Windows 10: Will Windows 10 apps run on 8.1?

As far as I know, yes.

 

Main reason is that I can get Office for Windows 10 from the Beta Store, but not from the regular Store. *Smile I can also get the Preview of Microsoft Solitaire Collection Preview from the Beta Store too. If you'd like to check it out, open the Store (not Beta) in Windows 8.1 (and maybe Windows 10) and search for Office for Windows 10 or Microsoft Solitaire Collection Preview

Methinks Office for Windows 10 will be an incentive for folks to upgrade to Windows 10. *Smile

Edit: I have no doubt that some of the apps in the Beta Store are exactly the same as in the regular Store. However, I also have no doubt that some of them are not the same.

 

I have pretty much ignored the Beta Store app in the past since it was so buggy it was virtually unusable. It does seem to be better in the current build.

I still say it's the Store app itself that is a Beta not the whole Store.

 

Yeah, the "regular" Store works as it has all along. And the Beta Store is much, much better than it was, although I've been able to download and use Office for Windows 10 (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) except for a couple of builds where things were bugged up. *Smile

 

Much like regular applications, some apps require a certain OS version to run because they depend on functionality that only exists in the new OS. So the answer is "it depends" because it depends entirely on what functionality the app uses. If it needs functionality that is only in Windows 10, then no.. it won't run on Windows 8. But if it only uses functionality that is present in 8 or 10, then it will work.

For instance, if an app required Cortana, then it's not going to work in Windows 8.

 

No, that is not the case. The Store (Beta) has some apps only available there, meaning they are only available for Windows 10. The normal Store is the same for Windows 8, 8.1 and 10, the apps which are only available in Store (Beta) are only for Windows 10.

A good example is the free preview versions of Excel, PowerPoint and Word, the Office preview apps. They are not available for Windows 8 and 8.1, therefore they are not available in Store but can be downloaded and installed from Store (Beta) for Windows 10. In screenshot searching Office Preview in both stores:

 

Just because an app is available in one version of the Store app and not available in another is not an indication (IMO) that the underlying database is different. It would be fairly easy to have one front end display a particular set of apps while a different front end displayed a different set of apps, all from the same common data storage.

 

What I've found to date is that most of the apps in the green store are available in the beta store. Now having said that I also found on app that works fine in Win8.1 but not in Win10. So I suspect that the app maker is going to have to test their app(s) out in Win10 and make changes so they work in the new "Eco System".

Now does this mean that all of the apps in the green store will be in the beta store? Not sure but time will tell.

My 2c...
Jeff

 

Strollin, I think the key here is that in Windows 10, there is a Store (Beta) and a Store. It seems to me that there are (at this point) very likely two Stores; however, as indicated, Microsoft's intent is for there to be only one Store, which will at some time in the future, have the same underlying database. However, an educated guess tells me it's very likely that right now, there is not a single underlying database. I have lifted information from Blogging Windows (Microsoft) that may help with understanding what Microsoft is doing.

Source: New Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 10074 now available

 

Jeff, I think Strollin is right about one aspect: Although there are two distinct versions of Store (Beta and Regular), at some point in time, there will be only one underlying database.

My guess is that if I'm running Windows 8.1, I will see only apps that will run on 8.1. And, conversely, if I'm running Windows 10, I will see only apps that will run on Windows 10.

Of course, we all know that if Microsoft has its way, everything Windows 8/8.1 and all its detractors will quietly disappear. *Smile

 

Well just like Android you will only see the apps that run on your OS in the store. Example: Excel for Windows 10 is only view able at the Store if you have the Technical Preview.

 

I think Mystere, Wynona, and Kari are correct except Wyn when it comes to the database. They had to separate the Stores, or databases (they're simply databases) because some apps are OS specific as some pointed out. Store in 8 will always remain Store with its database and it seems to me they would have to rename Store Beta to something like"Windows Store" with its own database. Remember, Windows 10 (X) may be the last version of Windows to run across all devices.

Also, I would think the Store in 8 will probably be eliminated when 8 life cycle ends.

 

Mmmmm, you could be right Hippsie, but you'll have to admit it does make more sense to have one Store with one underlying database. As yet, Microsoft hasn't seen fit to inform me exactly what the final results will be.

Dangit! I hate when they do that! *Smile

 

Yes, Wyn, I could be wrong. I've been known to be wrong before. *Wink

Please answer me this? > Why would they place apps in the 8 Store that are 10 specific? They won't run in 8. Would that not be confusing to a commoner? Of course there is the option that they could place them all there and describe what OS it will run on as all software has done for years. That could be a ploy to have users move on to 10, but I feel that MS has never been really good at marketing. Apple, to me, has that cornered. *Biggrin

Time will tell on this issue as with all issues. *Smile

 

There is that, Hippsie, but . . .

As I said, my guess is that there will be one Store that will serve up apps to whichever OS you happen to be using, i.e. If you're using 8.1, you'll only see apps for 8.1. Conversely, if you're using 10, you'll only see apps for 10.

Hmmmm, which brings me to another guess. *Smile There could be one underlying database with two "forks"; one for 8.1 and one for 10. *Smile

Apple may have marketing cornered, but they haven't succeeded in getting me to pay way too much money for what I would get; especially since I have the ability to "roll my own".