Microsoft Sets January Deadline for Windows Users
Microsoft is setting a new January deadline for millions of Windows users, raising concerns about the ongoing transition to Windows 11. As the situation unfolds, users are left wondering how the tech giant plans to facilitate this upgrade.
Microsoft has informed users about the upcoming changes to the Teams client for older Windows 10 and 11 versions. Users will soon receive notifications urging them to update their operating systems to continue receiving support. In just a few months, Microsoft Teams will cease functionality altogether on unsupported versions.
The company emphasizes that these measures are intended to ensure users benefit from the latest updates, performance improvements, security features, and compatibility with services. Older operating systems that are out of date will be incompatible, halting the use of the Desktop client until the necessary updates are applied.
Starting in approximately two weeks, users can expect warning messages, leading to Teams failing to load on Windows 10 versions older than 21H2 starting January 15, 2025. Additionally, older Mac systems (macOS 11 or earlier) and specialized versions of Windows 11 (LTSC) will also face discontinuation next year.
This move by Microsoft signifies a strategic effort to encourage upgrades—shifting focus from the OS itself to essential applications like Teams. This is particularly significant for enterprise users, as the corporate malware threat looms larger.
Support for Windows 10 version 21H2 ended just three months ago. Will other Windows 10 users face a similarly short support window after October next year?
Microsoft has also previously highlighted the benefits of Windows 11 in internal case studies, promoting its combination of software and hardware as essential for secure corporate environments. With a little more than a year until Windows 10 reaches its end-of-life phase, the pressure is on for the approximately 70% of Windows users who are still on older versions to transition to Windows 11. The alternative could lead to significant support challenges for many users.
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