---
title: "Admits Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella giving up on Windows Phone and mobile was a mistake."  
description: "Admits Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella giving up on Windows Phone and mobile was a mistake."  
author: "Saumya Mishra"  
published: 2023-10-25  
updated: 2023-10-25  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/news/3449/admits-microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-giving-up-on-windows-phone-and-mobile-was-a-mistake  
category: "technology"  
tags: ["microsoft"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# Admits Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella giving up on Windows Phone and mobile was a mistake.

[Satya Nadella](https://www.mindstick.com/news/3444/microsoft-s-ceo-satya-nadella-outlines-9-key-insights-on-leading-the-ai-transformation), the third Microsoft CEO to admit to the company's mobile mistakes, has said that [Microsoft](https://www.mindstick.com/category/article/microsoft) could have made Windows Phone work by "reinventing the category of computing between PCs, tablets, and phones."

- ***Mobile Missteps:*** **Nadella acknowledges a $7.6 billion mobile loss.**
- ***Hindsight Insights:*** **Suggests redefining computing, bridging PCs, tablets, and phones.**
- ***[Historical](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/audio/1201/a-historical-journey-of-kedarnath-temple) Acknowledgments:*** **Joining Gates and Ballmer in mobile regrets.**

[Microsoft CEO](https://www.mindstick.com/news/2992/microsoft-ceo-leakes-mail-says-no-hike-in-staff-salary-this-year) Satya Nadella has publicly acknowledged the company's significant missteps in the mobile industry, highlighting the $7.6 billion write-off related to the Nokia phone [business acquisition](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/104191/what-is-a-business-acquisition) in 2015. Nadella admitted that the decision to exit the [mobile phone](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/95862/mobile-phone-technology-has-revolutionized-the-marketing-industry) industry was one of the most difficult he had to make during his tenure. He suggested that Microsoft might have pursued a different approach by reimagining the category of computing that bridged PCs, tablets, and phones.

![Admits Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella giving up on Windows Phone and mobile was a mistake.](https://www.mindstick.com/usernews/655071/97332c06-d43c-4e11-bbff-c979f8cc9219/images/df2f605d-e4b9-406f-8f91-4602a16090f4.jpg)

This admission aligns with a broader acknowledgment of the missed [opportunities](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/12566/mba-courses-in-delhi-ncr-offer-you-many-opportunities-galore) and strategic errors that plagued Microsoft's mobile efforts. [Bill Gates](https://www.mindstick.com/news/2595/bill-gates-warns-our-grandchildren-will-pay-if-we-don-t-fix-climate-change), Microsoft's co-founder and former CEO, previously described losing to Android as his "greatest mistake ever." Microsoft's mobile future remains uncertain due to the lack of a clear successor and a dearth of [software updates](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/115343/how-do-regular-software-updates-impact-performance-security-and-compatibility-with-other-tools). In [recent years](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/113716/how-are-sustainability-trends-influencing-the-fashion-industry-in-recent-years), Microsoft has been focusing on building its presence on Android and iOS, with a focus on apps and services that bridge the gap between these platforms and Windows.

---

Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/news/3449/admits-microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-giving-up-on-windows-phone-and-mobile-was-a-mistake

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