Microsoft is recommending users of Windows 10 Mobile devices migrate to the iOS or Android platforms. The advice comes as the Redmond software publisher confirms the end of support for their mobile operating system at the end of 2019.
What should Windows 10 Mobile customers do now?
With the Windows 10 Mobile OS end of support, we recommend that customers move to a supported Android or iOS device. Microsoft’s mission statement to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more, compels us to support our Mobile apps on those platforms and devices.
Customers who expect to continue using their Windows 10 Mobile device after December 10, 2019 are encouraged to manually create a backup using the Settings->Update & security->Backup->More Options and then tapping Back up now before that date.
The advice comes on a support page on Microsoft’s website. The page tells what to do when support for Windows 10 Mobile ends on December 10, 2019. Security patches and other updates will cease being distributed by the company as of that date.
The end of support also only applies to smartphones running Windows 10 Mobile version 1709, reports Thurrott. For users of the Lumia 640 and 640XL smartphones, the last supported version was 1703, which will reach the end of support at the earlier date of June 11.
Once support ends, the automatic and manual creation of new device backups for settings and some applications will continue for three months until March 11, 2020. Some services, including restoration of a device from a backup or photo uploads will likely continue for another 12 months.
The end of Microsoft’s Mobile platforms has been a long time coming, as the platform never could compete with the iOS and Android platforms.