14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 7 is close to exiting the third and final year of extended security updates, but Microsoft is also getting ready to kill off another Windows version.
Windows 8.1 is projected to reach the end of support on January 10, so customers are now recommended to upgrade to a newer version of the operating system as soon as possible.
As Neowin notes, Microsoft is recommending Windows 8.1 users to upgrade to Windows 11, which essentially means that customers need to purchase a new computer. This is because the system requirements of Windows 11 don’t allow the operating system to run on a device that launched in the Windows 8.1 era, so new hardware would almost definitely be needed.
“Change can be difficult, but we’re here to help you take the next steps. After 10 January 2023, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or technical support for Windows 8.1. You might be able to upgrade your Windows 8.1 device to a newer version of Windows, but we recommend moving to a new PC that can run Windows 11 as the best option,” Microsoft explains.
Worth knowing, however, is that Windows 8.1 will continue to run on the devices where it’s installed.
The bigger concern is that Windows 8.1 would no longer receive further security patches, which means that any vulnerabilities discovered in the operating system would just be left unfixed.
“Support for Windows 8.1 is discontinued, but the software will continue to function. However, after 10 January 2023, your computer running Windows 8.1 will no longer receive security updates. In addition, Microsoft customer service will no longer be available to provide Windows 8.1 technical support,” Microsoft says.
While no such information has been offered, there’s a good chance that Windows 8.1 has a rather small market share, as only a few devices are still running it today.