Windows 10 Mobile Archives

Winsage

October 29, 2025

ON THIS DAY: Windows 10 Mobile now on nearly 6 percent of all Windows Phones

Windows 10 Mobile has increased to 5.7% of all Windows Phones, up from 4.7% the previous month. In the U.S., the HTC One has outperformed the Lumia 1520, which has fallen out of the top 10 rankings, while the Lumia 635 remains the most popular Windows Phone model. A price range analysis shows that the U.S. has the highest concentration of high-end devices, whereas India has fewer premium options, with low and mid-range devices dominating globally. In the EU5, the Lumia 640 is now the fifth most popular Windows Phone, displacing the Lumia 520. In India, the Lumia 535 leads with a 22.6% market share, followed by the Lumia 540 at 7% and the Lumia 640 XL at 4.4%. In Australia, the Lumia 930 holds second place with an 8.8% share, while the Lumia 530 is at 9.7%. AdDuplex's data is sourced from their in-app advertising network, covering over 5,000 applications in the Windows Phone Store.

Winsage

August 1, 2025

Happy birthday and RIP Windows 10! Ten years of Windows, from successes to failures.

Support for Windows 10 is set to conclude on October 14, 2025, after which users will no longer receive free security updates, software enhancements, or technical assistance. Windows 10 was released in 2015 to restore user confidence following Windows 8's reception and quickly became a leader in the market. It eliminated many frustrations of its predecessor, offering a classic desktop experience and free upgrades from Windows 7 and 8.1. The Windows Insider Program was introduced for testing pre-release builds, but Microsoft faced criticism for inconsistent responsiveness to feedback and issues like unexpected reboots and the October 2018 Update that deleted user files. Windows 10 Mobile failed due to insufficient support and user interest. Microsoft replaced Internet Explorer with Edge, transitioning to Chromium for better compatibility. Privacy concerns arose from extensive telemetry and tracking settings. The Universal Windows Platform (UWP) initiative did not fulfill its promise. Despite nearing the end of its life cycle, Windows 10 remains dominant in the desktop market, appreciated for its stability and non-intrusiveness.

Winsage

July 29, 2025

Windows 10 turns 10: No compatibility chaos

Windows 10 was launched as a response to the mixed reception of Windows 8, aiming to provide a stable and reliable alternative. It offered improved performance on solid-state drives compared to Windows 7, although it did not achieve the same affection. The development included the Windows Insider program for user feedback, but responsiveness to that feedback was inconsistent. The operating system faced issues, such as the problematic October 2018 Update that deleted user files. Windows 10 Mobile, launched alongside, quickly faded due to lack of interest. The desktop version thrived, aided by a free upgrade offer and hardware compatibility. Privacy concerns arose due to telemetry and data collection practices. Microsoft replaced Internet Explorer with the Edge browser, which later adopted the Chromium engine. Despite challenges, Windows 10 maintained a strong presence in the desktop market, proving to be a stabilizing force for Microsoft after Windows 8.

Winsage

July 29, 2025

Windows 10 is 10 years old today — let’s look back at 10 controversial and defining moments in its history

On July 29, 2015, Microsoft unveiled Windows 10, integrating the live tile interface with the classic Start menu and focusing on the desktop experience. It was developed with public collaboration through the Windows Insider Program. Microsoft offered a free upgrade to Windows 7 and 8 users for one year, which was later extended until 2023, resulting in 100 million devices running Windows 10 within two months of its launch. The "Get Windows 10" app aggressively promoted the upgrade, leading to user backlash and its eventual removal. Windows 10 faced criticism for extensive data collection practices, with no option for complete telemetry disablement. It introduced "Windows as a Service" with a biannual update schedule, though it faced issues, including data loss in the October 2018 Update. The OneCore project aimed to create a universal Windows core for various devices but ultimately faltered. The dark mode feature had inconsistencies, and Windows 10 Mobile struggled in the smartphone market, leading to its discontinuation in 2017. The Universal Windows Platform (UWP) faced adoption challenges, and the Fluent Design System delivered minimal updates. The My People feature was disabled by default due to poor adoption rates. Windows 10 played a crucial role in shaping the current Windows landscape and laid the groundwork for future developments.

Winsage

April 5, 2025

Introducing Windows on arm. And by arm, we mean wrist

Gustave Monce, a PhD student from Bordeaux, is working on a project to run Windows on the Google Pixel Watch 3, referred to as "Windows on ARM." Initially announced on April Fools' Day, Monce clarified that the project is serious and involves UEFI on the Pixel Watch 3 with the capability to boot Windows and Linux. He has previously developed DuoWOA, enabling Windows 11 to run on Microsoft's Surface Duo, and is also working on LumiaWOA for the Nokia Lumia 950 and 950XL. The smartwatch project utilizes an Arm64 build of Windows PE, allowing the Pixel Watch 3 to boot a WinPE image via UEFI, though the final installation steps remain undocumented. Monce describes the project as real and goofy, acknowledging its current limitations while inviting others to explore the code.

Winsage

February 27, 2025

Windows 10 Mobile’s App Store officially dies—for real this time

Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 10 Mobile five years ago. The Microsoft Store on Windows 10 Mobile has now shut down, with users reporting gray screens or error messages when attempting to access it. Applications like Microsoft Word, Excel, OneNote, and PowerPoint received updates until 2021, but most essential applications became incompatible with Windows 10 Mobile by the time Windows 11 was released. Developers largely abandoned the platform, leaving users with limited options for new apps, which can now only be installed through sideloading.

Winsage

February 27, 2025

Windows 10 Mobile’s App Store officially dies—for real this time

Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 Mobile five years ago. The Microsoft Store on Windows 10 Mobile has shut down, with users reporting a gray screen or error messages when attempting to access it. Office applications received updates until 2021, but the store's closure marks a significant decline for the platform. Some users can still see the Home page of the store but face limitations, such as being unable to install apps or access the Purchased section. Most essential applications became incompatible with Windows 10 Mobile by the time Windows 11 was released, leading to a lack of available apps. Users now resort to sideloading for installing new apps.