Enforce Windows 10 requirement for NVDA

nvdaHelper/archBuild_sconscript

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # A part of NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA)
-# Copyright (C) 2006-2023 NV Access Limited
+# Copyright (C) 2006-2025 NV Access Limited
 # This file may be used under the terms of the GNU General Public License, version 2 or later.
 # For more details see: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
 
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ env.Append(
 		"UNICODE",
 		"_CRT_SECURE_NO_DEPRECATE",
 		("LOGLEVEL", "${nvdaHelperLogLevel}"),
-		("_WIN32_WINNT", "_WIN32_WINNT_WINBLUE"),
+		("_WIN32_WINNT", "_WIN32_WINNT_WIN10"),
 		# NOMINMAX: prevent minwindef.h min/max macro definition, which unexpectedly override developer
 		# expectations
 		"NOMINMAX",
@@ -92,8 +92,8 @@ env.Append(CXXFLAGS=["/EHsc"])
 
 env.Append(CPPPATH=["#/include", "#/include/wil/include", "#/miscDeps/include", Dir(".").abspath])
 
-# Windows 8.1 (blue)
-subsystem = "/subsystem:windows,6.03"
+# Windows 10
+subsystem = "/subsystem:windows,10.00"
 
 env.Append(
 	LINKFLAGS=[

nvdaHelper/readme.md

@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ You should still build on the command line to verify errors.
   - Press next
 -  Specify Debug Configuration Settings
   - Build command line: `scons source`
-  - Preprocessor definitions (/D): `WIN32;_WINDOWS;_USRDLL;NVDAHELPER_EXPORTS;UNICODE;_CRT_SECURE_NO_DEPRECATE;LOGLEVEL=15;_WIN32_WINNT=_WIN32_WINNT_WINBLUE;NOMINMAX`
+  - Preprocessor definitions (/D): `WIN32;_WINDOWS;_USRDLL;NVDAHELPER_EXPORTS;UNICODE;_CRT_SECURE_NO_DEPRECATE;LOGLEVEL=15;_WIN32_WINNT=_WIN32_WINNT_WIN10;NOMINMAX`
   - Include search paths (/I): `../include;../miscDeps/include;./;../build\x86_64;../include/minhook/include`
   - Forced Included files (/FI): `winuser.h`
   - Press next
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ You should still build on the command line to verify errors.
   ```
   cl /Fobuild\x86\vbufBackends\gecko_ia2\gecko_ia2.obj /c build\x86\vbufBackends\gecko_ia2\gecko_ia2.cpp
   /TP /EHsc /nologo /std:c++20 /permissive- /Od /MT /W3 /WX
-  /DUNICODE /D_CRT_SECURE_NO_DEPRECATE /DLOGLEVEL=15 /D_WIN32_WINNT=_WIN32_WINNT_WINBLUE /DNOMINMAX /DNDEBUG
+  /DUNICODE /D_CRT_SECURE_NO_DEPRECATE /DLOGLEVEL=15 /D_WIN32_WINNT=_WIN32_WINNT_WIN10 /DNOMINMAX /DNDEBUG
   /Iinclude /Imiscdeps\include /Ibuild\x86
   /Z7
   ```

source/NVDAObjects/UIA/__init__.py

@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@
 from NVDAObjects.behaviors import (
 	ProgressBar,
 	EditableTextBase,
-	EditableTextWithoutAutoSelectDetection,
 	EditableTextWithAutoSelectDetection,
 	Dialog,
 	Notification,
@@ -1448,10 +1447,7 @@ def findOverlayClasses(self, clsList):  # NOQA: C901
 				clsList.append(XamlEditableText)
 			elif UIAClassName == "WpfTextView":
 				clsList.append(WpfTextView)
-			if UIAHandler.autoSelectDetectionAvailable:
-				clsList.append(EditableTextWithAutoSelectDetection)
-			else:
-				clsList.append(EditableTextWithoutAutoSelectDetection)
+			clsList.append(EditableTextWithAutoSelectDetection)
 
 		clsList.append(UIA)
 

source/UIAHandler/__init__.py

@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 # This file is covered by the GNU General Public License.
 # See the file COPYING for more details.
 
-from typing import Optional
 import ctypes
 import ctypes.wintypes
 from ctypes import (
@@ -250,19 +249,16 @@
 
 localEventHandlerGroupUIAEventIds = set()
 
-autoSelectDetectionAvailable = False
-if winVersion.getWinVer() >= winVersion.WIN10:
-	UIAEventIdsToNVDAEventNames.update(
-		{
-			UIA.UIA_Text_TextSelectionChangedEventId: "caret",
-		},
-	)
-	localEventHandlerGroupUIAEventIds.update(
-		{
-			UIA.UIA_Text_TextSelectionChangedEventId,
-		},
-	)
-	autoSelectDetectionAvailable = True
+UIAEventIdsToNVDAEventNames.update(
+	{
+		UIA.UIA_Text_TextSelectionChangedEventId: "caret",
+	},
+)
+localEventHandlerGroupUIAEventIds.update(
+	{
+		UIA.UIA_Text_TextSelectionChangedEventId,
+	},
+)
 
 globalEventHandlerGroupUIAEventIds = set(UIAEventIdsToNVDAEventNames) - localEventHandlerGroupUIAEventIds
 
@@ -594,7 +590,7 @@ def _registerGlobalEventHandlers(self, handler: "UIAHandler"):
 				self.baseCacheRequest,
 				handler,
 			)
-		if not utils._shouldSelectivelyRegister() and winVersion.getWinVer() >= winVersion.WIN10:
+		if not utils._shouldSelectivelyRegister():
 			# #14067: Due to poor performance, textChange requires special handling
 			self.globalEventHandlerGroup.AddAutomationEventHandler(
 				UIA.UIA_Text_TextChangedEventId,
@@ -1512,7 +1508,7 @@ def isNativeUIAElement(self, UIAElement):
 		return False
 
 
-handler: Optional[UIAHandler] = None
+handler: UIAHandler | None = None
 
 
 def initialize():

source/appModules/excel.py

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: UTF-8 -*-
 # A part of NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA)
-# Copyright (C) 2018 NV Access Limited, Łukasz Golonka
+# Copyright (C) 2018-2025 NV Access Limited, Łukasz Golonka
 # This file may be used under the terms of the GNU General Public License, version 2 or later.
 # For more details see: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
 
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 from NVDAObjects import NVDAObject
 from NVDAObjects.UIA import UIA
 import winUser
-import winVersion
 import controlTypes
 import appModuleHandler
 from scriptHandler import script
@@ -111,7 +110,7 @@ def isGoodUIAWindow(self, hwnd: int) -> bool:
 			return True
 		windowClass = winUser.getClassName(hwnd)
 		versionMajor = int(self.productVersion.split(".")[0])
-		if versionMajor >= 16 and windowClass == "RICHEDIT60W" and winVersion.getWinVer() >= winVersion.WIN10:
+		if versionMajor >= 16 and windowClass == "RICHEDIT60W":
 			# RICHEDIT60W In Excel 2016+ on Windows 10+
 			# has a very good UI Automation implementation,
 			# Though oddly IsServerSideProvider returns false for these windows.

source/appModules/outlook.py

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # A part of NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA)
-# Copyright (C) 2006-2021 NV Access Limited, Yogesh Kumar, Manish Agrawal, Joseph Lee, Davy Kager,
+# Copyright (C) 2006-2025 NV Access Limited, Yogesh Kumar, Manish Agrawal, Joseph Lee, Davy Kager,
 # Babbage B.V., Leonard de Ruijter
 # This file is covered by the GNU General Public License.
 # See the file COPYING for more details.
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 import comtypes.client
 import comtypes.automation
 import ctypes
-import winVersion
 from scriptHandler import script
 import winKernel
 import comHelper
@@ -114,7 +113,7 @@ class AppModule(appModuleHandler.AppModule):
 	def isGoodUIAWindow(self, hwnd: int) -> bool:
 		windowClass = winUser.getClassName(hwnd)
 		versionMajor = int(self.productVersion.split(".")[0])
-		if versionMajor >= 16 and windowClass == "RICHEDIT60W" and winVersion.getWinVer() >= winVersion.WIN10:
+		if versionMajor >= 16 and windowClass == "RICHEDIT60W":
 			# #12726: RICHEDIT60W In Outlook 2016+ on Windows 10+
 			# has a very good UI Automation implementation,
 			# Though oddly IsServerSideProvider returns false for these windows.

source/synthDriverHandler.py

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # A part of NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA)
 # This file is covered by the GNU General Public License.
 # See the file COPYING for more details.
-# Copyright (C) 2006-2024 NV Access Limited, Peter Vágner, Aleksey Sadovoy,
+# Copyright (C) 2006-2025 NV Access Limited, Peter Vágner, Aleksey Sadovoy,
 # Joseph Lee, Arnold Loubriat, Leonard de Ruijter
 
 import pkgutil
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 from locale import strxfrm
 
 import config
-import winVersion
 import globalVars
 from logHandler import log
 from synthSettingsRing import SynthSettingsRing
@@ -484,10 +483,7 @@ def getSynthInstance(name, asDefault=False):
 
 # The synthDrivers that should be used by default.
 # The first that successfully initializes will be used when config is set to auto (I.e. new installs of NVDA).
-defaultSynthPriorityList = ["espeak", "silence"]
-if winVersion.getWinVer() >= winVersion.WIN10:
-	# Default to OneCore on Windows 10 and above
-	defaultSynthPriorityList.insert(0, "oneCore")
+defaultSynthPriorityList = ["oneCore", "espeak", "silence"]
 
 
 def setSynth(name: Optional[str], isFallback: bool = False):

source/synthDrivers/oneCore.py

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # A part of NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA)
-# Copyright (C) 2016-2024 Tyler Spivey, NV Access Limited, James Teh, Leonard de Ruijter
+# Copyright (C) 2016-2025 Tyler Spivey, NV Access Limited, James Teh, Leonard de Ruijter
 # This file is covered by the GNU General Public License.
 # See the file COPYING for more details.
 
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@
 from speech.types import SpeechSequence
 import speechXml
 import languageHandler
-import winVersion
 import NVDAHelper
 
 from speech.commands import (
@@ -194,7 +193,7 @@ class OneCoreSynthDriver(SynthDriver):
 	@classmethod
 	def check(cls):
 		# Only present this as an available synth if this is Windows 10.
-		return winVersion.getWinVer() >= winVersion.WIN10
+		return True
 
 	def _get_supportsProsodyOptions(self):
 		self.supportsProsodyOptions = self._dll.ocSpeech_supportsProsodyOptions()

source/winAPI/sessionTracking.py

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # A part of NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA)
-# Copyright (C) 2022 NV Access Limited
+# Copyright (C) 2022-2025 NV Access Limited
 # This file may be used under the terms of the GNU General Public License, version 2 or later.
 # For more details see: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
 
@@ -164,14 +164,6 @@ def isLockScreenModeActive() -> bool:
 		# Use secure mode instead if on the secure desktop
 		return False
 
-	import winVersion
-
-	if winVersion.getWinVer() < winVersion.WIN10:
-		# On Windows 8 and Earlier, the lock screen runs on
-		# the secure desktop.
-		# Lock screen mode is not supported on these Windows versions.
-		return False
-
 	return _isWindowsLocked()
 
 

source/winVersion.py

@@ -104,15 +104,12 @@ def __init__(
 
 	def _getWindowsReleaseName(self) -> str:
 		"""Returns the public release name for a given Windows release based on major, minor, and build.
+		This also includes feature update release name.
 		This is useful if release names are not defined when constructing this class.
-		For example, 6.3 will return 'Windows 8.1'.
-		For Windows 10 and later, feature update release name will be included.
 		On server systems, unless noted otherwise, client release names will be returned.
-		For example, 'Windows 10 1809' will be returned on Server 2019 systems.
+		For example, 'Windows 11 24H2' will be returned on Server 2025 systems.
 		"""
 		match (self.major, self.minor):
-			case (6, 3):
-				return "Windows 8.1"
 			# From Windows 10 1511 (build 10586), release Id/display version comes from Windows Registry.
 			# However there are builds with no release name (Version 1507/10240)
 			# or releases with different builds.
@@ -146,7 +143,6 @@ def __ge__(self, other):
 
 
 # Windows releases to WinVersion instances for easing comparisons.
-WIN81 = WinVersion(major=6, minor=3, build=9600)
 WIN10 = WIN10_1507 = WinVersion(major=10, minor=0, build=10240)
 WIN10_1511 = WinVersion(major=10, minor=0, build=10586)
 WIN10_1607 = WinVersion(major=10, minor=0, build=14393)
@@ -169,7 +165,7 @@ def __ge__(self, other):
 
 
 @functools.lru_cache(maxsize=1)
-def getWinVer():
+def getWinVer() -> WinVersion:
 	"""Returns a record of current Windows version NVDA is running on."""
 	winVer = sys.getwindowsversion()
 	# #12509: on Windows 10, fetch whatever Windows Registry says for the current build.
@@ -213,15 +209,15 @@ def getWinVer():
 	)
 
 
-def isSupportedOS():
-	# NVDA can only run on Windows 8.1 (Blue) and above
-	return getWinVer() >= WIN81
+def isSupportedOS() -> bool:
+	# NVDA can only run on Windows 10 and above
+	return getWinVer() >= WIN10
 
 
 UWP_OCR_DATA_PATH = os.path.expandvars(r"$windir\OCR")
 
 
-def isUwpOcrAvailable():
+def isUwpOcrAvailable() -> bool:
 	return os.path.isdir(UWP_OCR_DATA_PATH)
 
 
@@ -252,4 +248,7 @@ def __getattr__(attrName: str) -> Any:
 	if attrName == "WIN8" and NVDAState._allowDeprecatedAPI():
 		log.warning("WIN8 is deprecated.")
 		return WinVersion(major=6, minor=2, build=9200, releaseName="Windows 8")
+	if attrName == "WIN81" and NVDAState._allowDeprecatedAPI():
+		log.warning("WIN81 is deprecated.")
+		return WinVersion(major=6, minor=3, build=9600, releaseName="Windows 8.1")
 	raise AttributeError(f"module {repr(__name__)} has no attribute {repr(attrName)}")

user_docs/en/changes.md

@@ -6,13 +6,17 @@
 
 * This release breaks compatibility with existing add-ons.
 * Windows 8.1 is no longer supported.
-Windows 10 is the minimum Windows version supported.
+Windows 10 (Version 1507) is the minimum Windows version supported.
+We recommend updating to Windows 11, or when that's not possible, to the latest Windows 10 version (22H2).
 * 32-bit Windows is no longer supported.
 
 ### New Features
 
 ### Changes
 
+* NVDA no longer supports Windows 8.1.
+Windows 10 (Version 1507) is the minimum Windows version supported. (#18684, @josephsl)
+
 ### Bug Fixes
 
 ### Changes for Developers
@@ -27,8 +31,12 @@ Add-ons will need to be re-tested and have their manifest updated.
 These are breaking API changes.
 Please open a GitHub issue if your add-on has an issue with updating to the new API.
 
+* `UIAHandler.autoSelectDetectionAvailable` is removed with no replacement. (#18684, @josephsl)
+
 #### Deprecations
 
+* `winVersion.WIN81` constant has been deprecated from winVersion module. (#18684, @josephsl):
+
 ## 2025.3
 
 ### Important notes

user_docs/en/userGuide.md

@@ -42,15 +42,15 @@ Major highlights include:
 
 #### Minimum System Requirements {#MinimumSystemRequirements}
 
-* Operating Systems: all 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11, and all Server Operating Systems starting from Windows Server 2012 R2.
+* Operating Systems: 64-bit editions of Windows 10 and Windows 11.
+Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022 and 2025.
   * both AMD64 and ARM64 variants of Windows are supported, including Copilot+ PCs.
-  * Note that 32-bit operating systems are no longer under active support.
-  * Note that Windows 8.1 and Windows Server versions older than 2022 are no longer under active support.
+  * Note that Windows 10 and Windows Server versions older than 2025 are no longer under active support.
 * at least 500 MB of storage space.
 
 #### Recommended System Requirements {#RecommendedSystemRequirements}
 
-* Operating Systems: 64-bit editions of Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2022.
+* Operating Systems: Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025.
   * both AMD64 and ARM64 variants of Windows are supported, including Copilot+ PCs.
 * at least 500 MB of storage space.
 * at least 4 GB of RAM.
@@ -4145,7 +4145,6 @@ For an even more extensive list of free and commercial synthesizers that you can
 ### eSpeak NG {#eSpeakNG}
 
 The [eSpeak NG](https://github.com/espeak-ng/espeak-ng) synthesizer is built directly into NVDA and does not require any other special drivers or components to be installed.
-On Windows 8.1 NVDA uses eSpeak NG by default ([Windows OneCore](#OneCore) is used in Windows 10 and later by default).
 As this synthesizer is built into NVDA, this is a great choice for when running NVDA off a USB thumb drive on other systems.
 
 Each voice that comes with eSpeak NG speaks a different language.
@@ -4184,7 +4183,7 @@ To use these voices, you will need to install two components:
 
 Windows 10 and later includes voices known as "OneCore" or "mobile" voices.
 Voices are provided for many languages, and they are more responsive than the Microsoft voices available using Microsoft Speech API version 5.
-On Windows 10 and later, NVDA uses Windows OneCore voices by default ([eSpeak NG](#eSpeakNG) is used in other releases).
+NVDA uses Windows OneCore voices by default.
 
 To add new Windows OneCore voices, go to "Speech Settings", within Windows system settings.
 Use the "Add voices" option and search for the desired language.
@@ -5278,8 +5277,6 @@ The braille keyboard functions described directly below is when "HID Keyboard si
 ### Nattiq nBraille Displays {#NattiqTechnologies}
 
 NVDA supports displays from [Nattiq Technologies](https://www.nattiq.com/) when connected via USB.
-Windows 10 and later detects the Braille Displays once connected, you may need to install USB drivers if using older versions of Windows (below Win10).
-You can get them from the manufacturer's website.
 
 Following are the key assignments for Nattiq Technologies displays with NVDA.
 Please see the display's documentation for descriptions of where these keys can be found.