Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users must upgrade to Windows 11 before security support ends.
If you’re using Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, there’s some bad news. On January 10, Microsoft will end support for all security updates. However, this news affects those who paid for Microsoft’s Extended Security Update program, which allowed users of these operating systems to extend security support by three years in early 2020. Microsoft had already withdrawn security support for these operating systems for ordinary users in 2020. Since then, the company had urged people to upgrade to Windows 10 or Windows 11.
The January 10 deadline coincides with the release date of Microsoft Edge 109, the last version of the browser to support Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. The browser continues to work even after support has ended, but it is prone to bugs and security issues. Support for the WebView2 tool will also end on January 10th.
Support of Windows 7, Windows 8.1 will be completely discontinued
Along with the Edge, Google Chrome will also end support for these browsers for its future releases. Those who run their PCs with these operating systems need to update the operating system or rather the PC.
“Microsoft will not offer an Extended Security Update (ESU) program for Windows 8.1. Continued use of Windows 8.1 after January 10, 2023 may increase an organization’s exposure to security risks or impact its ability to meet compliance obligations,” Microsoft said.
This presents millions of users with a daunting task of upgrading their systems to a newer PC or Windows. Microsoft is currently selling Windows 11 as the latest version. Windows 11 has been around since late 2021, bringing several improvements and features to help modern PC users. Aside from a revamped user interface, Windows 11 also offers Android app support through its Microsoft Store, which allows users to run multiple Android apps directly on the PC. However, Windows 11 requires a TPM module and newer processors than 8th Gen Intel chips, which is why it won’t run on older PCs.
