Ultimately lengthy final, Microsoft’s cellular OS experiment has come to an finish. Updates for the final model of Windows 10 Cell dies on December 10
windows phone will nonetheless work, however the final wave of windows Cell gadgets operating the final official supported model of windows 10 Cell (model 1709, the Windows 10 Fall Creators Replace) received’t obtain any extra updates or patches for windows 10 Cell—options, safety, or in any other case. Formally, it should stop to exist.
If you happen to’re a Lumia 640 or 640XL proprietor, you’ve already felt the contact of dying: Help for these gadgets resulted in June. However for the final hurrah of windows gadgets, which included the HP Elite x3, Microsoft Lumia 550, 650, and the Lumia 950/950 XL; Alcatel IDOL 4S and 4S Professional; and the Alcatel OneTouch Fierce XL—it’s time so that you can retire these gadgets and transfer on.
If you happen to don’t, nicely, you’ve moved from Microsoft’s walled backyard to the hinterlands. Microsoft’s Retailer app may match—or it might not. Apps could also be supported, Microsoft says, however how lengthy assist continues is as much as the developer.
About the one sensible resolution—and Microsoft’s advice—is to create a handbook backup of your information on or earlier than December 10, simply in case one thing goes improper. (Settings > Replace & safety > Backup > Extra Choices > Again up now) “Computerized or handbook creation of latest system backups for settings and a few functions will proceed for three months, ending March 10, 2020,” Microsoft provides, but it surely’s not clear which apps will obtain these backups.
Transfer your data to another phone
Each Apple iPhones and other phones operating the Google Android OS have entry to Microsoft-authored apps that replicate among the performance of windows 10 Cell phones. However the extra open nature of Android has historically allowed extra leeway in connecting these phones to Microsoft providers.
Rob Schultz/IDGWindows Phone Backup
If you happen to’ve lastly been satisfied to maneuver to an Android phones, ensure your present windows phone is backed up: photographs synced, e-mail saved, and so on. And hold on to the phone! If there are any random paperwork or attachments that you simply aren’t positive have been saved, use the OneDrive app to again them as much as your cloud storage or one other location. Ditto for any lingering MP3s or outdated movies you might have hanging round.
Join a Google account
You’ll finally want to enroll in a Google account, if you happen to don’t have one already, because it’s half and parcel of the Android expertise. Google will encourage you to make use of your Android/Gmail account as your main e-mail consumer, however you don’t must.
Microsoft apps on Android
Obtain the superb Outlook app for Android as an alternative, whose calendar is way extra sensible and easy than the native Android Calendar app. Different beneficial apps embrace OneDrive, for backing up photographs to the Microsoft cloud, and Your Cellphone, which is designed to attach your Android phone and your PC.
Export contacts and messages
Just be sure you export your mobile’s contacts and SMS messages. Exporting your windows contacts to Android is pretty straightforward: Go to Outlook.com on the Net, then to the Individuals tab, and choose the Handle dropdown menu within the higher right-hand nook. Export the contacts to a .CSV file.
Mark Hachman / IDGProceed on the net to contacts.gmail.com, which can be accessible within the “Google Apps” menu subsequent to your profile image within the higher righthand nook.
Right here’s the place you’ll want to make use of that Google account you signed up for. When you’re within the Contacts app, there’s an Import choice on the left-hand rail, which you should use to open that CSV file inside Google and import your contacts. They’ll sync to your device
Mark Hachman / IDGExporting SMS textual content messages from windows to Android is a bit trickier. Once I migrated my spouse’s windows Cellphone to an Android device, I used WP Message Backup, which is a “freemium” app that means that you can export SMS texts, photos, group messages, and the wish to an XML file. Sadly, the free model exports solely 100 messages at a time, which may get outdated quick. That XML file may be uploaded to the cloud after which downloaded to an Android device, or transferred wirelessly or by way of USB. You’ll then want to revive the SMS recordsdata to your Android device by way of one among plenty of Android SMS restore apps within the Google Play Retailer.
Tafidi / MicrosoftIf you happen to’d like, you’ll be able to even go full Microsoft and set up the Microsoft Launcher app, which may sync with Bing’s picture of the day and function a gateway to different Microsoft apps and providers out there in your Android handset.
Keep in mind, regardless that Microsoft has introduced a brand new Microsoft device—the Floor Duo—it should solely run Android. As a result of the Duo is scheduled to ship a yr from now, in vacation 2020, you might have a future alternative to purchase a Microsoft phone. However as for windows Cell? It’s as useless because the Ghost of Christmas Previous.