Microsoft has officially ended support for Windows 7. So, unless you’re a company willing to pay for continued support, it’s time to move on from Windows 7. And if you don’t then you’ll be stuck using an increasingly unsafe operating system. The choice is yours.
A History of Windows 7 Support
Windows 7 was initially released in 2009. It proved to be very popular, being treated as the spiritual successor to Windows XP. However, Microsoft has since moved on, first to Windows 8, and then to Windows 10, which arrived on the scene in 2015.
Mainstream support for Windows 7 ended that same year, with Microsoft encouraging everyone to upgrade to Windows 10 (for free, for a time). However, Microsoft has continued delivering security updates to Windows 7 to keep everyone safe. Until now.
The End Is Nigh for Windows 7
On January 14, 2020, Windows 7 hit its end of life. This means that both mainstream support and extended support have ended, and Microsoft no longer supports Windows 7. The one exception being businesses running Windows 7 Professional or Enterprise.
Windows 7 PCs the day after support ended. #windows7 pic.twitter.com/F5SY6bs8Sa
— Baz (@doomedbaz) January 14, 2020
To be clear, this doesn’t mean your Windows 7 PC is going to stop working. On the contrary, you should be able to continue using it exactly as you have been doing. However, Microsoft will no longer be issuing patches, even for major security issues.
What this means is that the longer you continue using Windows 7, the more the risk rises. Also, over time, developers will end support for Windows 7, which means some of your favorite software will no longer work on Windows 7. Just as happened with Windows XP.
How to Upgrade From Windows 7
If you want to carry on using Windows 7, then you do so at your own risk. However, we suggest moving onwards and upwards, whether that’s by upgrading to Windows 10, buying a new PC with Windows 10 on it, switching to macOS, or by installing Linux.
The key is not to panic, as all operating systems eventually reach their end of life. If you want to explore this subject further, read our tips for coping with the end of Windows 7 and/or discover the best ways to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10.
Image Credit: Imilyas/Flickr
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