So, dust off that Surface RT. Download the image. Unlock that bootloader. And watch Microsoft’s greatest failure run Google’s greatest success.
Support for Windows 8.1 has ended Support for Windows 8.1 ended on January 10, 2023. Microsoft Support Run Android 7.1.2 Nougat on the Microsoft Surface RT Tablet
However, for the hacker, the retro-tech fan, or the owner of a $20 thrift-store Surface RT, the result is a miracle. You take a device that Microsoft software-locked into obsolescence and turn it into a functional, open-source media consumption device. windows rt 8.1 to android
The Surface RT had a stunning VaporMg magnesium case and a kickstand that modern tablets still envy. The Lumia 2520 had a gorgeous 1080p IPS screen that beats entry-level tablets today.
In the annals of tech history, few products had a more confusing identity crisis than . Launched alongside the revolutionary Windows 8, RT was the "walled garden" variant designed for low-power ARM processors (the same chips found in smartphones). It looked like Windows, felt like Windows, but crucially, it could not run traditional .exe applications—only "Modern UI" apps from the Microsoft Store. So, dust off that Surface RT
: A "leaked" version of Windows 10 for these tablets exists, which is more stable than Android. Linux (Raspberry Pi OS)