Approximately 700 million PC users currently find themselves navigating the uncertain waters of what can be termed “Windows Limboland.” Microsoft has recently reversed its decision to terminate support for Windows 10 in October, now offering a complimentary 12-month extension. However, the situation is more nuanced than it appears, as Microsoft has issued a cautionary note.
Transitioning to Windows 11
The tech giant has informed Microsoft 365 users that while applications such as Word will remain operational post the end of Windows 10 support, utilizing an unsupported operating system may lead to performance and reliability challenges. This development underscores that the general support for Windows 10 is still set to conclude in October, with the extensions primarily designed to facilitate a smoother transition.
For enterprise users, Microsoft emphasizes the importance of migrating to Windows 11. The company states, “if your organization is using Microsoft 365 Apps on devices running Windows 10, those devices should move to Windows 11.”
However, the situation is not as dire as it may initially seem. Microsoft reassures users that to uphold security during the transition to Windows 11, it will continue to provide security updates for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 for three years following the end of support. This means that users can avoid the most significant pitfalls until October 2028, although they will be working with a static version of the applications they are accustomed to.
Microsoft 365 on Windows 10 will only receive feature updates until specific deadlines:
- August 2026 for Current Channel (including individuals and families)
- October 13, 2026 for Monthly Enterprise Channel
- January 12, 2027 for Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel
This timeline indicates that significant changes are expected before the conclusion of the newly announced 12-month support extension. This aligns with earlier warnings from Microsoft and various government agencies urging the 700 million users still on Windows 10 to consider the free upgrade promptly.
Nevertheless, a considerable number of PCs—estimated to be between 240 and 400 million—are not eligible for the upgrade. As such, the focus must shift toward finding solutions to maintain secure systems for these users.
