Microsoft plans to discontinue support for Office apps, also known as Microsoft 365 apps, on Windows 10 later this year. This is in line with the operating system’s official end-of-support date. The support cut off coincides with the end of Windows 10 support on October 14th, 2025 requiring businesses and consumers who rely on Microsoft 365 programs to switch to Windows 11. Extended Security Updates will be offered for those who postpone the move.
“Microsoft 365 Apps will no longer be supported on Windows 10 devices after October 14, 2025,” Microsoft stated in a blog post. “To use Microsoft 365 Applications on your device, you will need to upgrade to Windows 11.”
This statement also applies to standalone editions that do not require a Microsoft 365 subscription, such as Office 2024, Office 2021, Office 2019, and Office 2016.
While support for Office programs on Windows 10 will end in October, this does not imply that the apps will stop working altogether. Microsoft states in a support document revised in December that “the applications will continue to function as before” once Windows 10 support stops, but that there may be “performance and reliability issues over time.”
In a separate support document obtained by The Verge, the business states that Office apps will continue to run even after Windows 10 support expires, but customers may find challenges until they upgrade to Windows 11.
“After that date, if you’re using Microsoft 365 on a Windows 10 device, the programs will continue to work as usual. However, we strongly advise you to upgrade to Windows 11 to avoid long-term performance and reliability issues,” Microsoft advises.
Microsoft wants users to cease using Windows 10 this year, declaring 2025 “the year of the Windows 11 PC refresh.” Last week at CES, the software company said that upgrading an outdated Windows 10 PC will be more crucial than purchasing a new TV or phone this year.
“We believe that one of the most essential pieces of equipment that consumers will want to upgrade in 2025 isn’t their refrigerator, television, or mobile phone. “It will be their Windows 10 PC, and they will upgrade to Windows 11,” said Yusuf Mehdi, executive vice president and consumer chief marketing officer at Microsoft.
Windows 11 adoption is still lagging behind Windows 10, and millions of workstations are unable to upgrade to the latest operating system due to Microsoft’s rigorous hardware requirements. Microsoft just closed the door on Windows 11 supporting older hardware, stating that the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 requirement for Windows 11 is “non-negotiable.” Microsoft is now attempting to persuade Windows 10 customers to purchase a new PC with full-screen prompts.
While support for Windows 10 will end later this year, Microsoft is also providing Extended Security Updates to users for the first time. Consumers can pay $30 for an additional year of upgrades, while corporations can buy up to three years of extended updates.
Despite the fact that Windows 10 will be phased out of support in eight months, Statcounter Global data shows that more than 62% of all Windows computers globally currently use Windows 10, while less than 35% use Windows 11.
In June 2021, Microsoft announced that TPM 2.0 will be required for Windows 11 installs or upgrades, claiming that it improves system security and resistance to tampering. However, this has not stopped people from developing tools and strategies to circumvent the TPM requirement.
On October 31, Microsoft revealed that Windows 10 home users can delay the transition to Windows 11 for another year by paying $30 for Extended Security Updates (ESU).
Furthermore, Long-Term Servicing Branch (LTSB) versions, such as Windows 10 2016 LTSB, and Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) releases, such as Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021, which cater to specialist devices such as industrial and medical systems, will receive updates after October 2025.
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