Highlights:
- Microsoft will end all support and updates to Windows 10 Mobile on December 10, 2019.
- Some services like device settings backup and more will be available for three months more after that.
- The company had announced it no longer plans to develop new features for Windows Mobile back in 2017.
Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10 Mobile devices in December 2019. The company revealed in a support note that the Windows 10 Mobile version 1709, released back in October 2017 is the last release of the mobile operating system and the Redmond giant will stop supporting it by the end of this year.
After a limp battle against iOS and Android, Microsoft’s dream of owning the mobile landscape is now taking its last few breaths. Earlier this decade, Microsoft acquired Nokia and released a bevy of Lumia devices running the mobile version of Windows. The Windows Mobile smartphones with its aesthetic (but limited) MetroUI never really took off and failed to compete against Android OEMs and Apple. To make it more viable, Microsoft universal apps and even that failed to attract developers and users to the platform.
After Microsoft takes Windows 10 Mobile off life support in December, features like device backups for settings, and some apps will continue functioning for another three months until March 10, 2020. However, the same FAQ page states, “some services including photo uploads and restoring a device from an existing device backup may continue to work for up to another 12 months from end of support.”
In 2017, Microsoft also ended support for Windows Phone 8.1 and many saw the end coming. The company’s efforts are now focused towards making apps and services for Android and iOS devices. The company already has a launcher app, alongside a suite of Office apps and even a nifty translator. There is an upcoming app mirroring support as well. So even though the company’s dreams of having a native mobile operating system might be over, Microsoft is far from exiting the mobile landscape.
Related Links:
Microsoft finally confirms the death of Windows Phone
Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1 is dead but future of Windows 10 Mobile remains unclear