14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has quietly updated an older announcement to state that Windows 8 devices would no longer be provided with app updates through the Microsoft Store after July 1 this year.
The company initially planned to stop rolling out app updates to Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 on July 1, 2023, according to the original schedule.
“You’ll still be able to publish updates to all apps (including those with Windows 8 and 8.1 packages). However, these updates will only be made available to Windows 10 devices,” the company told developers in its announcement.
But as reported on Twitter by @nawzil10, the deadline was quietly moved to July 1, 2019. “Microsoft will stop distributing app updates to Windows Phone 8.x or earlier devices, and Windows 8,” the message now reads.
What’s important to know is that this updated schedule only concerns Windows 8, and not Windows 8.1. According to Microsoft’s announcement, Windows 8.1 app updates are still projected to be retired on July 1, 2023.
Windows 8 no longer receiving support
Microsoft pulling support for Windows 8 app updates earlier than anticipated isn’t necessarily surprising news. Not only that Windows 8’s market share is currently very small, but the operating system itself no longer receives support since 2016. Users can upgrade to Windows 8.1 free of charge.
In the meantime, Microsoft is pushing harder for Windows 10, so the easiest way to continue receiving app updates is to upgrade to this latest operating system.
“As a part of our Windows device life cycle, Microsoft Store will soon stop accepting new apps with Windows Phone 8.x or earlier or Windows 8/8.1 packages (XAP and APPX). Soon after that date, we will stop distributing app updates to Windows Phone 8.x or earlier and Windows 8/8.1 devices; at that time, updates will only be made available to customers using Windows 10 devices,” Microsoft explains.
Windows 8 was officially launched on October 26, 2012, while Windows 8.1 was introduced only a year later.