Microsoft will pull the plug on Windows Phone 8.1's app store on in mid-December

Microsoft stopped work on Windows Phone 8.1 back in July 2017, meaning that phones running the outdated OS no longer got software updates. Now the company is preparing to pull the plug completely and shut down the app store.

Starting on December 16 2019, Windows Phone 8.1 users will no longer be able to download apps. Note that this means any app, even ones you already have – if you uninstall an app or reset your phone, there will be no way to get the app back.

Also, apps will not receive updates. It’s possible that some will suffer degraded functionality as Microsoft’s services are shutting down too.

So, what now? There are 17 Lumia models that can be updated to Windows 10 Mobile – it’s unlikely that anyone that has one of those is still running WP8.1, but if you are, now you have a good reason to update.

Note that official support for Windows 10 Mobile is ending too (for some models it has ended already, it will end for all models by this end of the year). That said, the app store will remain operational, so there’s that at least.

To install the update, you’ll either need to download the Upgrade Advisor app on your phone (do it before December 16) or the PC updater tool. Here’s a list of all Lumias eligible for the Windows 10 Mobile update:

• Microsoft Lumia 430
• Microsoft Lumia 435
• Microsoft Lumia 532
• Microsoft Lumia 535
• Microsoft Lumia 540
• Nokia Lumia 635 (only 1GB RAM variant)
• Nokia Lumia 636
• Nokia Lumia 638
• Microsoft Lumia 640
• Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
• Nokia Lumia 730
• Nokia Lumia 735
• Nokia Lumia 830
• Nokia Lumia 929
• Nokia Lumia Icon
• Nokia Lumia 930
• Nokia Lumia 1520

Source