Windows 8.1 Preview users to reinstall all their apps

Users who plan on taking part in the public preview of Windows 8.1, which will be released 26 June, will have to reinstall all their desktop apps before upgrading to the full version.

Microsoft claims that the user data and accounts will be retained in the reinstatement process, but confirmed to Mary Jo Foley of ZDNet that they will need to reinstall the apps.

Those who opt out of the preview and wait for the full version, which is predicted to be released sometime in autumn, will not have to reinstall their apps, as everything will transfer over automatically.

"Even if testers opt instead to roll their devices back to Windows 8 after installing the preview bits, they still will have to reinstall their apps once they move to the RTM version of Windows 8.1," Michael Niehaus, Microsoft senior product marketing manager, told Foley.

This preview, and the Windows 8.1 full upgrade will be available free to users of Windows 8 or Windows RT users. Both will also receive an update notification when the preview and full versions come available. From here the user can choose to update or not.