Microsoft has ended mainstream support for Windows 8.1, more than five years after its debut.
The operating system, which was offered as a free upgrade to Windows 8 users, has moved to the extended support phase, in which it will continue to receive updates, albeit in a more limited fashion.
How much longer will Windows 8.1 be supported?
According to Microsoft, Windows 8.1 Extended Support will end five years from today, on January 10th, 2023. At that point, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates (except in extremely rare situations).
Is Windows 8.1 still safe to use?
If you’re still running Windows 8, you’re using an unsupported operating system and need to upgrade to 8.1 as soon as possible to stay safe. Just like on Windows XP, support for Windows 8 (not 8.1) was discontinued at the start of 2016, meaning it isn’t receiving security updates anymore.
Is Windows Phone 8.1 still supported?
Microsoft will continue its existing support for Windows Phone 8.1 until the end of support date of July 11, 2017. Windows 10 Mobile’s various branches (Threshold, Redstone, etc.) each have 24 month support on a rolling programme, while Windows Phone 8.1 was originally specced with a 36 month support window.
How long will Windows 7 Embedded be supported?
As long as Microsoft patches vulnerabilities that could become security risks, Windows 7 remains a safe operating system. Microsoft doesn’t plan to stop fixing security problems in Windows 7 until extended support ends. That’s January 14, 2020–five years and a day from the end of mainstream support.
Is Windows 8 Pro still supported?
“Windows 8.1 falls under the same lifecycle policy as Windows 8, and will reach end of Mainstream Support on January 9, 2018, and end of Extended Support on January 10, 2023. Microsoft no longer supports ‘Windows 8.1’.
Is Windows 8.1 upgrade still available?
If you already have Windows 8, and you waited for the official release date, installing Windows 8.1 is as simple as visiting the Windows Store and downloading the free update. If you upgrade from Windows 8.1 Preview, however, you will lose your installed apps, unless you first run a cversion.ini removal utility.
Does anyone still use Windows 8?
When Windows 8.1 was released in October 2013, Microsoft made it clear to Windows 8 customers that they had two years to upgrade. Microsoft said then it would no longer support the old version of the operating system by 2016. Windows 8 customers can still use their computers.
How much longer will Windows 10 be supported?
The terms closely follow Microsoft’s pattern for other recent operating systems, continuing the policy of five years of mainstream support and 10 years of extended support. Mainstream support for Windows 10 will continue until Oct. 13, 2020, and extended support ends on Oct. 14, 2025.
Should I update from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10?
If you have a PC running a “genuine” copy of Windows 7/8/8.1 (properly licensed and activated), you can follow the same steps I did to upgrade it to Windows 10. To get started, go to the Download Windows 10 webpage and click the Download tool now button. After the download completes, run the Media Creation Tool.
Is Windows Phone still usable?
Just a reminder for those still using Windows Phones: Microsoft is ending its support of the Windows 10 Mobile platform on December 10, 2019. But in a support notice updated this week, Microsoft also revealed that it will continue supporting device backups for settings and some, unnamed apps until March 10, 2020.
How long will Windows phones be supported?
After Microsoft pulls support in December, device backups for settings and some apps will continue for three months until March 10th, 2020. Microsoft notes “some services including photo uploads and restoring a device from an existing device backup may continue to work for up to another 12 months from end of support.”
Are Windows phones still supported?
Microsoft announced the end of support for Windows Phone. Microsoft announced that after December 10, 2019, there won’t be any new security updates and various hotfixes. Three months after that date, some apps will still work, but after March 10, 2020, remaining services will be shut down.
Is Win 7 still supported?
Microsoft will no longer provide security updates for Windows 7 as of January 14, 2020, which is one year away. There are two ways to get around this date, but they’ll cost you. One year from today — on January 14, 2020 — Microsoft’s support for Windows 7 will cease.
Is Windows 7 still better than Windows 10?
Despite all the new features in Windows 10, Windows 7 still does have better app compatibility. While Photoshop, Google Chrome, and other popular application continue to work on both Windows 10 and Windows 7, some old third-party pieces of software work better on the older operating system.
Can I keep using Windows 7?
When Windows 7 reaches its End of Life on January 14 2020, Microsoft will no longer support the aging operating system, which means anyone using Windows 7 could be at risk as there will be no more free security patches.
When did Microsoft stop supporting Windows 8?
Windows 8.1. What is the Lifecycle Policy for Windows 8.1? Windows 8.1 falls under the same lifecycle policy as Windows 8, and will reach end of Mainstream Support on January 9, 2018, and end of Extended Support on January 10, 2023.
Can I upgrade from Windows 8?
While you can no longer use the “Get Windows 10” tool to upgrade from within Windows 7, 8, or 8.1, it is still possible to download Windows 10 installation media from Microsoft and then provide a Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 key when you install it.
Was there a Windows 8?
Windows 8 (also sometimes referred to as Windows 8 (Core) to distinguish from the OS itself) is the basic edition of Windows for the IA-32 and x64 architectures. Windows RT is only available pre-installed on ARM-based devices such as tablet PCs.
Are Windows 8 and 8.1 the same?
In simple terms windows 8.1 is the refined version of windows 8. Windows 8.1 replaces the menu key,which was not present in the earlier windows 8. However win 8.1 supports most of the software applications compared to windows 8(The main advantage). Windows 8.1 is a major update of Windows 8.
What year did Windows 8.1 come out?
2013,
What is the latest Windows 8.1 update?
Windows 8.1 Update was first made publicly available on April 8, 2014 and is currently the most recent major update to Windows 8. Microsoft is not planning a Windows 8.1 Update 2 or Windows 8.2 update. New Windows 8 features, when they’re developed, will be provided with other updates on Patch Tuesday.
Can Windows 8.1 still be upgraded to Windows 10 for free?
You can still upgrade to Windows 10 for free in 2019. The short answer is No. Windows users can still upgrade to Windows 10 without shelling out $119. The assistive technologies upgrade page still exist and is fully functional.
Should I upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 8?
If you’re running (real) Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 on a traditional PC. If you’re running Windows 8 and you can, you should update to 8.1 anyway. In terms of third-party support, Windows 8 and 8.1 will be such a ghost town that it’s well worth doing the upgrade, and doing so while the Windows 10 option is free.
How much does it cost to upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10?
Since its official release a year ago, Windows 10 has been a free upgrade to Windows 7 and 8.1 users. When that freebie ends today, you technically will be forced to shell out $119 for the regular edition of Windows 10 and $199 for the Pro flavor if you want to upgrade.
Does Windows 8.1 have word?
Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office are two separate software packages and Microsoft Word is a software under the latter. Windows 8 does not has pre-installed or bundled Microsoft Office or Microsoft Word. I have used/installed Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and recently 10.
Is Windows 8 discontinued?
Microsoft has ended mainstream support for Windows 8.1, more than five years after its debut. The operating system, which was offered as a free upgrade to Windows 8 users, has moved to the extended support phase, in which it will continue to receive updates, albeit in a more limited fashion.
Did Windows 8 fail?
Windows 8 market adoption numbers are well behind Microsoft’s greatest previous operating system failure, Vista. Windows fans will whine, but Net Applications’ desktop operating systems numbers don’t lie. Windows 8’s failure is actually greater than it appears.
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