Windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 is a no longer supported version of Microsoft Windows and the second version of Windows 8.x. It was released on October 17, 2013, the same day as Windows Server 2012 R2. It is a new version of the Windows NT 6.x line, since it changes the version number from 6.2 to 6.3. It is a free update for Windows 8 that can be found in the Windows Store. When Windows 10 was released, Windows 8.1 could be upgraded to Windows 10 for free.

Windows 8.1

Version of the Windows NT operating system
Windows 8.1 running on a desktop.
Developer	Microsoft
OS family	Microsoft Windows
Source model	Closed-source Source-available (through Shared Source Initiative)
Released to manufacturing	August 27, 2013; 11 years ago (2013-08-27)[1]
General availability	October 17, 2013; 11 years ago (2013-10-17)[2]
Latest release	6.3.9600 with January 10, 2023 update rollup / January 10, 2023; 22 months ago (2023-01-10)
Update method	Windows Update, Windows Store, Windows Server Update Services
Platforms	IA-32, x64
Kernel type	Hybrid
License	Trialware, Microsoft Software Assurance, MSDN subscription, Microsoft Imagine
Preceded by	Windows 8 (2012)
Succeeded by	Windows 10 (2015)
Official website	www.microsoft.com/windows
Support status
All editions except Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry: Mainstream support ended on January 9, 2018 Extended support ended January 10, 2023 Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry: Mainstream support ended on July 10, 2018[3] Extended support ended on July 11, 2023[3] Extended Security Updates (ESU) support until July 14, 2026

As of August 2023, Windows 8.1 was used by 0.7% of PCs. With Windows 8.0, at 1% of PCs.^[4]

Features

The important new features are:

• The Start button, instead of pointing at the bottom left corner of the taskbar
• Internet Explorer 11
• support for 3D printing
• Wi-Fi Direct

End of Mainstream and Extended support

On January 9, 2018, Microsoft ended mainstream support for most editions of Windows 8.1, while mainstream support ended for Embedded editions on July 10 of that year. On July 12, 2022, Microsoft released an update for Windows 8.1 which shows the fullscreen end of support message. It appears an any edition of Windows 8.1 except on Embedded edition.^[5] Extended support for all editions of Windows 8.1 ended on January 10, 2023 (aligned the End of ESUs for Windows 7 and Windows 10 Mobile), while extended support for Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry ended on July 11 of that year. ^[6]

References

1. Bott, Ed (28 August 2013). "Why is Microsoft keeping the final release of Windows 8.1 secret?". ZDNet. CBS Interactive.
2. LeBlanc, Brandon (17 October 2013). "Windows 8.1 now available!". Windows Experience Blog. Microsoft.
3. "Product lifecycle Windows 8.1 Industry". support.microsoft.com. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
4. "Desktop Windows Version Market Share Worldwide". StatCounter Global Stats. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
5. "Windows 8.1 now shows full-screen 'End of Support' warnings". BleepingComputer. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
6. "Windows 8.1 support will end on January 10, 2023". support.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2022-06-24.