Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to transition users from Windows 10 to Windows 11 have met with mixed results. While recent data indicates a growing number of users have made the switch to Windows 11, a significant portion of the user base remains loyal to the older operating system. In a strategic move, Microsoft is now nudging these holdouts towards an upgrade by altering the availability of new features within Microsoft 365.
Windows 10 holdouts will stop getting new features for Microsoft 365
According to a recent update from Microsoft, once the stable version 2608 of Microsoft 365 is released, users on Windows 10 will no longer receive any new features. Instead, they will be limited to security updates only, with this arrangement lasting until October 10, 2028. This date marks the end of extended security support for Windows 10 itself.
And they’ll lose all support in October 2028
As highlighted by Windows Latest, Microsoft has detailed these changes in a document available on its Learn website. The document outlines the future of Microsoft 365 for Windows 10 users, emphasizing that:
Devices running Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 will receive feature updates and Copilot support (where eligible) until Version 2608 is released. Devices will remain on Version 2608, receiving only security updates until October 10, 2028.
This means that once version 2608 is live, Windows 10 machines will be restricted to security updates, effectively halting any new feature rollouts. However, there is a notable exception: the OneDrive desktop app will continue to receive updates until October 2028, but only for users operating on Windows 10 version 22H2. Those on older versions will not benefit from these updates.
The pressing question now is when version 2608 will officially launch. Currently, the stable branch of Microsoft 365 is running version 2607, while version 2608 is progressing through the release preview channel. Once it reaches stable status, Windows 10 users will find themselves on a security-only update path, with no new features until the end of support in late 2028.
