Microsoft has made a significant commitment to its M365 applications, announcing that it will continue to provide security updates for users on Windows 10 until October 10, 2028. This assurance comes in the wake of the impending end of official support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, unless users opt for an extended support package.
Continued Support for Microsoft 365 Subscribers
A recent notice from the tech giant, issued with minimal publicity, clarifies that Microsoft 365 subscribers on Windows 10 will still receive essential security patches for applications such as Word and Excel through standard channels. However, there are important caveats to consider.
If the customer is unable to move to Windows 11, support will provide troubleshooting assistance only.
Subscribers will still be able to raise support issues related to their 365 apps on Windows 10. Yet, after the cut-off date, if a problem arises that is exclusive to Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 and does not occur on Windows 11, Microsoft will encourage users to upgrade to the latest operating system. The bulletin states, “If the issue occurs only with Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10, with or without Windows 10 Extended Security Updates, and doesn’t occur on Windows 11, support will ask the customer to move to Windows 11.”
For those unable to transition to Windows 11, support will be limited to troubleshooting assistance, with technical workarounds potentially unavailable. Notably, support incidents for Microsoft 365 Apps running on Windows 10 will not include options for logging bugs or requesting product updates.
Challenges with Transitioning to Windows 11
The transition to Windows 11 has not been met with enthusiasm among users, particularly due to the hardware requirements that the new operating system demands. In an era of tightening budgets, the prospect of purchasing new computers solely to accommodate the latest OS poses a significant challenge, especially for corporate IT managers overseeing large fleets of devices.
Feedback from users on forums indicates frustration, particularly among Surface device owners. The list of unsupported hardware includes the first and second generation Surface Books, all iterations of the Surface Pro from 1 to 5, as well as the initial versions of the Surface Laptop, Go, and Studio.
According to Statcounter, Windows 10 currently holds a commanding global desktop market share of 53 percent, while Windows 11 lags behind at 44 percent, despite being available for four years. A small but notable segment of users remains loyal to Windows 7, accounting for 2 percent, with the remainder comprised of Windows 8 and XP systems that are often embedded or deemed irreplaceable.
