Windows Essentials

Windows Essentials (formerly Windows Live Essentials and Windows Live Installer) is a discontinued suite of Microsoft freeware applications that included email, instant messaging, photo sharing, blogging, and parental control software. Essentials programs are designed to integrate well with each other, with Microsoft Windows, and other Microsoft web-based services such as OneDrive and Outlook.com.

The last release, Windows Essentials 2012, included Photo Gallery, Windows Movie Maker, Windows Live Writer, Windows Live Mail, OneDrive (later integrated into Windows 8.1 and Windows 10), Windows Live Messenger, and Family Safety (Windows 7 only).

Windows Essentials applications can be installed on Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows Server 2012.