The Windows Phone Silverlight 8.1 app model gives Windows Phone 8 developers access to some of the newest features Availab Le in Windows Phone Store apps without significantly modifying existing Windows Phone 8 code. Windows Phone 8 apps is fully supported and run exactly the same on Windows Phone 8.1 devices. If you have a existing Windows Phone 8 app and aren ' t looking to the Add new features, you don't need to modify your app. If you're just starting out developing for Windows phones, or if you ' re interested in targeting the PC platform in addition To the Windows phone, you might want-to-start with a Windows Phone Store app. This app model gives your access to all of the new features, and your can target phone and PC with a single Visual Studio so Lution. For more information on choosing the best platform for your objectives, see what's next for Windows Phone 8 developers.
Device support for Silverlight 8.1
Silverlight 8.1 Apps run only on Windows Phone 8.1 devices. Windows Phone 8 Devices cannot install or run Silverlight 8.1 apps. However, Windows Phone 8.1 is a free software update, which is supported for all existing Windows phone 8 devices.
Store support for Silverlight 8.1
Can publish a Silverlight 8.1 or Windows Phone Store app alongside an existing Windows Phone 7.8 and Windows Phone 8 V Ersion of your app in the Windows Phone Store. If you choose to upgrade the Your app, you can continue to sell and update earlier versions.
supported Windows Phone 8.1 features for Silverlight 8.1 apps
For a high-level list of the features of Windows Phone 8.1 so can be accessed from Silverlight 8.1, see supported Featur Es for Windows Phone Silverlight 8.1 apps.
Windows Phone 8 features for which there is no Windows phone Store app equivalent
There is a small set of features available in Windows Phones 8 apps for which there be no equivalents in Windows Phone Sto Re apps. Silverlight 8.1 Apps can still use these features. If your app requires one of these features you should either maintain your Windows Phone 8 apps or upgrade your app to Silv Erlight 8.1.
Clipboard APIs |
Clipboard |
Lock scree N Background provider |
Lock screen background for Windows Phone 8 |
Ring Tone provider |
How to use the Save ringtone task for Windows Phone 8 |
A Larms and reminders |
Alarms and reminders for Windows Phone 8 |
Lens app s |
Lenses for Windows Phone 8 |
Lock screen background provider |
Lock screen background for Windows Phone 8 |
Generating bitmaps for Live Tiles in a Background Task using managed code |
Generating bit Maps in a Background Task using native code is supported. |
Breaking changes for Silverlight 8.1 apps
For a list of Windows phones 8 features that is known to behave differently on Silverlight 8.1 apps, see Platform Compatib Ility and breaking changes for Windows Phone Silverlight 8.1 apps.
upgrading to Silverlight 8.1
The tools included in the Windows Phone SDK automate the upgrade of your apps from Windows phone 8 to Silverlight 8.1. This is a one-way process. After you had upgraded, the tools can ' t convert your solution back to Windows Phone 8, so was sure to back up your project . For instructions in upgrading your app, see Upgrade windows Phone 8 apps to Windows Phone Silverlight 8.1.
Windows Phone Silverlight 8.1 Apps