Windows 10 consumer editions to reach End of Life in 2025

[Djole123]

Summary

Microsoft published informtation about Windows 10 consumer edition lifecycles, and the retirement date was set for October 2025, fueling rumors about the next release of Windows.

 

Quotes

Quote

According to the Windows 10 Home and Pro lifecycle page, Microsoft will retire Windows 10 on 10/14/2025.
 

The banner at the top of the page headed "Important" says: "Microsoft will continue to support at least one Windows 10 Semi-Annual Channel until October 14, 2025.

The information that Microsoft leaked by accident yesterday, suggests that it will run the new version of its operating system alongside Windows 10 for the time being at least, which would be in keeping with the retirement date. This would give users a decent amount of time to transition from one OS to the other, rather than being forced to upgrade early, as was the case in 2016 when Microsoft upgraded some Windows 7 users to Windows 10 against their will.

 

My thoughts

Short news - but very sweet. This could have big implications on the whole Windows as a Service policy. Microsoft did say that Windows 10 is set to be "the last version of Windows", but it seems like, either because of the pressure from OEMs, or the sheer confusion about what Windows 10 is (remember, there are now TWELVE different releases of Windows 10, from 1507 to 21H2), they had to change things in some way. It's very interesting to see how this plays out in the future.

 

Sources

https://betanews.com/2021/06/10/windows-10-retires-2025/

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-home-and-pro

[WhitetailAni]

My guess is that Windows 10 "21H2" will not be Windows 10 at all, but a "new OS" that's still Windows 10 but something else instead.

[Dedayog]

Yep, all sorts of news out about Windows 11 and speculation as to what it means for Win 10.  We shall see.  I hope it means an improvement as a whole, and not a step backward like some were.

 

 

[8tg]

I’ll still be using windows 7 by then so I’m not affected, s’all good

[LWM723]

Finally there getting rid of the crap OS. Hope the new one's better. Apparently, MS never officially said that win 10 is the last version, it was said unofficially by a staff member.

[jagdtigger]

3 minutes ago, LWM723 said:

Finally there getting rid of the crap OS.

I dont think so, what keeps MS and windows afloat is backwards compatibility. But AFAIK none of the current devs know how any of the old code works so they pretty much cant ditch any of it. Even if they release something "new", the only new thing will be the GUI, with the same excrement backend....

[Murasaki]

22 minutes ago, FakeKGB said:

My guess is that Windows 10 "21H2" will not be Windows 10 at all, but a "new OS" that's still Windows 10 but something else instead.

inb4 Windows 10.1

I hope im not right lol

[TVwazhere]

1 minute ago, Murasaki said:

inb4 Windows 10.1

I hope im not right lol

Windows 10.5 HD Final Mix Chain of Memories Birth By Sleep Dream Drop Distance

[Zando_]

19 minutes ago, 8tg said:

I’ll still be using windows 7 by then so I’m not affected, s’all good

No security patches or DX12? Wow ur so cool

[Duo01]

7 minutes ago, Zando Bob said:

No security patches or DX12? Wow ur so cool

Eh security patches aren't a big deal if your safe and if microsoft pulls a Windows XP, they will patch it of there's a bad wanna cry or whatever issue.

 

A ton of people still use windows 7 as it's reliable and most things are patched out anyway so I don't see a problem.

 

[WIN7sp1GUY]

We're getting a new Windows 7, about time.

[Pixelfie]

Probably still Windows 10 under the hood, just a new UI, name and some new features...

[WhitetailAni]

3 minutes ago, WIN7sp1GUY said:

We're getting a new Windows 7, about time.

Probably not. It's going to be Windows 10, just not Windows 10.

[Murasaki]

16 minutes ago, TVwazhere said:

Windows 10.5 HD Final Mix Chain of Memories Birth By Sleep Dream Drop Distance

7 minutes ago, Abyssal Radon said:

Another aspect I hope they bring back is a proper Aero transparency, not the crap we have with Windows 10... 

I don't think aero is ever coming back. Microsoft's designs for Windows 10 to me look largely influenced by MacOS' interface with blurred backgrounds (start menu, taskbars, settings sidebar, other apps like calculator). Of course I don't mind that and actually love this kind of design. Now if they can incorporate it across the system properly for core components like Explorer/Taskgmr and context menus it'd look more polished. At its current state it looks like an OS thats still in its testing phases with old UI, newer UI, metro UI and modern UI.

[Zodiark1593]

8 minutes ago, Abyssal Radon said:

I'm honestly not surprised by this at all. By 2025 that'll mark the 10 year anniversary for Windows 10. My hope for the next version of Windows is continued support for newer/older applications and improved user interface. Another aspect I hope they bring back is a proper Aero transparency, not the crap we have with Windows 10... 

I’d actually like for Windows to move to ARM or RISC V (if we get decent designs) proper. Apple has proven we can do fast x86 emulation. Though there would need to be some very advance notice. 

[da na]

48 minutes ago, FakeKGB said:

My guess is that Windows 10 "21H2" will not be Windows 10 at all, but a "new OS" that's still Windows 10 but something else instead.

It'll be very interesting to see that. I'm on Insider dev channel and there hasn't been anything wildly different for a while.

[8tg]

38 minutes ago, Zando Bob said:

No security patches or DX12? Wow ur so cool

[porina]

Windows 11 Blockchain Edition. It only works as long as you mine for MS.

[Distinctly Average]

I think it will depend a lot on whether it is an upgrade you have to pay £100 for, or if it will be a free future. The former I fear would upset many who were lead to believe it was the last version they would need to pay for. 
 

They may even be thinking of a subscription model, something that would really annoy many.

 

Hopefully whatever comes next will be free. By then we could all be on RISC and backwards compatibility will be a moot point anyway, which leaves the door open alternative OSs 

[AlwaysFSX]

2 hours ago, TVwazhere said:

Windows 10.5 HD Final Mix Chain of Memories Birth By Sleep Dream Drop Distance

Start up sound is Trance - 009 Sound System Dreamscape

[Vanderburg]

I miss uxtheme.dll patching. Microsoft, make theming easier in the next version!

[Blademaster91]

2 hours ago, Abyssal Radon said:

I'm honestly not surprised by this at all. By 2025 that'll mark the 10 year anniversary for Windows 10. My hope for the next version of Windows is continued support for newer/older applications and improved user interface. Another aspect I hope they bring back is a proper Aero transparency, not the crap we have with Windows 10... 

I liked the Aero UI, much better looking than the boring looking UI in Windows 10, but I doubt Microsoft would bring it back. But it would be great if MS would stick to a UI theme, not the complete mess it is in Windows 10, although I prefer the old control panel. I also hope this next version of Windows is free for everyone that has a Windows 7, 8,8.1, or Windows 10 key, I don't think Microsoft can force a $100 license key on everyone after they made Windows 10 free.

[Mark Kaine]

2 hours ago, WIN7sp1GUY said:

We're getting a new Windows Vista, about time.

Fixed!

[TetraSky]

Speculating here, but maybe they will rename Windows 10 to something just as stupid as what they are doing with Xbox.

Good bye Windows 10. Hello Windows Series S and X. S is for home and X for Pro.

[StDragon]

Or maybe MS will pull a dick move and call it Windows 20.

I can see the slogan. "Windows 20/20 where past failures are all hindsight"

 

11? What happened to 11??