Windows 7: The Dream Is Over, Ended January 14, 2020

Windows 7: The Dream Is Over, Ended January 14, 2020 : Microsoft committed to providing 10 years of product support for Windows 7 when it was released on October 22, 2009.

Windows 7: The Dream Is Over, Ended on January 14, 2020

This 10-year period has ended, and Microsoft has discontinued support for Windows 7 so we can focus our investments on supporting the latest technologies and great new experiences. The specific end of Windows 7 support was January 14, 2020. Windows Update technical support and software updates that help protect your computer are no longer available for your product. Microsoft strongly recommends that you migrate to Windows 10 to avoid a situation where a service or support that is no longer available is required.

Windows 7 Support Lifecycle

Microsoft committed to providing 10 years of product support for Windows 7 when it was released on October 22, 2009. This 10-year period has ended, and Microsoft has discontinued support for Windows 7 so we can focus our investments on support for the latest technologies and great new experiences. The specific end of Windows 7 support was January 14, 2020. Windows Update technical support and software updates that help protect your computer are no longer available for your product. Microsoft strongly recommends that you migrate to Windows 10 to avoid a situation where a service or support that is no longer available is required.

What does the end of support mean to me?

After January 14, 2020, computers running Windows 7 will no longer receive security updates. Therefore, it is important that you upgrade to a modern operating system, such as Windows 10, which can provide the latest security updates to help keep you and your data more secure. In addition, Microsoft customer service will no longer be available to provide technical support for Windows 7. Windows 7-related services will also be discontinued over time. For example, certain games, such as Internet Backgammon and Internet Checkers, as well as the Electronic Programming Guide for Windows Media Center, are scheduled to be discontinued in January 2020.

What should I do?

For most Windows 7 users, migrating to a new Windows 10 device is the recommended way in the future. Today’s computers are faster, lighter, more powerful and more secure, with a much lower average price than ordinary computers eight years ago. Our guide can help you choose a new computer in a few simple steps.
Want to know more about Windows 10? Check out our overview page to learn more.

Can I upgrade my existing computer to Windows 10?

To take advantage of the latest hardware features, we recommend that you transition to a new computer running Windows 10. Alternatively, you can upgrade Windows 7 compatible computers by purchasing and installing a full version of the software. For more information, see Upgrade to Windows 10: Frequently Asked Questions.

How can I upgrade to Windows 10 for free?

The free upgrade offer for Windows 10 ended July 29, 2016. To get Windows 10, you will need to either buy a new device or, if you have a compatible computer, purchase a full version of the software to upgrade your current device. . We recommend that you do not install Windows 10 on an older device, as some Windows 7 devices are not compatible with Windows 10 or may have reduced feature availability.

What will happen if I keep using Windows 7?

Can Windows 7 still be activated after January 14, 2020?

Windows 7 can still be installed and activated after support has ended. However, it will be more vulnerable to security risks and viruses due to the lack of security updates. After January 14, 2020, Microsoft strongly recommends that you use Windows 10 instead of Windows 7.

Will Internet Explorer still be supported on Windows 7?

Internet Explorer support on a Windows 7 device was also discontinued on January 14, 2020. As a Windows component, Internet Explorer follows the support life cycle of the Windows operating system on which it is installed.

See Life Cycle FAQ – Internet Explorer for more information .

Will Microsoft Security Essentials continue to protect my computer after support ends?

What if I am using Windows 7 Enterprise?

If you are using Windows as part of a desktop, we recommend checking with your IT department first or consulting with Windows 10 deployment support to learn more.

What about Windows 7 Embedded?

Windows for embedded devices, such as ATMs or gas stations, has life cycle dates that sometimes differ from versions of Windows used on computer devices.

Can I move my existing programs to a new Windows 10 computer?

For the best experience possible, we recommend that you re-install your programs and applications on your new Windows 10 computer.

The Microsoft Store has a variety of third-party apps that can be easily downloaded and installed. On your Windows 10 computer, you can open the Microsoft Store by selecting the icon on the taskbar or searching for “Microsoft Store” in the taskbar search box.

For any software that is not available from the Microsoft Store, it is recommended that you visit the company’s official website and download the version of Windows 10 from there. In limited situations, some older software may not have an updated version that is compatible with Windows 10 .

How will ending Windows 7 support affect my Microsoft Office applications?

Your experience may differ depending on the version of Office you are using. To learn more, see End of Support for Windows 7 and Office. It’s important to note that Windows 7 itself no longer receives security updates, leaving your device vulnerable to security threats. Therefore, if you are using Microsoft Office on a Windows 7 computer, we recommend switching to a new Windows 10 computer.

Notifications

As explained in our March 12, 2019 blog post, Microsoft will send several reminder notifications by the end of 2019 recommending actions to take before Windows 7 support ends. To learn more about ending Windows support 7, you can go to www.microsoft.com/windows7 or read our FAQ above.

Why did I receive a notification about Windows 7?

Ten years after the initial release of Windows 7, support will end on January 14, 2020. As a Windows 7 customer, you are receiving notifications so that you have enough time to prepare. After that, technical assistance and updates that help protect your computer will no longer be available. These notifications will contain links to information, such as recommended actions and answers to questions, and resources to help you through this transition period.

What will happen if I close the notification?

When you close the notification window, it simply closes.

I saw a notification, but it disappeared. Where can I go to learn more about ending support and what to do next?
Visit www.microsoft.com/windows7 to learn more about what end of support means and why it matters to you, and find resources that help you back up your files and photos and make a smooth transition to a new one. Windows 10 computer.

Is this notification really sent by Microsoft?

Your online safety is important and we are happy to ask you this question.
You can compare what you are seeing with the following image to see if the notification is genuinely from Microsoft. Or, instead of clicking on a notification, you can go to www.microsoft.com/windows7 to learn more about ending Windows 7 support and what you need to do to get ready.

Please note that Microsoft will never send you a notification asking you to call us or requesting payments directly.

Windows 7 Support End Notification

How often will I receive these notifications?

After talking to Windows 7 customers, they told us that they would like to receive some reminders well in advance. Based on these comments, we will send reminders at most once a month as we approach this important end of support date.

How do I disable or disable notifications?

To disable or disable notifications, select Don’t notify again in the lower left corner of the notification, and then close the window.

Note: We do not recommend uninstalling updates KB4493132 or KB4524752 as they will be downloaded again the next time the device checks for updates.

Will organizations receive notifications?

We have developed notifications so that they will not be displayed on managed organizations devices. More specifically, notifications are designed to exclude devices that have the following characteristics: Enterprise and Server editions of Windows 7, any Windows 7 edition of volume licensing programs, domain-joined devices, kiosk mode devices, or previously owned devices. free upgrade notifications disabled through the Registry settings.