Back in October of last year, Microsoft announced it was winding down support for its "Groove Music Pass", and all features related to streaming and purchasing content via the Groove Music app. Since its formal debut in 2015, with the release of Windows 10, Microsoft's music streaming service failed to gain traction among strong competition. This eventually led to Microsoft scheduling a shut-down of the service for December 31, 2017.
While a new year passed and Groove Music was still fully operational, as of January 2, the online elements of the app have been shut down entirely. Music can no longer be streamed through Groove apps, songs can no longer be purchased from the Microsoft Store and music video playback has been shuttered. Radio, Explore and Recommended features of the app have also been removed. By opening the Microsoft Store app on any Windows 10 device, users will now be greeted by a new menu, lacking the music tab.
Microsoft recommends its Groove Music users move to Spotify, with apps now available across Windows 10 devices.
For remaining Groove Music users, the local playback features of the app still remain functional following the shutdown. The app also still supports streaming via OneDrive, which allows local files to be played across various devices. But for those looking for a full-fledged music experience, better services can be found elsewhere.
Microsoft recommends users switch to Spotify, with a partnership between the two companies that allows users to seamlessly migrate to the service. With apps across Windows 10, Xbox One and mobile devices (yes, that includes Windows 10 Mobile), the service is among the most universal on the market. If Spotify isn't for you, make sure to take a look at our list of Groove Music replacements for PC.
