Microsoft has confirmed that yet another popular and useful Windows 10 feature is set for the chopping block in the near future. Windows 10 Timeline, the cross-device activity syncing tool, will no longer work, although its demise will come at different times depending on the version of Windows 10 you’re using.
Windows 10: No Time(Line) Like the Present
Microsoft revealed that Timeline might be nearing its end in its release notes for Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 21359, released to early access users back in April 2021. The timing of the first announcement led Windows 10 Timeline users to believe that the tool would shut its doors later in the year, likely with the pending Windows 10 21H2 update (expected around October 2021).
However, an updated Microsoft Support page regarding Timeline has shifted the goalposts.
Starting in July 2021, if you have your activity history synced across your devices through your Microsoft account (MSA), you’ll no longer have the option to upload new activity in Timeline. You’ll still be able to use Timeline and see your activity history (information about recent apps, websites and files) on your local device. AAD-connected accounts won’t be impacted.
It is important to note that Timeline isn’t popping off completely. Microsoft has confirmed that Timeline will continue to work on local devices—it’s only the cross-device sync that will no longer work. But from July 2021, your cross-device Timeline sync will not accept any new activity history.
Windows 10 Timeline Switches to Local Only
The switch to becoming a local-only Windows 10 feature is a blow for cross-device Windows 10 users. Signing in to your Microsoft Account and bringing your recent Windows 10 activity with you was very handy, especially as it covered so many areas of the operating system.
Those who use Timeline as a local service will be pleased, however, as Microsoft has committed to keeping the tool up and running, at least for now. However, as a tool that was definitely at its best with multi-device support, it’s unclear if Microsoft will continue to update and promote the tool moving forward.
Of course, there are other cross-device syncing options available to Windows 10 users. Timeline wasn’t the only option.
For example, you can sync your files between installations on different devices using OneDrive (or another cloud storage tool) if you use Microsoft Office. For browsers, you can use any web browser with cross-device support (things like shared bookmarks and history, tabs from recent devices connected to the same user account, and so on), while plenty of other apps and software offer specific cross-device sharing.