Last month, Microsoft announced a pivotal update to its Windows hardware driver ecosystem, marking the gradual retirement of Windows Device Metadata and Windows Metadata and Internet Services (WMIS). Device Metadata, a feature introduced during the Windows 7 era, served as a repository for hardware device information supplied by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). This information, encompassing icons, descriptive text, and more, was pivotal in displaying device details within interfaces like the Task Manager and Device Manager. Effective May 2025, WMIS will cease offering new device metadata packages to Windows clients, and users will lose the ability to create, modify, or enhance device metadata experiences. Nonetheless, existing device metadata packages will remain functional. In light of this change, Microsoft advises developers to adopt INF files as an alternative to device metadata.