14 DAY TRIAL // Windows Phone 8.1 continues to be the number one version of Microsoft’s mobile operating system, pretty much because Windows 10 Mobile is only available for some 50 percent of the devices on the platform, but sooner or later, an upgrade seems to become mandatory for everyone.
This is because more and more developers are giving up on Windows Phone 8.1, and today, it’s the turn of Facebook to announce that its apps would no longer work on this old version of the operating system as of late March.
In an announcement revealing end of support for old mobile app versions, including for Android and iOS, Facebook explains that the official Facebook app for Windows Phone, Messenger for Windows Phone 8 and 8.1, and Facebook for Windows 8 and 8.1 desktop app would be pulled to focus entirely on Windows 10 Mobile and Windows 10 on the desktop.
Switch to the browser and you’re fine
Leaving aside the fact that the Windows 10 version hasn’t been updated in months, Facebook says this “new” client is the best option because it includes the latest features that are no longer supported by older applications.
At the same time, Facebook recommends users who can’t upgrade to the latest version of the operating system to switch to the browser, a workaround that pretty much every developer leaving Windows phones provides when announcing its departure from the platform.
“We will be ending support for messaging in some older mobile app versions of Messenger and Facebook. We have proactively reached out to those affected and have also offered suggestions right in Messenger,” Facebook says.
“These include updating your app to the latest version, loading an OS update for your device or migrating to Facebook Lite. If your devices do not support the newest versions of Facebook, we recommend going to Facebook.com through your mobile browser.”
In addition to Windows and Windows phones, the social network is also pulling support for the following Android and iOS versions:
| Android |
| · Facebook for Android v55, released on November 16, 2015, and below. |
| · Messenger v10, released on August 14, 2014, and below. |
| iOS |
| · Facebook for iPad v26, released on October 10, 2011, and below. |
| · Messenger v8, released on July 14, 2014, and below. |
| · Facebook for iOS, released on October 10, 2011, and below. |