On January 14, 2020, Windows 7 will be discontinued - meaning Microsoft will stop security updates and support for PCs running Windows 7. So now is the time to upgrade to Windows 10.
What happens when Windows 7 stops?
End of support means that Microsoft will no longer provide the following support to your business:
- No technical support
- No software updates
- No security updates
If you continue to use Windows 7 after support has stopped, your PC will still work, but it will become significantly more vulnerable to security risks such as viruses and hacker attacks.
The lack of security updates makes your PC a popular target for hackers who can quickly scan a network for devices with old operating systems and exploit the open security holes.
Update to Windows 10
Microsoft strongly recommends that you upgrade before January 2020 and switch to new PCs running Windows 10. If you have recently replaced your PCs, it is also possible to upgrade the operating system alone. In any case, it's about avoiding a situation where devices on your network pose a risk to your company's IT security.
Need help?
Do you have Windows 7 devices on your network? Not sure which upgrade solution would be best for your business? Contact us and let's talk about the possibilities.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can upgrade compatible Windows 7 PCs based on These requirements with a full license. To take advantage of the latest hardware functionalities, we recommend switching to a new PC with Windows 10.
You can continue using Windows 7, but when support ends, your PC becomes more vulnerable to security risks. Windows will work, but you will no longer receive security and feature updates.
Windows 7 can still be installed and activated after support has ended. However, to avoid security-related risks and viruses, Microsoft recommends that you consider upgrading to Windows 10.
Support for Internet Explorer on Windows 7 devices will end on January 14, 2020. As a component of the Windows operating system, Internet Explorer follows the same support lifecycle.
Microsoft 365 Business includes a free upgrade for users who have a Pro license for Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 on their device. With the purchase of Microsoft 365 Business your users can upgrade all their devices with old Windows Pro licenses at no extra cost.
There are several elements of the Windows Embedded 7 product family that have a different support lifecycle. The earliest support end date is January 14, 2020 and the rest will follow. For more information, please see Product lifecycle page.
For Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Enterprise users, you can purchase Extended Security Updates until January 2023. To read an in-depth FAQ session about Windows 7 Extended Security Updates, download Frequently asked questions about Microsoft discontinuation of support.
Your experience may be different depending on the Office version you are using. Learn more under End of support for Windows 7 and Office 365 ProPlus.