One of the big features of Windows 10 is its unification of different platforms and ecosystems. Microsoft wants everyone to use Windows 10 desktops, laptops, consoles, smartphones, and more in the hopes that they’ll purchase Microsoft subscriptions for services and apps across all of them. However it’s not being quite so accepting of users that exploit this unified system, as it’s reduced the number of devices that can be associated with individual accounts dramatically.
Until now, Windows 8 and 8.1 allowed people to install applications across as many as 81 devices, meaning no one was likely to ever maximize it, no matter how many smartphones they owned. However in Windows 10, those device numbers will be brought down to just 10, according to WinBeta.
Microsoft hasn’t explained just why that is, but it could simply be a common sense move — as really, who’s using 81 devices? Let alone 81 Windows-supporting devices. However, it could be an effort to thwart those that share account details with friends and family so that they don’t need to buy the universal apps multiple times.