Microsoft is Ending Support For Windows 7, Recommends Windows 10 Upgrade

Nathan Ernest Olupot January 15, 2019

1 minute read

Two users, one the left pictured using Windows 7 and the other on the right using Windows 10 on a laptop and tablet respectively. (Photo Courtesy: Microsoft)

Redmond-based software firm, Microsoft Corp. has revealed it will end its support for Windows 7 in Jan. 14th, 2020. Meaning the software company won’t release any more updates and security fixes after the due date. It’s worthy knowing that Microsoft closed the official forum support for Windows 7 in June 2018, effectively pulling the plugs from the Microsoft Community Forum.

The operating system (OS) was released on July 22nd, 2009, and made available on Oct. 22nd, 2009. Microsoft thinks the OS has had enough and have decided to lay it to rest after 10 years of operations. Meanwhile, its extended support has been detailed on the company’s Windows lifecycle fact sheet.

Microsoft has urged all users currently running Windows 7 on their devices to upgrade to Windows 10 lest they risk being targeted by malware or cyber-attacks due to the paucity of security fixes. Meanwhile, Microsoft will continue to provide security updates to only business customers but not to individual users.

The Redmond-based software firm in Sep. 2018 announced it will offer paid Windows 7 Extended Security Updates (ESU) till Jan. 2023—charging a hefty premium for it as the ESU for enterprise customers will be doled out on a per-device basis and the pricing will increase with each passing year.

The ESU will be available to only Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Enterprise users who sign up for volume licensing agreements.

It is worthy knowing that Windows 7 was the most widely used desktop operating systems—before Windows 10 took over its spot in 2018. ZDNet reported NetMarketShare’s December 2018 report that showed 39.2% of the machines they collect data from used Windows 10, while 36.9% used Windows 7.