The Andromeda OS, an unreleased Windows 10–based operating system, is now available for the Surface Duo. Developed initially as a Windows Phone-like platform with Live Tiles and dual-display features, Microsoft canceled Andromeda in 2018, eventually shifting the Surface Duo to Android.
Introduction and Background
A leaked version of Andromeda OS has been ported to the original Surface Duo by developer Gustave Monce. This transition highlights what Microsoft's mobile vision might have looked like. The incomplete build does not function on new hardware due to lacking driver support.
Technical Adoption and Challenges
The Andromeda OS build is available as an FFU file. Users can flash the OS following Monce's instructions, though this process erases existing Android data and is not recommended for beginners. Installed devices can dual-boot Android and Windows, sharing internal storage. However, booting requires an external PC, adding complexity to the setup process.
Implications and Vision
Despite its unstable and unfinished state, Andromeda OS provides insight into Microsoft's halted plans for mobile development. This gives tech enthusiasts and developers a perspective on what a modern Windows Phone might have embodied.
