Microsoft Ends Support for Windows 7 & 8.1: All You Need to Know

Microsoft has discontinued its support for Windows 7 and 8.1. Microsoft 7 and 8.1 users will no longer be able to get security and bug fixes for these Windows versions going forward.

End of Support for Windows 7 & 8.1

Microsoft stops releasing security patches, bug fixes, or other updates for an operating system when it stops supporting it.

As a result, computers running these operating systems will not receive any updates to ensure that they function effectively with the most recent drivers, nor will they be protected from new threats.

In fact, mainstream support for Windows 7, which came out in 2009, ended in 2015. However, Microsoft extended it until 2020 due to its popularity.

In order to give business users more time to upgrade to Windows 10 or 11, it extended security updates for Windows 7 until 2023.

However, mainstream support for Windows 8.1, which debuted in 2013, ended in 2018. Again, Microsoft extended support for Windows 8.1 until 2023 to give customers time to upgrade.

However, Microsoft was unlikely to provide additional extensions for its support because Windows 8 was an unpopular operating system with fewer users than its predecessor.

It is high time that users upgrade to Windows 10 or 11, as Microsoft no longer provides updates for these two operating systems. They will be able to guarantee their computers' safety and smooth operation in this manner.

What with the computers still running Windows 7 or 8.1?

You should upgrade to Windows 10 if either of these operating systems are still installed on your computer. Fortunately, Windows 10 upgrades are still free from Microsoft. Additionally, since Windows 7 and Windows 10 share the same set of system requirements, you won't need to upgrade your hardware.

Alternately, you can upgrade to a free Windows alternative instead of Windows 7. Linux, Chromium OS, FreeBSD, and others are all options.

There are likely to be a number of issues if you decide to stick with Windows 7 or 8.1. Some of the problems you might run into are as follows:

1. Your computer's security may be compromised

The most significant problem with the absence of security updates is that your data is more susceptible to attack. Anything saved on your computer, including files, financial data, and personal information, can be stolen or leaked online without the security patches.

2. You Can't Use the Latest Versions of Chromium-Based Browsers Anymore

Chrome 109 is the final version of Chrome that will support Windows 7 and 8.1, according to Google's announcement in Google Chrome Help. You can no longer use the most recent versions of Chrome-based browsers.

Older versions of Chrome and Edge can still be used, but they won't have the most recent security features. Additionally, you can anticipate that older browsers will become increasingly unstable as newer versions are released by companies.

3. You Can't Play Some of the Latest Apps and Games

Despite the fact that most apps and games are designed to run on the cheapest hardware, older operating systems typically can't run newer, more powerful software. You can play popular games like Counterstrike for instance: Dota 2 and Global Offensive on Windows 7 and 8.1.