Windows Phone has been officially dead for almost ten years, but a dedicated community of users is keeping it alive with a fan-made app marketplace that recently received a fresh set of features.
Microsoft ended support for Windows Phone, its mobile operating system that powered smartphones from around 2010 to 2017, in 2017. They shut down the official Windows Phone Store in 2023. However, a volunteer-built alternative called the Open Store has emerged to fill that void, and it’s still actively being developed in 2025.
What Is the Open Store, Exactly?
Imagine the Open Store as a community-driven version of the Apple App Store or Google Play for iPhone and Android users, but created entirely by unpaid volunteers for a platform that its original creator abandoned. It lets Windows Phone users download and install apps on their aging devices without needing Microsoft’s official support, which is no longer available.
The latest updates to the Open Store include enhancements to app discovery, improved search functionality, and various quality-of-life fixes. These changes make browsing the catalog easier on the small screens that Windows Phones are known for. The developers are also focused on backend stability, ensuring the service runs smoothly for its users.
Why Do People Still Use Windows Phone in 2025?
This part often surprises people. Windows Phone never held a large market share, peaking at about 3% globally before it fell off completely. So, why are some folks still using these devices?
The reasons are diverse. Some users genuinely appreciate the interface, which featured large, colorful tiles (known as Live Tiles) instead of the grid of small icons typical on Android and iPhone. The design was bold and unique, and many still find it more readable and intuitive than what’s currently available.
Others keep old Windows Phones as secondary devices or dedicated media players, or simply as a hobby. There’s a strong sense of nostalgia as well. For some tech users, Windows Phone represented a viable alternative that never got a fair shot, and keeping it alive feels like completing what Microsoft started.
A third group consists of minimalists. For them, Windows Phone, stripped of modern apps and social media, becomes a device that only makes calls and sends texts. For individuals trying to cut back on screen time, an old Lumia running Windows Phone 8.1 functions surprisingly well as a “dumb phone” that still has a camera.
What This Means
For most users, this story is more of a curiosity. If you’re not already using a Windows Phone, you probably won’t start now. Modern apps like Instagram, TikTok, Uber, and most banking apps haven’t supported the platform for years, and that gap is too wide for any volunteer project to bridge.
However, the ongoing development of the Open Store does matter in some key ways. It means current Windows Phone users won’t be completely stranded. Apps already present in the Open Store can still be updated and shared. Plus, developers who created Windows Phone apps in the past still have their work available.
More broadly, this situation highlights how communities can keep technology alive long after its commercial life has ended. Similar situations happen with older game consoles, discontinued operating systems like Windows XP, and outdated music players. When a company walks away, sometimes its users stay committed.
| Windows Phone: By The Numbers | |
|---|---|
| Years Active | 2010 to 2017 |
| Peak Global Market Share | ~3% |
| Official Store Shutdown | 2023 |
| Open Store Status | Active (volunteer-run) |
| Primary Hardware | Microsoft Lumia series |
What the Community Is Saying
“I still have my Lumia 950 XL. The camera was incredible for its time and the Live Tiles UI is honestly still better than what we have now. Miss it every day.”
— u/TechNostalgia_Guy, Reddit
“It’s wild that volunteers are doing more for Windows Phone right now than Microsoft did in its final two years. The Open Store team deserves a lot of credit.”
— YouTube commenter on a Windows Phone revival video
What To Watch
- Open Store roadmap: The volunteer team has indicated ongoing updates through the rest of 2025. Look out for potential improvements to the app submission process, which would simplify it for developers to contribute new or updated apps.
- Microsoft’s stance: Microsoft has mostly ignored the Windows Phone revival community, neither supporting nor shutting it down. That could change if the project gains significant traction, but there’s no sign Microsoft sees it as a priority.
- Hardware supply: As old Lumia devices age and break down, finding replacement hardware will become more challenging. The long-term survival of the Windows Phone community partly depends on how long functional devices are available secondhand.
Sources: XDA Developers
Ava Mitchell
Ava Mitchell is a digital culture journalist at Explosion.com covering social media platforms, streaming services, and the creator economy. With 4 years reporting on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and the apps that shape daily life, Ava specializes in explaining platform policy changes and their impact on everyday users. She previously managed social media strategy for a tech startup, giving her firsthand experience with the platforms she now covers.
