From today, Windows Insiders who are running previous builds, earlier than the current build 10240, are required to update to access the Windows Store. The announcement came directly from Gabriel Aul, head of the Windows Insider program, in a post to the Insider Hub App.
“The Windows 10 Store team has been making some great fixes and improvements to reliability and performance. To ensure you are able to benefit from these important updates, starting July 24 we will be requiring Insiders who are not running the latest Windows 10 operating system to upgrade their PC; otherwise those affected will be unable to experience the Windows 10 Store. Check Windows Update to make sure you have installed the latest build and the most recent updates.”
By implementing these restrictions on older Windows 10 Builds, it ensures that all upcoming content is delivered on machines with the latest fixes and improvements. The newest build of the operating system is the supposed RTM build, however has not been announced by Microsoft. This is most likely due to the difference from previous editions, and how Windows 10 is updated frequently, and a constantly evolving platform.
Alongside this new restriction, you will also have to update the Windows Store app to the latest version, to access the catalogue. Currently if you access the store in an app earlier than version 2015.7.22.2, you will be prompted by a message in-app.
Matt was a regular ICXM contributor in 2015, publishing 110 articles across game reviews, Windows and PC, and Xbox news. Their work focused on hands-on reviews, platform commentary, and breaking-news reporting during the Xbox One’s first full year of post-launch coverage, including the early days of Backwards Compatibility and Windows 10 gaming. They post on X as @RTEnvi.