This archive report was first published on 15 January 2020.
January 14th, 2020, marked the end of an era for Windows 7, as Microsoft officially ended its support for the operating system. This means that while PCs running Windows 7 will still function, Microsoft will no longer provide technical support, software updates, or security fixes.
Despite the end of support, millions of PCs are still running on Windows 7, with the operating system still holding a significant 26% market share. This has left many users vulnerable to security vulnerabilities and exploits.
Microsoft had been notifying users about the end of support since 2019, but it appears that many users have yet to upgrade to Windows 10. The company is still trying to convince existing users to make the switch, but it may take another year or two for Windows 7 to fall below 10% market share.
Google has committed to supporting Chrome on Windows 7 until at least mid-2021, which may give Microsoft some time to consider an upgrade. Businesses and education users will be able to pay for extended security updates, but this could be a costly venture for some.
Extended updates for Windows 7 Enterprise will cost approximately $25 per machine in 2020, doubling to $50 per device in 2021 and again to $100 in 2022. For Windows 7 Pro users, the update starts at $50 per machine and jumps to $100 in 2021 and $200 in 2022.
Microsoft is easing the costs with a free year of post-retirement updates to Windows 7 for customers with active Windows 10 subscriptions. As noted on the Microsoft Support website, "We know change can be difficult. So we are here to help you with recommendations for what to do next. We will answer any questions about the end of support."
