Windows 10 EOL Date
You have until October 14, 2025 to keep using Windows 10 and continue receiving at least some sort of support from Microsoft for it. However, the company announced in November 2021 that it will only release feature updates after version 21H2 (the Windows 10 November 2021 Update) annually in the second half of the year via the General Availability Channel. The next Windows 10 feature update is slated for the second half of 2022. Home and Pro editions of the November 2021 Update will only receive 18 months of servicing and support, and Enterprise and Education editions will receive 30 months of servicing and support after November 2021. After that, Microsoft says it will continue to support at least one annual Windows 10 release until October 2025.
What Does End of Life Mean?
Previous versions of Windows were subject to Microsoft’s software lifecycle, which basically means that every product has a set start and end date. The term ’end of life’ means that, at some point, support for the product will end. Users can still use the product but the company won’t be involved or provide support if something goes wrong after that end date.
How Is Windows 10 Different from Earlier Versions?
Windows 10 was developed as a ‘software as a service’ application (SAAS), meaning users didn’t have to worry about installing new versions or updates. Similar to a web browser, Microsoft updates Windows 10 periodically without any attention or effort on your part. These updates include regular improvements meant to make Windows easier to use. This SAAS concept initially was understood to mean that Windows 10 would live on indefinitely. However, the release of Windows 11 in the fall of 2021 upended that thought. If you’ve been using Windows 10 for some time, you’ve likely noticed major or minor updates every few weeks. Now, you’ll simply see them annually instead until 2025. Don’t feel forced into upgrading to Windows 11 right now but do realize the day is coming when you might need to.
