Microsoft is rolling out Update 3 for Windows RT, and as promised, it brings a Start Menu to the version of Windows designed for tablets with ARM-based processors.

The update doesn’t seem to bring many other features, but it does make Windows RT look a little more like Windows 10… even if it doesn’t get all the new features from Windows 10.

windows rt start

For instance, there’s no support for the Cortana voice assistant, no Microsoft Edge web browser, and perhaps most importantly, no support for Universal Windows Apps. In other words, users continue to be limited to running Windows Store apps that were developed for Windows RT.

There aren’t a ton of Windows RT devices on the market, but if you happen to have a Surface RT, Surface 2, Asus VivoTab RT, or Nokia Lumia 2520, the update… won’t really do much.

While the Windows 10 Start Menu comes in handy for folks that don’t want to use a full-screen, touch-friendly app launcher for full-screen, touch friendly apps, for the most part those are the only type of apps you can run on Windows RT. While the operating system has a taskbar and desktop, it’s only really useful for running Microsoft Office, Windows Explorer, and a few other system apps.

According to WinSuperSite and Tero Alhonen Windows RT Update 3 has begun rolling out through the Windows Update service. There’s a pretty good chance this will be the last major update for tablets running Windows RT.

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7 replies on “Windows RT gets a Start Menu with Update 3”

  1. The only thing that RT needs is a headstone and a very deep grave.

    1. I still have the Jornada…..along with some NEC MobilePros (770, 790, 880), as well as a Surface RT. So I’m very familiar with using abandoned form factors and operating systems. Like the Windows CE devices, the Surface will probably grow gradually less useful over time, though for now it still does about 95% of what I need.

    2. I dream of a day that this formfactor returns. I would love a 7-8 inch laptop (not a 2-in-1). Although I believe Microsoft’s new requirements for Windows 10 would dictate it would have to be at least 8 inch to be allowed to use the full desktop Windows 10?

      The Sony Vaio P was the last of its kind.

  2. I don’t have any RT devices but I’m glad MS continues to provide support for their software or does MS not plan on even providing future security updates (which I care most about for any device/software).

    1. Security updates are supported for the life of the product, which for RT falls under the same lifecycle policy as Windows 8 with support ending 1/10/2023…

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