Windows 8 editions

For example, a cellular-connected Samsung ATIV Smart PC running Windows 8 on AT&T only supports English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Korean (the last three are available as optional downloads).It was introduced as part of an effort to encourage the production of low-cost devices, whilst "driving end-user usage of Microsoft Services such as Bing and OneDrive".It is subsidized by Microsoft's Bing search engine, which is set as the default within Internet Explorer, and cannot be changed to a third-party alternative by the OEM.This restriction does not apply to end-users, who can still change the default search engine freely after installation.On Windows Vista SP1, it is possible to perform a clean install but save system settings as well.
Windows 8New featuresRemoved featuresWindows 8.1Windows RTWindows Phone 8Windows Phone 8.1Windows Server 2012Windows Server 2012 R2Windows StoreMicrosoft Windowsoperating systemembedded systemsenterprisemarket segmentRemote DesktopWindows Server domainEncrypting File SystemHyper-VVirtual Hard DiskGroup PolicyBitLockerWindows Media CenterSoftware AssuranceTechnet ProfessionalMicrosoft WordPowerPointOneNotesideloadedvolume licensingWindows Store appsWindows Runtimeapplication programming interfaceWindows VistaWindows 7emerging marketsWindows Phone 7Windows NTWindows Media PlayerEuropean Commission ruled in 2004OneDriveInternet ExplorerWindows Embedded 8 StandardWindows Embedded 8 IndustryWindows Embedded 8 [For Embedded Systems (FES)]ServerWindows EmbeddedWindows 10Volume LicenseFile ExplorerFile HistoryConnected StandbyWindows UpdateWindows Defendermulti-monitorISO imageMicrosoft accountInternet Explorer 10Xbox LiveXbox Live ArcadeExchange ActiveSyncDesktoplanguage packsDevice encryptionSideloadWindows domainParental Controls64-bitAppLockerWindows To GoDirectAccessRemoteFXNetwork File SystemSubsystem for Unix-based ApplicationsMicrosoft OfficeSkyDrive appWindows Mobile 6.5encryptsmobile devicecachesfile serverweb serverOutlookMicrosoftCBS InteractiveTechNetPenton MediaPC WorldMicrosoft TechNetThe VergeVox MediaMicrosoft Developer NetworkComponentsVersionsHistoryComparisonCriticismWindows 9xNT 3.1NT 3.5NT 3.51NT 4.0Pro x64Media CenterWindows ServerServer 2003Home ServerServer 2008EBS 2008HPC Server 2008Server 2008 R2Home Server 2011Server 2012Server 2012 R2Server 2016Server 2019Server 2022Server 2025Fundamentals for Legacy PCsPreinstallation EnvironmentMultiPoint ServerWindows Embedded / Windows IoTEmbedded CompactCE 5.0Embedded CE 6.0Embedded Compact 7Embedded AutomotiveEmbedded IndustryWindows MobilePocket PC 2000Pocket PC 2002Mobile 2003Mobile 5.0Mobile 6.0Mobile 6.1Mobile 6.5Windows PhonePhone 7Phone 8Phone 8.110 MobileNashvilleNeptuneOdysseyPolarisVersion historyVersion comparisonVista and XPWindows for Pen ComputingMicrosoft Plus!Microsoft PowerToysWindows Server Essentials