MINDSTORMS RI app going away June 1

[Jetro]

My MINDSTORMS RI app displays the following notice:

I have had some unfortunate experiences with LEGO pulling app and literally removing them from my Android device, but since this is on the laptop I suspect it will stay there.

Nevertheless I really don't get why LEGO is not making provisions (as it did with the NXT and EV3 apps to ensure it can still be downloaded. The unfortunate side effect of having this app in the Microsoft Store is that the isn't a single .exe that you can save somewhere for future reference. Add to that that much of the value of the app is in the additional downloads which even now don't work anymore!?!

I've been in touch with LEGO Customer Service, and they have assured me this download glitch will be fixed, but that is a very short term solution and the app is still going away. Ideally I'd like to have an option to download an installer with all the additional content included. I accept that that will be an app with no support or warranty - that's fine, but at least we still have access to something. Moving to the Spike app is not really an option as the programs made in the RI app are not compatible with the Spike app 

Since LEGO only appears to listen when fans make a LOT of noise, maybe you can take a moment to let them know how you feel about this. 

The direct email for Customer Service is: hello@support.lego.com

Some things you can tell / ask them:

- does this mean the app will disappear from my computer? (it won't )

- I cannot use my existing programs with the Spike app because they are not compatible.

- if I use the Spike app how can I use the custom blocks that are necessary for the models in the set?

- Will you make sure the app stays available through some other channel than the Microsoft Store?

- Will you make sure the additional downloadable content will be included in the app after June 1

- will you provide guidance to recreate the custom blocks that are necessary for the models in the app to work?

- any other worries and misgivings you have

 

Please take a moment to make some noise. Thanks!!

[Paul B Technic]

This is why I like to keep my work (IT) and my hobby separate.... I would love LEGO to just focus on the bricks and not do anything that requires apps for another device to be supported in to the future.

Edited March 21 by Paul B Technic

[COPERNICON]

at least pybricks is still an option, it sucks so bad that lego just doesnt care to future proof its products

[aFrInaTi0n]

1 hour ago, Paul B Technic said:

This why why I like to keep my work (IT) and my hobby separate.... I would love LEGO to just focus on the bricks and not do anything that requires apps for another device to be supported in to the future.

OR just some application lifecycle management may be scoped for their IT products.. which may allow transitions into deprecated modes as over the expected lifetime of any application that may be a wise thought in the beginning of how the journey may end - with such "retirement" of an application may be no big issue... :)

----

What may be of interest is the EU initiative "Stop Destroying Videogames" (Commission registration number: ECI(2024)000007) - as it may / could have effects to LEGO and their digital products as well...

Linkie: https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/details/2024/000007_en

Even as the initiative is mainly about videogames, my hopes are that may have effects for similar fields as well - finally leading to LEGO to take care of allowing their old software stacks to be still available for everybody.

[AJB2K3]

There are currently 2 projects on the go for the RIS pbrick by both my self and Bliss. 
if anyone is interested in adding NXT and EV3 support please feel free to join in

[Ngoc Nguyen]

One day that announcement will come to the Control+ App.

[Jetro]

I got a reply from LEGO to my first question in this subject: why is the content not downloadable since the app is still active till June 1. I got the following reply:

Quote

Thank you for getting in touch, and please accept our apologies for the delay in our response! We’ve been receiving a huge volume of enquiries and are doing our best to reply as soon as possible.

I have contacted the team that manages all our apps, and they have informed me that the LEGO® MINDSTORMS app is currently experiencing issues. This will be resolved as soon as possible, and you will be able to access all the content again.

As of today downloading the additional content and community builds is still impossible.

[Pybricks]

We would love to help The LEGO Group support MINDSTORMS and other products like Powered Up at the end of their lifecycle.

The MINDSTORMS Inventor Hub is already fully supported in Pybricks, and we could rebuild the example projects to go with it.

Some features are currently only available to Pybricks supporters, to help make it all possible. But with some support from LEGO, we could open this up to everyone. What do you think?

[Jetro]

1 hour ago, Pybricks said:

We would love to help The LEGO Group support MINDSTORMS and other products like Powered Up at the end of their lifecycle.

The MINDSTORMS Inventor Hub is already fully supported in Pybricks, and we could rebuild the example projects to go with it.

Some features are currently only available to Pybricks supporters, to help make it all possible. But with some support from LEGO, we could open this up to everyone. What do you think?

I think that would be amazing! It means future proofing the 51515 set almost as-is. It's a shame LEGO has (so far) only "lent" us their software and is now threatening to take it away, but even if it stays available, the environment may not work in ... Windows 12 or whatever is next. Having a Pybricks alternative means the set is still "complete" and Pybricks is amazing!

[AVCampos]

Thanks for the heads-up! Even though I prefer Pybricks, the official app is still useful as a companion to the set and as a way to build the stuff advertised in the box. Also, if nothing else, an offline installer is desirable for preservation purposes. So, I'll contact CS too.

Their programs are still required, but at least for the time being the direct links to building instructions for the main models are still available:

• Charlie: https://www.lego.com/cdn/product-assets/product.bi.additional.main.pdf/51515_Charlie.pdf
• Tricky: https://www.lego.com/cdn/product-assets/product.bi.additional.main.pdf/51515_Tricky.pdf
• Blast: https://www.lego.com/cdn/product-assets/product.bi.additional.main.pdf/51515_Blast.pdf
• M.V.P.: https://www.lego.com/cdn/product-assets/product.bi.additional.main.pdf/51515_MVP.pdf
• Gelo: https://www.lego.com/cdn/product-assets/product.bi.additional.main.pdf/51515_Gelo.pdf

5 minutes ago, Jetro said:

It's a shame LEGO has (so far) only "lent" us their software and is now threatening to take it away, but even if it stays available, the environment may not work in ... Windows 12 or whatever is next.

It's a similar, but not quite the same, situation with the Porsche PU hub: on one hand it's possible to archive the APK of the Android PU app version that still works with it (maybe something similar with the iOS app?), but on the other hand (as far as I understand) the requirement for signed firmware prevents future-proofing with Pybricks.

[Jetro]

Hi Alexandre. Unfortunately those instructions are only for the basic models. The advanced models that use these Hero models as a basis are not available in PDF (e.g. Charlie Drum Solo or Drum Master). And the community models that are included in the app are also not available in this format.

[HydroWorld Outlook]

4 minutes ago, Jetro said:

Hi Alexandre. Unfortunately those instructions are only for the basic models. The advanced models that use these Hero models as a basis are not available in PDF (e.g. Charlie Drum Solo or Drum Master). And the community models that are included in the app are also not available in this format.

Might want to try checking on Rebrickable. There are instructions for many Mindstorms models there: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/?theme=258

[Jetro]

There are lots of interesting projects on ReBrickable, like for example this rocket  (candy) launcher: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-91412/JKBrickworks/rocket-launcher/#details

The project is very complete, but it depends on the LEGO MINDSTORMS Robot Inventor software being available: the .lms file with the program will not open correctly in the Spike app (another one of those interesting decisions LEGO made regarding their robotics platforms: competing platforms with the same form factor, but incompatible programming environments )

[Jim]

5 hours ago, Pybricks said:

We would love to help The LEGO Group support MINDSTORMS and other products like Powered Up at the end of their lifecycle.

If only they would give a d.nm about customers not being able to use their products anymore 

On 3/21/2026 at 11:05 AM, aFrInaTi0n said:

OR just some application lifecycle management may be scoped for their IT products.. which may allow transitions into deprecated modes as over the expected lifetime of any application that may be a wise thought in the beginning of how the journey may end - with such "retirement" of an application may be no big issue... :)

If only they would gi...... 

You probably know where I'm going with this.

LDD anyone?!

[Toastie]

38 minutes ago, Jim said:

If only they would give a d.nm about customers not being able to use their products anymore

This - exactly!

This has always been the case since TLG wondered into "computing" world - and apparently without knowing much about it. So third parties were/are involved of course, that is not the problem. However, pulling the software plug to the extent that nothing is even thinkable from their side is just so ... d.nm wrong.

Some time ago, @evank and I got in touch with TLG's "support" inquiring about a TLG licensed software package for the Interface A called "LEGO TC Controller" (copyrighted 1988, 1990, by TLG). We were also in touch with one (German) individual who actually was involved in the development process, a colleague of him (another bloody German, he was his then advisor at a German university), who both wrote a book about how to use LEGO TC controller effectively in the classroom. "TC Controller" was in essence a memory resident DOS 3.3 program (loaded upon starting the envelope software), allowing PWM controlled output manipulation of Interface A as well as fast input reading. Nothing that exciting one may think, but in contrast to TLG's "encapsulated" TC Logo, TC Controller enabled fully transparent access to PWM control from, e.g., C and PASCAL, in other words from other programming languages. I would have loved to try that with QuickBasic! Totally cool! Evan and I thought this must be a no-brainer for TLG, when 2 people, 1 from the US, 1 form Germany, are kindly asking TLG for any support in resurrecting this software, having support from two folks which were "there", back in the days. Well, they actually replied, and then it went apparently up all the way to the - what was it called - LEGO Archivist/Archive type thing/person/whatever in Denmark/Billund. Many weeks later, after asking repeatedly again, their reply was, that they are sorry, they got the reply from Billund that this software from 1990 was IP rights protection. And they were sorry for not being of any help in this case. 1990 was then 35 years in the past. IP protected. In the meantime, the two last two men standing, who worked with TC Controller and wrote the book about it (Evan scanned it and put it on the Internet Archive, it is real), are gone. One forever, the other has retired and does now things not LEGO related at all.  

So we have the book, screenshots of what was possible back then, had the contacts, were willing to drive up to Billund (well I would have done that, Billund is about 160 km away from where my mother-in-law lives), get a copy or even haul my IBM XT over there to make a DOS3.3 copy of any kind of disc - but: No, sorry, it is IP protected. 

You know, we would have had happily accepted any other reply (simply lost/destroyed any copy/too much work/too delicate to handle/whatever) - but that IP reply was so - lame.

And yes I know, big company, they can't do such things (anymore) ... well they never gave a d.mn about customers not being able to use their products anymore, when it came and comes to software.

It is what it is ... after some sleepless nights  Evan and I got over it.

Here is to all the people, who make TLG's phased out software, from the mid-1980's up to "now", available to the world.

What has changed the entire game since Poop and Spike though, is this app crap running on smart devices with 24/7 access from the outside to pull any plugs they want, anytime. Here is the thing: If they want to destroy my copy of LEGO TC Logo, they have to break into our house, find the way to the attic, fire up the IBM XT, boot into DOS 3.3, remember how to delete a file without using a mouse and trash can icon, but using a nice and shiny IBM Model F keyboard having a German layout - but the XT only a (US) CGA card (where ":" = "ö"), then find the 5 1/4 floppy disc, and steal that one. They also need to erase the Internet Archive at several places. Maybe the entire Internet, why not, while being at it. Who knows, what other IP protected LEGO software is in the wild .

All the best
Thorsten

[Jetro]

Do I sense a hint of frustration? 

You are not wrong though. One of the things that got the MCP off the ground and running for as long as it did was the old adage of "Captain" Canvin: it's better to apologise than to ask permission. 

The thing is, the old RCX software is still available (although it requires a degree in the arcane arts to get it to run) and so is the NXT and EV3 software. This newfangled RI business though doesn't even come with an installer, let alone a clear way to archive any of the files you need to import from who knows what server. LEGO just pulls the plug and looks the other way - or at least that's what thing look like ATM. 

I don't have big hopes, but the very least we can do is create a ruckus, make some noise, let them know we are disappointed with how they are handling things and demand a solution. Will we get one? Well never know if we don't try!

So how many of you have already sent an email to customer service? 

[Toastie]

I have  sent the email.

1 hour ago, Jetro said:

Do I sense a hint of frustration?

Yes and no.

Yes, because of the lost opportunities. Most of the stuff I am playing with is (call it DACTA, or whatever they came up with later, be it LEGO Education, it always >perfectly< meshed with "straight" LEGO; of course it did/does: What you play at school with can't possibly be bad at home, or should be there as well) oriented toward the educational sector. TLG's rather swift changes need teachers willing to go along with these. Some do, most don't - at least within my radar coverage that is often the case: The school secured funding, buys the sets, and then: Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters. I believe TLG makes a lot of money in that sector, and they ever did, right from the beginning. It was/is always conveyed as "educating the masses", but again the masses require a) a lot of money and b) quite the trained teachers. Another thought in this direction: The principle of sensor-controller-actuator loops hasn't changed at all. The speed has, the controller computing power has. The data inflow from other sources has. Fine. But you know what (I know of course you do ...)? They still do line followers. Since more than 30 years. Ever more precise, of course. In that regard: What is wrong using an RCX/NXT/EV3 for that task? Where all these are totally overblown?

No, because with the upcoming end of PUp, I made my choices: Going back, all the way back to LEGO Technic Control (TC). This was of course not my finding; two individuals, @evank and @alexGS pointed and directed me there. Others are pushing it here on EB and elsewhere. Not just out of nostalgia (heck, people want RC today!), but out of fascination for the opportunities. It is the beginning of teaching robotics (not robots) using LEGO. I bet that in class, this will still amaze the students (well, I know, because I am doing it). Particularly, as modern computers are still fully compatible with this technology/running these legacy programs. It is "simple", but still powerful. Maybe two weeks in the classroom to teach "control". Then happily move on to other, more powerful things. And maybe not using LEGO. There are alternatives, which are absolutely attractive as well.

1 hour ago, Jetro said:

The thing is, the old RCX software is still available (although it requires a degree in the arcane arts to get it to run) and so is the NXT and EV3 software.

Hehe - yes. I not only do I have all the legacy LEGO software running on my Win11/64 bit laptop (starting with TC Logo from 1986 running flawlessly in DOSBox-X) - I have all the PBricks up-to PUp (but not beyond) doing their "work" on my personal train layout: RCX' running PID controlled trains, RCX', Scouts (with the help of MircroScouts) operating multiple switch points, controlling RC trains, PF trains, PUp trains, and PUp controlled automated sequences for other things. The non-RF devices as RCX etc, RC, and PF got RF upgrades, and a lill interface I made talks to them all - controlled by a VB6 (I am so basic) program.

So coming back to your question: Frustration? For me, no, in contrast, I am very happy. Regarding missed opportunities: Yes. A lot.

All the best
Thorsten      

Edited Monday at 10:51 PM by Toastie

[Jetro]

15 hours ago, Toastie said:

I have  sent the email.

Yay!

15 hours ago, Toastie said:

Hehe - yes. I not only do I have all the legacy LEGO software running on my Win11/64 bit laptop (starting with TC Logo from 1986 running flawlessly in DOSBox-X) - I have all the PBricks up-to PUp (but not beyond) doing their "work" on my personal train layout: RCX' running PID controlled trains, RCX', Scouts (with the help of MircroScouts) operating multiple switch points, controlling RC trains, PF trains, PUp trains, and PUp controlled automated sequences for other things. The non-RF devices as RCX etc, RC, and PF got RF upgrades, and a lill interface I made talks to them all - controlled by a VB6 (I am so basic) program.

When I get some time I may need to ask you for some guidance: I have moved to a new Windows 11 laptop. I'd love to get my RCXs and Scouts back up and running and I also have a Dacta Control Center waiting to be used again!!

[AVCampos]

16 minutes ago, Jetro said:

I'd love to get my RCXs and Scouts back up and running

I haven't tried it on Windows 11 yet, but BricxCC was working fine on 10 last time I tried it.

[Toastie]

@Jetro and @AVCampos

Yes, migrated years ago from Win10/64 to Win11/64 and BricxCC with me ;) So all RCX', Scouts, Spybots, CyberMasters, and the NXT as well.

This write-up 

works as well on Win11/64, as everything is still up and running after upgrading to Win11, when Microsoft told me to ;) Note that the USB tower support is gone, as there is no 64bit USB driver - nowhere. From time to time rumors come up, but as of today for the last decade I failed to find/make/use such a driver. Any USB2Ser adapter and the serial LEGO tower will do. Just make sure that the COM port for the adapter has a number < 9 assigned in device manager; if not, BricxCC does not find the serial tower. 

I am strongly recommending DOSBos-X (not DOSBox) for running LEGO software from the ancient days in Win11/64. DOSBox-X is totally stand alone and runs as a self contained Windows program. No dual boot, nothing. Just click on DOSBox-X and 5 seconds later you have a DOS3.3 - DOS7.1 (select as you need) window, can install Windows 3.11 or the like if you wish and so forth. This means the QBasic, Turbo Pascal, Turbo C and all that old stuff works as well and you have full access to the serial port.

Control Center I/II have their own brain, but with a little hardware hack, you can safe and load programs from/to CCI/II, has been described on EB as well - using QBasic   

Thus, LEGO TC Control, LEGO Control Lab for DOS, LEGO Lines all work fine, software-wise. Note though that the parallel port is not available (of course not as the hardware support is gone since long), but the COM port emulation in DOSBox-X mimicking a serial port is flawlessly working. In other words if you use a USB2Ser adapter, LEGO Interface B runs fine with the original Control Lab for DOS software, with the entire LEGO Logo implementation behind it, not just turning outputs on/off. LEGO Interface A needs a super-simple Arduino Nano/Pico (or any other type) based serial-to-parallel interface, described here on EB as well as the serial version of LEGO TC control @alexGS has provided us with, as well described on EB.

So, if I can be of any further help, just let me know. I am a DOS/Windows person; it all began with DOS4.0 through every Win version ever available. I skipped Win Millennium as well as Win8/8.1 but that was it ...

All the best
Thorsten 

Edited Tuesday at 02:55 PM by Toastie

[vascolp]

On 3/23/2026 at 1:07 PM, Pybricks said:

We would love to help The LEGO Group support MINDSTORMS and other products like Powered Up at the end of their lifecycle.

The MINDSTORMS Inventor Hub is already fully supported in Pybricks, and we could rebuild the example projects to go with it.

Some features are currently only available to Pybricks supporters, to help make it all possible. But with some support from LEGO, we could open this up to everyone. What do you think?

I would love this. 
 

LEGO should have only one seamless environment for everything:

• Pybricks like for programmers
• A configuration tool for those who do not want to program, a bit like RemoteBlaBla, but on the hub side it should be at firmware level, not a Pybricks program as RemoteBlaBla is now.
• Support for modern remotes (Pybricks connection to Xbox Remotes is very cool), but notice that although not fantastic, the Lego PU Remote is better than PF ones.
• Eventually support for more powerful motors (although I guess LEGO is against it because they can damage lego parts).
• All the new devices could be included in this seamless environment, which would evolve to include them while maintaning backwards compatibility.

Pybricks is the closest thing we have to this.

Edited Tuesday at 08:16 PM by vascolp
typos

[Jetro]

Agreed!

Don't forget to.email LEGO about this. Let's see if an avalanche of related requests / demands creates an effect. 

[vascolp]

14 minutes ago, Jetro said:

Don't forget to.email LEGO about this. Let's see if an avalanche of related requests / demands creates an effect. 

Done!

[Jetro]

@Toastie I need to dig out my USB to Serial adapter. I have used BrickCC extensively, but it has been a while. 

So cool to hear about DOSBos-X. I'm curious to see if that will also allow me to run the Cybermaster Software of the Spybotics CD. I'd love to see those again. 

My Dacta control lab serial interface is gathering dust in a box - need to figure out how to use that again. I'll be scouring the forum for information

[Toastie]

1 hour ago, Jetro said:

Cybermaster Software of the Spybotics CD

Wait - there is the Spybotics CD with the Spybotics software - and the Cybermaster CD with the Cybermaster software ;)

I'd try to install them on Win11 in "compatibility mode" (just select XP) - it almost always works. And if not, then install WinXYZ on DOSBox-X ;)

Control Lab: Just use DOSBox-X, install Control Lab for DOS and there you go. Original software is available on the Internet Archive.

If you want to go "fully modern", see @Bliss and @maehw threads and posts here on EB. They go crazy (cool).

All the best
Thorsten