Windows 10's End-of-Life Approaches
Microsoft announced a while ago that Windows 10 will only be supported free of charge until October 14, 2025. Despite this, the transition to its successor, Windows 11, is taking place at a slow pace.
In Germany alone, approximately 32 million PCs are still running on Windows 10, according to calculations by security provider Eset. A similar situation exists in other countries.
Hardware Requirements and the Delay
One reason for this slow transition is that although upgrading to Windows 11 is free, there are stricter hardware requirements. Studies by Lansweeper suggest that around 50 percent of computers in Germany do not meet these requirements.
This means many users will be left with functional but unsupported operating systems. The switch to Windows 11 becomes even more complicated when considering the need for a device to meet specific hardware standards, which not all machines fulfill.
Microsoft-365 Apps and the End of Support
To encourage users to upgrade to Windows 11, Microsoft recently announced in a blog post that Microsoft-365 apps will no longer be supported on Windows 10 devices after October 14, 2025. This statement has since been deleted without correction or explanation.
However, a support page updated in December reveals what Microsoft was actually trying to communicate. It emphasizes the importance of upgrading to Windows 11 for optimal performance and reliability of Microsoft-365 apps, but does not mandate an immediate switch.
No Immediate Need to Switch
Microsoft clarifies that while Microsoft-365 apps will no longer be supported under Windows 10 after October 14, 2025, they will continue to work. However, users are advised against this, due to potential performance and reliability issues in the long run.
The reasoning behind this is rooted in Microsoft's Modern Lifecycle Policy, which requires customers to keep their product or service up-to-date according to maintenance and system requirements. It further emphasizes that Microsoft-365 must be used on a Windows operating system for which support is currently provided.
Office Versions with One-Time License
The situation is clearer for Office versions purchased under a one-time license, as they fall under the Fixed Lifecycle Policy. These include "Office Home & Student", "Office Home & Business" or "Office Professional Plus". They will continue to be fully supported under Windows 10 — unless their end of support is reached.
Support for Office 2016 and 2019, just like Windows 10 itself, ends at the same time.