Microsoft Will Soon Stop Supporting Apps For Windows 8

According to a Microsoft blog they will soon stop accepting new apps on the Windows store, they also go on to remind people that from July 2023, updates for existing Windows 8 apps will be stopped as well.

As a part of the 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, they 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.

Windows 8.x had less than 7 percent active usage share in July, according to NetMarketShare, while Windows Phone 8.x was virtually non-existent at 0.04 percent.

Change Dates

• October 31st, 2018 – Microsoft will stop accepting new app submissions with Windows Phone 8.x or earlier or Windows 8/8.1 packages (XAP or APPX)
  • This will not affect existing apps with packages targeting Windows Phone 8.x or earlier and/or Windows 8/8.1. You can continue to submit updates to these apps as described below.

• July 1st, 2019 – Microsoft will stop distributing app updates to Windows Phone 8.x or earlier devices.
  • You’ll still be able to publish updates to all apps (including those with Windows Phone 8.x or earlier packages). However, these updates will only be made available to Windows 10 devices.

• July 1st, 2023 – Microsoft will stop distributing app updates to Windows 8/8.1 devices.
  • • You’ll still be able to publish updates to all apps (including those with Windows 8/8.1 packages). However, these updates will only be made available to Windows 10 devices.