Windows Rt 8.1 32 Bit Download
Hilke Mcnally
Windows RT 8.1 32-bit Download: What You Need to Know
If you have a device that runs on Windows RT, such as the original Surface tablet, you might be wondering how to download and install the latest version of the operating system, Windows RT 8.1. In this article, we will explain what Windows RT 8.1 is, what features and limitations it has, how to get it, how to enable the Start menu on it, and how to update it to Windows 10 if you want to.
What is Windows RT 8.1?
Windows RT 8.1 is a Windows-based operating system that's optimized for thin and light PCs that use ARM processors, such as tablets and convertibles. It was first released in October 2012, along with Windows 8, and then updated in October 2013 with Windows RT 8.1.
Features of Windows RT 8.1
Windows RT 8.1 contains many of the same features as Windows 8.1, but is designed for devices that have extended battery life and are designed for life on the go. Some of the features of both Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1 are:
- Fluid, intuitive, and easy-to-use interface design that you can easily customize
- Built-in apps for email, calendar, contacts, photos, music, video, and more
- Windows Store, where you can download thousands of apps for entertainment, productivity, education, and more
- Internet Explorer 11, which offers fast and secure web browsing
- Bing Smart Search, which lets you search across your device, the web, and the cloud
- SkyDrive (now OneDrive), which lets you store your files online and access them from any device
- Office Home & Student RT 2013 (now Office Home & Student 2019), which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote optimized for touch and ARM devices
- Xbox Music and Xbox Video, which let you stream or download millions of songs and movies
- Xbox Games, which let you play games with your friends online or offline
- Windows Defender and Windows Update, which provide up-to-date virus and malware protection and security updates
Limitations of Windows RT 8.1
However, while Windows RT 8.1 inherits the appearance and functionality of Windows 8.1, it has a number of limitations; it can only execute software that is digitally signed by Microsoft (which includes pre-loaded software and Windows Store apps), and it lacks certain developer-oriented features. It also lacks support for running applications designed for x86 processors, which were the main platform for Windows at the time. This means that you cannot install or run traditional desktop applications on Windows RT 8.1 devices, such as Photoshop, iTunes, Chrome, or Steam.
Windows RT 8.1 also restricts what APIs (application programming interfaces) developers can use, especially for web browsers. This means that only Internet Explorer can run in full-screen mode on Windows RT 8.1 devices, while other browsers have to run in desktop mode with limited functionality.
Furthermore, Windows RT 8.1 does not support some peripheral devices and accessories that work with Windows 8.1,[^5
How to Download and Install Windows RT 8.1
If you have a device that came with Windows RT, such as the Surface RT or the Nokia Lumia 2520, you can download and install Windows RT 8.1 for free from the Windows Store. However, before you do that, you need to make sure that your device meets the system requirements and has the latest updates installed.
System Requirements
To run Windows RT 8.1, your device needs to have the following specifications:
- Processor: 1 GHz or faster
- RAM: 2 GB or more
- Hard disk space: 10 GB or more
- Graphics card: DirectX 9 compatible with WDDM driver
- Screen resolution: 1366 x 768 or higher
- Internet connection: Required for downloading and activating Windows RT 8.1
- Microsoft account: Required for accessing some features and apps
Update Information
Before you can download and install Windows RT 8.1, you need to make sure that your device has the latest updates installed. To do this, follow these steps:
- Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings.
- Tap Update and recovery, and then tap Windows Update.
- Tap Check now. If updates are found, tap View details.
- Select the updates you want to install, and then tap Install.
- You might need to restart your device after installing some updates.
Note that you need to install the update KB 2871389 before you can see the Windows RT 8.1 update in the Windows Store. This update should be available automatically through Windows Update, but if you don't see it, you can download it manually from [here].
Install Instructions
Once your device is up to date, you can download and install Windows RT 8.1 from the Windows Store. To do this, follow these steps:
- On the Start screen, tap the Store tile.
- In the Store, tap the Windows RT 8.1 update tile. If you don't see it, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and tap Your apps. Then, under Categories, tap Updates.
- Tap Download to start downloading the update.
- The update will download and install in the background while you use your device. You can check the progress by swiping in from the right edge of the screen and tapping Settings > Change PC settings > Update and recovery > Windows Update.
- When the update is ready to finish installing, you will see a message on your screen. Tap Restart now or schedule a restart for later.
- Your device will restart and apply the update. This might take some time and your device might restart several times.
- After the update is installed, follow the on-screen instructions to accept the license terms and customize your settings.
- You're done! Enjoy Windows RT 8.1 on your device.