The “last version of Windows” will be removed from sale on January 31. In an effort to push Windows 11 to the forefront, Microsoft is removing Windows 10 from its digital storefront this time next week.
That’s at least according to updated product pages for Windows 10 Home, Pro, and Workstation. Initially spotted by PCWorld, the text simply reads “January 31, 2023 will be the last day this Windows 10 download is offered for sale. Windows 10 will remain supported with security updates that help protect your PC from viruses, spyware, and other malware until October 14, 2025.”
So, that’s the end of it then? Well, not quite. This simply confirms Microsoft’s plans to cease its own sales, however we imagine third-party retailers will continue peddling product keys way after the expiration date, however finite they may be. Heck, you might even find physical copies of Windows 10 at popular retail stores like Currys in the UK or Best Buy in the US. For now, this remains the status quo until Microsoft confirms otherwise.
Is it a bad thing? Kind of. Even though Microsoft pushes Windows 11 as the superior product, for some it is not as simple as that. Windows 11’s heightened security requirements are such that many older PCs simply aren’t compatible, and Windows 10 has continued to serve that audience until now. We all remember the whole Trusted Platform Module debacle.
While this might not seem as big of an issue for Mom and Dad’s ‘work from home’ PC, medium- to large-scale business enterprises running anywhere between hundreds and thousands of Windows 10 PCs will need to start planning ahead in earnest. After support runs out on October 14, 2025, machines that aren’t eligible for an upgrade will be vulnerable to attacks, forcing businesses to invest in shiny new hardware.
The good news is that many systems currently using Windows 10 are eligible to upgrade to Windows 11 for free. Recent updates have made the OS feel ready for the mainstream, so perhaps now is an opportune moment to consider a clean install.
