Windows 8.1 Update 1 has officially become available today. If you don’t already have it installed on your system — as it made a couple of unofficial appearances over the last few weeks, today Microsoft has officially made the update available for all. Furthermore, Microsoft is calling this update “mandatory” to all Windows 8.1 users.

Today is a big day for Microsoft. Not only is it marking the arrival of a new updated operating system, it is also the day Microsoft is ending support to its 13 year old desktop operating system, Windows XP. Windows 8.1 users won’t be able to receive further updates from Microsoft unless they grab the update. “It is a required update to keep your Windows 8.1 device current. Failure to install this Update will prevent Windows Update from patching your system with any future updates starting with Updates released in May 2014 (get busy!),” said a Microsoft representative.

Windows 8.1 Update 1 brings several new features to the operating system. Some of the additions are done just to make the operating system more user friendly to the traditional keyboard and mouse users. We are using Windows 8.1 Update 1 and really liking it. The update will appear on Windows Update in a couple of hours, likely around 10 AM PST, as part of today’s Patch Tuesday. Or you can simply download the individual update files from the links below, courtesy of Neowin.

64-bit: KB2919442 / KB2919355 / KB2932046 / KB2937592 / KB2938439

32-bit: KB2919442 / KB2919355 / KB2932046 / KB2937592 / KB2938439

ARM: KB2919442 / KB2919355 / KB2932046 / KB2937592 / KB2938439

Update: Here are the latest updates from Microsoft, wrapped up in one neat little installable package: Windows 8.1 Update for x86 (KB2919355) / Windows 8.1 Update for x64 (KB2919355) / Windows Server 2012 R2 Update (KB2919355)

Thanks for all the tips, guys!

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