubleshooters to the Get Help platform. In 2024, the company will complete the redirection and remove the remaining troubleshooters. Finally, in 2025, Microsoft will remove the MSDT platform entirely.
Impact on Users
The MSDT Troubleshooter deprecation, including the redirection and removal of the legacy inbox troubleshooters, will go into effect on devices running the next release of Windows 11. If you are running Windows 11 version 22H2 or older, you will not be affected by this change. However, for those running the next release of Windows 11, you will have to access the Get Help troubleshooters from the Windows Settings. To access these troubleshooters, go to Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooters and select the appropriate troubleshooter for your issue.
Troubleshooters Being Redirected and Removed
In 2023 and 2024, Microsoft will redirect some of the legacy inbox troubleshooters to the Get Help platform. These troubleshooters include Audio, Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Bluetooth, Network and Internet, Printer, Program Compatibility, Video Playback, Windows Media Player, and Windows Update.
The remaining legacy inbox troubleshooters, including Connection to a Workplace using DirectAccess, Devices and Printers, Hardware and Devices, HomeGroup, Incoming Connections, Internet Explorer Performance, Internet Explorer Safety, Keyboard, Power, Search and Indexing, Speech, System Maintenance, Shared Folders, and Windows Store Apps, will be removed in 2024.
In-product Message
Starting in 2023, if you open one of the legacy inbox troubleshooters, you will see an in-product message alerting you to the upcoming retirement and a link to learn more about the process. However, if you are running Windows 11 version 22H2 or older, you will not see this in-product message and the legacy inbox troubleshooters will still work on your device.
Final Thoughts
The retirement of MSDT and the legacy inbox Troubleshooters is a significant change for Windows users, but Microsoft is confident that its new Get Help platform will provide a better troubleshooting experience. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to send feedback to Microsoft and stay updated on the latest news and information regarding this change.
