If you've seen Cortana displaying a message that the app will be discontinued soon, that's because Microsoft has decided to end the support for its virtual assistant on both iOS and Android platforms. After the end of March, you'll no longer be able to use Cortana on your phones.
Microsoft Ends Support for Cortana Mobile
Microsoft announced in July last year that it'll be ending support for Cortana mobile very soon, and that day has finally arrived. The company is discontinuing Cortana for iOS and Android by March 31.
This announcement was made on Microsoft's support site, and the official statement read as follows:
As we announced in July, we will soon be ending support for the Cortana app on Android and iOS, as Cortana continues its evolution as a productivity assistant.
Now you know why Cortana displays a discontinuation message on your smartphone.
Manage Your Content When Cortana Is Gone
If you created any content with Cortana, you might be worried about what happens to your data when Cortana is finally gone. Luckily, Microsoft has made arrangements to ensure you can access your items even when this virtual assistant is gone from your phone.
Your items like your reminders and lists will be accessible from Cortana on Windows. This means, you simply need to log in to your PC and you'll have access to all your Cortana items.
Your reminders, lists, and tasks will also be synced to Microsoft To Do, which is a free to-do list app for smartphones. You can download and install this app on your iOS or Android device, and get access to all your Cortana content.
Microsoft Cortana Alternatives for iOS and Android
Cortana has been a pretty useful virtual assistant and we're all going to miss it when it's gone. When that actually happens, you might want to find a Cortana replacement.
A good thing about both the iOS and Android ecosystems is that both have their own virtual assistants. iOS has Siri and Android has Google Assistant to help you do tasks that Cortana did all this time for you.
And in case those built-in assistants don't cut it for you, there are many other assistant apps you can grab from your app stores.
Cortana for iOS and Android Retiring Soon
If you've been using Cortana on your smartphone, it's time you bid goodbye to this app. You don't need to worry too much about finding an alternative to this app, as there are plenty of options to choose from on the market.