Microsoft stops pushing software updates to the first-gen Surface Duo devices

Microsoft released the first-gen Surface Duo to return to the phone market with Android on September 10, 2020, three years ago. Its launch date is also when Microsoft decided to stop pushing software updates, denying the dual-screen foldable phone new features and security patches.

If you have a Surface Duo, you will no longer receive Android feature updates and security patches that keep your phone safe from the latest threats. However, your Duo device will continue to function as before, though it’ll become more vulnerable than ever for not getting the security updates.

Microsoft’s Surface Duo devices are eligible to get at least three years of software updates. While the company can extend the support period longer than three years, the software giant hasn’t done so for first-gen Surface Duo devices. Its successor, the Surface Duo 2, will reach the end of support on October 21, 2024. And it looks like Microsoft won’t extend the support duration for Duo 2, either. Had there been an extension, Microsoft would’ve notified us 18 months earlier than the original end-of-support date through the end of the support page.

While you can switch to the Surface Duo 2 to continue getting security patches for another year, the benefits aren’t that much. Worse, Microsoft has no plans to launch a Surface Duo 3 in the near future. Instead, the company is rumored to working on a different type of foldable phone that looks more like the Galaxy Z Fold5. But we don’t have enough information about when Microsoft’s alleged Galaxy Z Fold5-style foldable phone will be official.

However, Microsoft has lots of announcements to make this year. The company will hold a “special event” on September 21 to announce new Surface hardware and to talk in-depth about the Windows 11 update. The Redmond tech giant will also announce lots of new AI features for OneDrive next month in a dedicated event. Overall, the next couple of months will be exciting for Windows, Surface, and Microsoft 365 users.

How many of you are excited about the upcoming Microsoft events? Let us know in the comments section below.