Microsoft To End Support For All Windows 10 Mobile Devices

Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 Mobile Devices by the end of this year. Giving up on its mobile manufacturing endeavor, Windows is now focusing on creating and developing apps that work with Android and iOS. What does that mean for Windows mobile users?

Read on for the full story.

Windows 10 mobile Devices’ Last Year Of Support – Full Story

Last week, Windows updated its Lifecycle FAQ support page with “Windows 10 Mobile, version 1709 (released October 2017) is the last release of Windows 10 Mobile and Microsoft will end support on December 10, 2019.”

This means that after December 10 of this year, Microsoft will no longer issue any security update, patches, or system updates to Windows 10 mobile devices. Additionally, Microsoft is urging its users to move to iOS or Android phones, choosing Android as the mobile version of Windows.

What That Means for Windows 10 mobile Users

The company also released a support page dedicated to the end of Windows 10 support. The page also explains how the services found on the phones will start phasing out, explaining to Windows 10 mobile users exactly what to expect:

• End of support for Windows 10 Mobile (version 1709) will be on Dec. 10, 2019.
• Automatic and manual backups will be available till March 10, 2020.
• Services like photo uploads and device restore “may continue to work for up to 12 months from end of support”.
• Third-party apps may end support “at any time”.

If you have a Windows 10 device and you want to continue using it after Dec. 10, then you need to have a back-up made before that data. To perform a manual backup, you should:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Select Backup.
4. Select More Options.
5. Tap on Back up Now.

This way, you’ll have a manual backup of your device before the end of support date, making it easier for you to regain your information even if you ran into a problem after EoS.

Which OS Should You Move to?

As I mentioned above, Windows is asking it’s users to move to either iOS or Android devices. If you’re a Windows mobile user, you don’t have to select a new OS without knowing what’s best for you. We’ve already compared the security value of Android and iOS phones, but here’s a quick overview of the comparison to help you make a better decision:

• Apps allowed on Apple’s store follow a more rigorous screening process than those found on Google Play Store. This means that iPhone users are less likely to encounter malicious apps than Android, especially since Google Play store has more lenient rules for developers looking to release their Android apps.
• Since Apple both develops iOS and manufactures the hardware of the phones, it can limit the number of vulnerabilities found on its released phones. Android phones, on the other hand, are composed of different hardware manufacturers using the open-sourced Android code.
• Apple forces all of its users to update to the latest security patch or OS version. Android phones, on the other hand, don’t use any kind of mandatory update, leaving it up to the user to keep their device as secure as possible.

This is why we suggest that Windows 10 mobile users make the switch over to iOS devices instead of Android. This is double-true since Android users themselves are going through the same shift, forgoing the OS they’ve been using all this time for one that is more secure and private.

End of Support for Windows 10 Mobile Devices – Final Thoughts

There you have it, ladies and gentleman, the end of Microsoft’s OS making days. If you’ve just got yourself a Windows 10 phone, it’s important to keep in mind that you will have to change it in a year’s time. The thing is, not having support for your OS is very dangerous, as it means that your system isn’t going to be updated to fend off new threats. Hopefully, you’ll take this time to do your research and figure out which OS shift works best for you.
Do you have a Windows 10 mobile? Are you planning on shifting to Android or iOS? Let me know in the comment section below.