14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just announced that Windows 7, which is projected to reach the end of support on January 14, will begin showing full-screen upgrade notifications on the desktop.
These messages are specifically supposed to warn users that Windows 7 no longer receives support and will encourage them to upgrade to a newer version of Windows 10.
The notification will start showing up on January 15, one day after Windows 7 receives the last batch of security updates.
Microsoft explains that Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, and Windows 7 Ultimate with Service Pack 1 will all display the notification.
Users can block the notification
The good news is that users will be allowed to dismiss the message, and Microsoft will provide options to either show it again at a later time or block the notification completely. A learn more link will also be included for users who want to read more information about the Windows 7 end of support and upgrade options.
“Starting on January 15, 2020, a full-screen notification will appear that describes the risk of continuing to use Windows 7 Service Pack 1 after it reaches end of support on January 14, 2020. The notification will remain on the screen until you interact with it,” Microsoft says.
Additionally, the company explains that the notification won’t be displayed on domain-joined computers or machines in kiosk mode. If Extended Security Updates have been purchased for Windows 7 Pro, the warning would be blocked by default.
Windows 7 is currently the second most-used Windows version with a market share of around 25 percent. This means that 1 in 4 computers running Windows are powered by Windows 7, nearly one month before its end of support. Microsoft recommends users to switch to Windows 10 for increased security and continued updates.