Upcoming Windows 10 Support Changes and Microsoft’s Extended Commitment
With less than six months remaining until the end of support for Windows 10, Microsoft has made significant announcements regarding software compatibility and ongoing support for its applications. Notably, this has sparked the launch of a Linux-backed initiative called “End of 10, ”which aims to assist users in transitioning to alternative operating systems.
Key Changes for Microsoft 365 Apps
In January, Microsoft disclosed that applications within Microsoft 365 (M365) – including popular tools such as Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, Word, and Excel – would no longer be supported on Windows 10 following the OS’s end-of-support date. The company stated:
Microsoft 365 Apps will no longer be supported after October 14, 2025, on Windows 10 devices. To use Microsoft 365 Applications on your device, you will need to upgrade to Windows 11.
Reversal of the Initial Decision
Recently, Microsoft revised its stance regarding M365 apps, announcing in a blog post on the Tech Community platform that these applications will remain supported on Windows 10 for an additional three years, extending support until 2028.
4.24.2025: Microsoft 365 Apps running on Windows 10 will continue to receive security updates for three years after Windows 10 end of support.
Details on the Extended Support
The updated support documents clarify this prolonged support, while still urging users to migrate to Windows 11. According to the company’s information, even though applications like Word will function post-end of support, employing an unsupported OS can lead to diminished performance and reliability when utilizing Microsoft 365 Apps. The document elaborates:
Although apps such as Word will continue to work after Windows 10 reaches end of support, using an unsupported operating system can cause performance and reliability issues when running Microsoft 365 Apps. If your organization is using Microsoft 365 Apps on devices running Windows 10, those devices should move to Windows 11.
To help maintain security while you transition to Windows 11, Microsoft will continue providing security updates for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 for three years after Windows 10 reaches end of support. These updates will be delivered through the standard update channels, ending on October 10, 2028.
Encouragement to Upgrade for Improved Performance
Another updated support article reiterated the importance of upgrading to Windows 11 to mitigate potential performance and reliability challenges with Microsoft 365 applications:
Support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025. After that date, if you’re running Microsoft 365 Apps on a Windows 10 device, the applications will continue to function as before. However, we strongly recommend upgrading to Windows 11 to avoid performance and reliability issues over time.
In the interest of maintaining your security while you upgrade to Windows 11, we will continue providing security updates for Microsoft 365 on Windows 10 for a total of three years after Windows 10 end of support, ending on October 10, 2028.
Conclusion: A Thoughtful Decision from Microsoft
This extended support demonstrates Microsoft’s understanding of the challenges many users face in upgrading to Windows 11, particularly given the stringent system requirements associated with the newer operating system.
For more information on this topic, visit the official Microsoft blog: Microsoft Tech Community.
Additional details can be found on Neowin: Neowin Article.
Related Articles:
Prevent Microsoft From Slowing Down Your Windows 10 PC—Follow These Steps Instead
14:08
Discover how a clean install of Windows 11 can enhance your PC performance
9:11
Microsoft Weekly Update: Build 2025 Insights, New Xbox Games for PS5, and Revamped Windows 95 Wallpapers
8:03
Leave a Reply ▼