Microsoft separates Launcher app on Surface Duo from Play Store, heads to 'system updates' instead

Update: Windows Central is hearing that this may have more to practice with the Surface team controlling what goes on Surface Duo rather than Launcher getting "forked" for the dual-screen devices. Withal, we are waiting to confirm this report.

Microsoft Launcher has been on the Google Play Store for a few years now, and with Surface Duo and Surface Duo ii, the visitor has customized the launcher to fit its dual-screen vision.

Technically, the Microsoft Launcher version on the store for all Android phones and Duo is the verbal same app, but sure features are disabled via policy changes for Surface Duo. Users could employ the product version or opt-in to the beta variant where some early fixes were pushed out.

Only starting in the concluding week, Microsoft Launcher no longer shows up in the store for Surface Duo and Surface Duo ii users. Following the hard link, the app states, "this app isn't compatible with your device anymore." Additionally, beta users are advised to "uninstall and reinstall this app."

Most people chalked this upward to typical Microsoft errors. Surface Duo owners blamed compatibility bug with the new device, while Surface Duo 2 owners were left scratching their heads.

We reached out to Microsoft'southward Vishnu Nath, Partner Director PM Microsoft Mobile and X-Device, who works on Launcher, for clarification:

Duo launcher updates will happen via system updates
— Vishnu Nath 📓📝🗒️ 🚀 (@VishnuNath) October 27, 2022

While a rather terse explanation, it does confirm that this is deliberate and not some Play Store error. From now on, Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2 owners should look Microsoft Launcher updates via system updates similar to the one pushed concluding week for Surface Duo 2.

As to why Microsoft is doing this, two theories come to heed:

Microsoft wants tighter control over Microsoft Launcher for Surface Duo
Microsoft Launcher may soon be going in a very different direction with new code that requires a unlike delivery method

Of those two explanations, number 2 is the most interesting. Our Surface Duo 2 review remarked that Microsoft Launcher had been finer stagnating for most of its life on Surface Duo with only modest bug fixes but no new features. While the pre-installed version on Surface Duo two is ahead of the public version, there's not much new in it save for some updated graphics for the feed area.

Since Surface Duo is a journeying for Microsoft, it makes sense that Microsoft Launcher may soon fork the codebase as information technology heads into Android xi (and perchance even the only-announced Android 12L) territories. If Microsoft Launcher becomes, at its cadre, dissimilar from the regular Android version, using the electric current "single app" method may no longer be feasible.

Of course, none of this is confirmed by Microsoft, and then we'll continue digging.

During Surface Duo 2 briefings, Microsoft did confirm to Windows Central that information technology is exploring more customization options for its foldable phones, hinting we could finally see some more than innovation with Microsoft Launcher. Separating the app in the Play Store and tying it to monthly updates could exist that first step.

Sentry this infinite.

Information technology's here

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