When we launched Windows 8, we allowed customers to roam their apps on up to 5 devices. This gave customers who embraced the new OS the flexibility to run their apps on all Windows 8 devices they owned, while protecting the app builders' investment and helping to prevent abuse.
Since we launched Windows 8, we heard growing feedback from many developers and from our most enthusiastic customers that the limit of 5 was not enough for their needs. Developers asked for more flexibility in implementing their business models, and customers wanted to run those apps on the variety of tablets, laptops and desktops they owned.
In response to that feedback, and as we announced at the Build conference in June, we're increasing the app roaming limit to remove friction from the app installation process. Starting on October 9, Windows Store apps can be installed on up to 81 devices associated with a single Microsoft account. This will apply to all apps in the Store, for both Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.
We believe this change will be beneficial to the app developers. On one hand, the ability to run on more devices may mean more revenue from the apps that are ad-based. On the other hand, if limiting the service that can be accessed simultaneously on devices is critical for the business model of the app, we provide a set of APIs to build a service-side verification to set that limit. The following resources will help developers restrict where and how their apps can be used:
Developers that decide to have the app enforce a constraint around the number of devices must disclose that constraint to Windows Store customers and set expectations appropriately.
Customers are loving Windows Store apps and want to use them across a broad range of Windows devices, especially as more new devices become available every day. The change we’re introducing will reduce the friction that most active customers have in being able to access their favorite apps from any device, and will give developers additional opportunities to monetize the incredible reach the Windows platform provides.
This is great. I test a great deal of problems within a VM on windows 8/8.1 and have run into a problem with the present limit. At present I am working with ten VMs using one of the two win 8 OSs.
Home built i7-8700K, Hp Envy x360 EVO Laptop, MS Surface Pro 7
CPU
3.7Ghz Core i7-8700K, 11th Gen Core i7-1165G7 4.7Ghz, 10th Gen Core™ i5-1035G4 1.1Ghz
Motherboard
ASUS TUF Z370-Pro Gaming, HP, MS
Memory
16G, 8G, 8G
Graphics Card(s)
AMD Radeon RX580, Intel Iris X Graphics, Intel Iris Plus Graphics G4
Sound Card
ATI High Definition Audio (Built-in to mobo)
Monitor(s) Displays
Dual Samsung U32J59 32 inch monitors, 13.3" display, 12.3" display
Screen Resolution
3840x2160 (Desktop), 1920x1080 (laptop), 2736x1824 Pro 7
Hard Drives
500GB ssd boot drive with 2 & 10TB Data (Desktop), 512GB ssd (laptop), 128GB SSD (tablet)
PSU
Corsair CX 750M
Case
Antec 100
Cooling
Coolermaster CM 212+
Keyboard
IBM Model M - used continuously since 1986
Mouse
Microsoft IntelliMouse
Internet Speed
665Mbps/15Mbps down/up
Browser
FireFox, MS Edge
Antivirus
Defender on all
Other Info
Retired in 2015 after working in the tech industry for 41 years. First 10 years as a Technician, the rest as a programmer/software engineer. After 1 year of retirement, I was bored so went back to work as a Robotic Process Automation Consultant. Retired for 3rd (and final) time in 2019.
Gasp Am hoping I'll never, ever, have to end up using 81 electronic devices, & w8 on top! lol
MS seems to have some some grand dreams about their app future. & yes, 81 is a funny number.
It's not intended for organizations, only individuals.
I personally don't think I need to use my account with 81 devices but 5 was too low as I already bumped into that limit using just the couple of Win 8 machines I have plus some VMs.
Home built i7-8700K, Hp Envy x360 EVO Laptop, MS Surface Pro 7
CPU
3.7Ghz Core i7-8700K, 11th Gen Core i7-1165G7 4.7Ghz, 10th Gen Core™ i5-1035G4 1.1Ghz
Motherboard
ASUS TUF Z370-Pro Gaming, HP, MS
Memory
16G, 8G, 8G
Graphics Card(s)
AMD Radeon RX580, Intel Iris X Graphics, Intel Iris Plus Graphics G4
Sound Card
ATI High Definition Audio (Built-in to mobo)
Monitor(s) Displays
Dual Samsung U32J59 32 inch monitors, 13.3" display, 12.3" display
Screen Resolution
3840x2160 (Desktop), 1920x1080 (laptop), 2736x1824 Pro 7
Hard Drives
500GB ssd boot drive with 2 & 10TB Data (Desktop), 512GB ssd (laptop), 128GB SSD (tablet)
PSU
Corsair CX 750M
Case
Antec 100
Cooling
Coolermaster CM 212+
Keyboard
IBM Model M - used continuously since 1986
Mouse
Microsoft IntelliMouse
Internet Speed
665Mbps/15Mbps down/up
Browser
FireFox, MS Edge
Antivirus
Defender on all
Other Info
Retired in 2015 after working in the tech industry for 41 years. First 10 years as a Technician, the rest as a programmer/software engineer. After 1 year of retirement, I was bored so went back to work as a Robotic Process Automation Consultant. Retired for 3rd (and final) time in 2019.
Hehehe, yes it is. To the bikers among us "81" has a meaning. H is the 8th letter in the alphabet, A is the 1st. HA - Hells Angels. Maybe there are some biker brothers in Microsoft.