Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8.1 mainstream support will come to an end tomorrow July 11 2017 which is 3 years after its official launch. The Windows Phone 8.1 received an update the “Lumia Denim” and later “GDR2” which was the last official update before the launch of Windows 10 Mobile. Since the launch of Windows 10 Mobile, the company’s previous version had not received any software updates.
Users with Windows Phone 8.1 need to download an Upgrade Advisor app from the Store to be able to update to Microsoft’s Windows 10 Mobile for Supported devices. According to Microsoft’s Support site the mainstream support for Windows Phone 8.1 is supposed to end on July 11 which is exactly 3 years after the official launch of the previous Windows version.
With the end of mainstream support for Windows Phone 8.1, the Operating System will be only receiving Security updates, which is an extended support. However we are not sure till when the Redmond Giant plans to continue with the extended support for Windows Phone 8.1.
The upgrade path from Microsoft is probably the only way now to upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile if your device is supported. Now with the mainstream support for Windows Phone 8.1 coming to an end it now remains to be seen as to whether the Redmond Giant will continue with the upgrade path.
Users with mobiles that have come shipped with Windows 10 Mobile out of the box are the only devices which are up gradable to Microsoft’s latest version Creators Update. Microsoft had removed all Windows Phone 8.1 handsets which include the high end Lumia 930 and 1520 from the eligible list (Curtailed to 13) of upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile’s latest version Creators update.
Windows Phone 8.1 is currently the company’s top version OS and is used by nearly 74 percent of users while the latest Operating System Windows 10 Mobile is only available on 20.3 percent mobile users due to its limited device availability.
