14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft will retire Windows 8.1 in January next year, with the company to therefore focus entirely on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
With Windows 10 also set to reach the end of the support in 2025, it’s pretty clear the future is all about Windows 11, and this is why Microsoft urges everybody to get new devices capable of making the most of its latest operating system.
In an advisory this week, Microsoft tells Windows 8.1 users that the best way to handle the upcoming end of support is to get a new device that runs Windows 11.
This is because that devices that launched specifically to run Windows 8.1 are already a decade old, so dealing with the requirements of a modern platform like Windows 11 is pretty difficult.
“PCs originally built with Windows 8.1 are designed with technology that is about 10 years old. Once you move to a new PC, there will be many aspects of Windows that you will find familiar, but also with important software and hardware innovations and capabilities that were not available a decade ago,” Microsoft says.
“While you could continue to use a PC running Windows 8.1, without continued software and security updates, your PC will be at greater risk for viruses and malware. We recommend upgrading to a version of Windows that is still supported. A new device that can run Windows 11 makes for an easy transition and a great experience.”
The end of support
Furthermore, Microsoft claims Windows 11 is much more secure than Windows 8.1, as it comes with the latest security improvements that it developed.
“Windows 11 is the most secure Windows ever built, with comprehensive end-to-end security that covers antivirus, firewall, internet protections, and more. This means more security features, dashboard displays, and ongoing updates to help safeguard against future threats—all built-in at no extra cost,” it says.
At this point, the vast majority of users are currently running Windows 10 and Windows 11, so not a lot of users are likely to be impacted by the end of life of Windows 8.1.