Cortana no longer tracks packages, but the feature lives on in Outlook

Microsoft'southward Cortana has been undergoing a shift from a centralized storehouse and digital assistant to a more than extensive helper with new endpoints in more apps. A articulate example of this is with package tracking – a favorite feature that came to Cortana back in 2022 on Windows Phone.

Now, however, people are taking notice that under Cortana's Notebook where tracking a packet is still an option the assistant now says "Sorry, Cortana will no longer be able to runway packages from your electronic mail."

But is the feature gone? Non actually. Package tracking is now handled in Outlook and the native Mail and Calendar apps.

Microsoft appear Outlook package tracking back in June 2022 along with flight details, rental car reservations, and hotel booking information.

Although Outlook has been treatment packet tracking for some time the shift away from Cortana is new for many users.

Why Outlook and not Cortana?

Cortana's Notebook telling users that packet tracking is no longer an option.

While the move may seem like a push button against Cortana by putting the characteristic in Outlook, information technology now has more reach since Outlook is on Mac, web, iOS, Android, and native Windows 10 Mail and Calendar apps. (In fact, Cortana on iOS in Outlook can now alert you lot when it is time to leave for a meeting). Past remaining in Cortana, the feature only works if users on competing platforms install the standalone digital banana – which is less likely so them installing Outlook (Outlook has over 100 million downloads on Android alone).

There is as well the question of calendar back up. Currently, when you get an Amazon shipping notification, the data is automatically added to your Outlook agenda – which makes sense for those who like to see an overview of their schedule versus manually looking it upwardly in Cortana.

Still, Cortana on PC, Android, and iOS still reveal upcoming incoming packet notifications. For PC, a notification alerts you lot that it is being tracked while those on Android or iOS tin can see it in the Cortana app if a user has the app installed.

Much of this also has to do with the shift away from Cortana on PC equally a standalone, catchall repository for everything and instead making the Os (and connected apps) "smarter" by naturally serving this information to the user. The method behind what Cortana was doing with parcel tracking is still present - it'due south but revealed differently to the user.

Ane missing feature, notwithstanding, is at present users cannot manually make Cortana track a package like in the by. The other problem is simply general reliability as plenty of users notwithstanding complain of no tracking for flights or packages.

We reached out to Microsoft virtually the shift away from Cortana and a spokesperson stated:

Every bit with all our tools and services, nosotros are constantly evaluating and finessing the Cortana experience to offer users the near valuable features and capabilities. For bundle tracking ease, Outlook will proceed to manage your parcel tracking emails, and create events in your calendar with details.

To brand certain the feature is enabled users tin can get to Outlook.com and to their Calendar. From there select Settings > Options > Calendar > Automatic processing and make certain events from email/automatically add is enabled along with the correct categories.

It is worth noting that Microsoft does have a valuable resource of currently supported senders for events from e-mail in Outlook. While Amazon is the near visible eBay, Walmart, SnapDeal, and Flipkart are too supported. Also packages, users can discover supported senders for flights, lodging reservations, bills, dining reservations, motorcar rentals, and events.

Does bundle tracking belong in Cortana or does information technology make more sense to support it directly in Outlook across all devices? Let us know what you lot think.

Cortana is far from dead as Microsoft plans to brand an 'Intelligent Bone' with Windows 10
Supported senders for events from email in Outlook

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more than.

History catches up

The problem for a consumer HoloLens was always the lack of Windows Phone

What is the future for Microsoft (and Windows) mixed reality? The latest written report from Business organisation Insider sheds some low-cal, just this all comes dorsum to one major problem for Microsoft: No mobile Windows Os. But what most a time to come headset that is deject-based? Some thoughts on what could happen for Microsoft mixed reality.