

Windows RT could not run most Windows applications. Microsoft also released a version called Windows RT, which was adapted for devices using ARM processors. On October 26, 2012, Windows 8 became available to the general public. After the Consumer Preview, a final preview named "Release Preview" was released on May 31, 2012. Anyone could register online to download this version for free. On February 29, 2012, Microsoft released a beta version of Windows 8.0 known as the Consumer Preview. The first of these, the Developer Preview, came out in September 2011. Several versions of Windows 8 were made available to software developers well before the final release. Microsoft ended mainstream support for Windows 8 on Januand extended support ended on January 10, 2023. Microsoft removed the "Start" button and designed a new tile-based user interface to replace the "Start" menu (which first appeared in Windows 95). The president of the Windows Division, Steven Sinofsky, said: "With this system we shall make the biggest change from Windows 95". Windows 8 was released everywhere on October 26, 2012. Windows 8 is a version of the Windows computer operating system, which is published by Microsoft.

Windows 8.1 was never released for this edition.
