Windows

Windows Phone 8.1 is getting dropped by Microsoft tomorrow

by Damian M.

Jul 10, 2017, 8:56 AM

Image courtesy of Windows Central

There aren't that many Windows-powered handsets anymore, and they continue to drop in numbers. And starting tomorrow, mainstream support for the most popular version of Windows on mobile is ending.

That's right, in case you've missed it, Microsoft is ending mainstream support for Windows Phone 8.1 tomorrow, July 11th. Microsoft has done its best to make users upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile through its Upgrade Advisor app, but more than 70% of Windows Phone users are still on Windows 8.1.

In fact, if users don't pay attention to their Windows Phone news, they might not have even noticed they're eligible for an upgrade through the app. Then again, some phones have yet to qualify for a free upgrade, and there will probably be devices that will not get it at all.

However, if you're still running the outdated version of Microsoft's mobile OS, we strongly suggest you check whether you can upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile. Otherwise, you will receive no performance or security updates for your phone, starting tomorrow.

via MSPowerUser

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8 Comments

1. GreenMan

Posts: 2698; Member since: Nov 09, 2015

Ah... Oh well... Bye bye, Windows Phone... You shall always remain in our hearts, like the excellent (yet ill fated) Blackberry 10... G'Day?

posted on Jul 10, 2017, 9:03 AM 0

2. zr2s10

Posts: 45; Member since: Jul 07, 2017

Running W10M on my 950. I don't see any disadvantage to it over 8.1 (tried it for a bit on a 640), other than a scant few apps having issues. But there are scant few apps on WM period.... Almost any phone running 8.1 can be upgraded to 10 using the Insider Program. It's very easy to do. Of course, I plan on getting rid of my 950 soon, or at least buying a G6 with the 950 as a backup. Lack of apps I can tolerate, but when you have to do everything with Edge, it needs to work right, and it just doesn't get the job done, too often for my liking.

posted on Jul 10, 2017, 9:05 AM 0

3. Nathan_ingx

Posts: 4769; Member since: Mar 07, 2012

A slowly dying breed...

posted on Jul 10, 2017, 9:06 AM 0

5. Bfrenz

Posts: 285; Member since: Aug 26, 2012

Rapdily I'd say.

posted on Jul 10, 2017, 10:13 AM 0

6. SIGPRO

Posts: 2817; Member since: Oct 03, 2012

Keep hearing that Windows on phones is dying....... Well it still managed to survive for more than 15 years.....longer than Android and iOS! Plus a new version of Windows on phones is coming......so it will not die soon!

posted on Jul 10, 2017, 4:27 PM 0

7. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

Did you even listen to yourselves? That's just sad. It makes the end more painfully than it has to be. My Windows 10 Mobile is still getting update so are the apps I have been using but that could change and very likely unless Microsoft releases new Windows 10 phones.

posted on Jul 11, 2017, 3:32 AM 0

4. libra89

Posts: 2338; Member since: Apr 15, 2016

There isn't anything worth upgrading to for my dad. He likes Windows Phone, and his phone doesn't qualify for the upgrade anyway.

posted on Jul 10, 2017, 9:34 AM 0

8. airisoverrated

Posts: 55; Member since: Jun 08, 2012

Oh Windows Phone what could've been. There was so much I liked about that platform, but no matter how many times I told myself developers would come - they never really did. I even got a glimpse of hope when they rolled Astoria into the preview builds and could sideload some android apps. But then they even took that away. They probably could've kept me on the platform if they'd left the emulator on there, as inconvenient as it was. Even now I take out my old Lumia 880 to play around with. Maybe Microsoft has a hero device up it's sleeves to make something usable for us fanboys that will actually run apps I want to use besides office, but till then I'm using my android phone with some Microsoft software and all the apps I missed when I was on WP.