| Version of the Windows NT operating system | |
 | |
 Screenshot of Windows RT 8.1 Update 3 running on a Surface RT, showing Start menu and system specifications | |
| Developer | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Final release | 6.3.9600 Update 3 (Windows RT 8.1 Update 3) / January 10, 2023[1][2] |
| Platforms | ARMv7 |
| Kernel type | Hybrid (Windows NT) |
| Preceded by | Windows CE |
| Succeeded by | |
| Official website | windows |
| Support status | |
| Part of a series of articles on |
| Windows 8 |
|---|
 |
| Siblings |
| Related |
Windows RT is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft and released alongside Windows 8 on October 26, 2012. It is a version of Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 built for the 32-bit ARM architecture (ARMv7),[6] designed to take advantage of the architecture's power efficiency to allow for longer battery life, to use system-on-chip (SoC) designs to allow for thinner devices and to provide a "reliable" experience over time. Unlike Windows 8, Windows RT was only available as preloaded software on devices specifically designed for the operating system by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs); Microsoft launched its own hardware running it, the Surface tablet, which was followed by Surface 2, although only five models running Windows RT were released by third-party OEMs throughout its lifetime.
In comparison to other mobile operating systems, Windows RT also supported a relatively large number of existing USB peripherals and accessories and includes a version of Microsoft Office 2013 optimized for ARM devices as pre-loaded software. Some limitations it had compared to Windows 8 was that it could only execute software digitally signed by Microsoft, lacked certain developer-oriented features, and could not run applications designed for x86 processors, which were the main platform for Windows at the time. Windows RT 8.1 was released in 2013 as a free upgrade, featuring a number of improvements.
It was met with mixed reviews at launch, while critics and analysts deemed it to be commercially unsuccessful. It was criticized for its poor software ecosystem, citing the early stage of Windows Store and its incompatibility with existing Windows software, although some felt Windows RT devices had advantages over other mobile platforms (such as Android, iOS, and Microsoft's Windows Phone) because of its bundled software and the ability to use a wider variety of USB peripherals and accessories. Improvements to Intel's mobile processors, along with a decision by Microsoft to remove OEM license fees for Windows on devices with screens smaller than 9 inches, spurred a market for low-end Wintel tablets running the full Windows 8 platform, giving battery life and functionality that met or exceeded that of Windows RT devices; these effectively cannibalized Windows RT sales, and was a reason why Microsoft suffered a US$900 million loss in July 2013. With the release of Surface 3 in 2015, the Surface line switched to Intel architecture. Microsoft later launched Windows 10 on ARM in 2018, which would be able to emulate Intel x86 applications.
- ^ "January 10, 2023—KB5022346 (Security-only update)". support.microsoft.com. January 10, 2023.
- ^ "January 10, 2023—KB5022352 (Monthly Rollup)". support.microsoft.com. January 10, 2023.
- ^ a b "Microsoft Lifecycle Policy - Windows RT". Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ^ "Windows 8.1 has reached end of service". Microsoft Documentation. January 10, 2023. Archived from the original on January 12, 2023. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- ^ LeBlanc, Brandon (August 1, 2012). "Windows 8 has reached the RTM milestone". Windows Experience Blog. Microsoft.
- ^ Gowri, Vivek; Lal Shimpi, Anand (October 25, 2012). "The Windows RT Review". Anandtech.com. Retrieved October 29, 2013.