WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Microsoft has ended support for updates to Windows 7, including the Extended Security Upgrade (ESU) program.
- Ending updates and patches mean users who choose to remain on Windows 7 will be at risk, and data stored on these machines could be exposed to undiscovered vulnerabilities.
- Recommendations from Microsoft include purchasing an all-new machine running Windows 11 or upgrading to Windows 10.
Support for Windows 7 officially ended years ago. Still, Microsoft offered the Extended Security Upgrade(opens in new tab) (ESU) as a paid solution to maintain critical security measures for a maximum of three years after January 14, 2020. It’s unlikely that many users outside of businesses would have remained with the aging operating system, but not impossible.
If you’re one of the rare few still using Windows 7, it’s time to upgrade since your computer or laptop is at serious risk without continued updates. Don’t be tempted to update by only one step since Windows 8.1 has received the same end-of-life treatment(opens in new tab), and popular web browsers, including Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome, are dropping their support for Windows 7 and 8.1.
WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
The most sensible upgrade for Windows 7 users is the current edition of Windows 11, with a full breakdown of its benefits in our Windows 11 review(opens in new tab). Still, not every device would be compatible with this modern edition if manufactured so many years ago. You’ll need specific components(opens in new tab), including a TPM chip, to use the cutting-edge OS from Microsoft.
