Frequently asked questions about the Windows 7 end of support

Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020.

Microsoft Lifecycle Policy offers five years of Mainstream Support. Depending on the product, it also offers a period of Extended Support. For Windows operating systems, the Extended Support period is five years.

As defined in the policy, after the Extended Support period for a product ends, Microsoft no longer publishes updates or security updates for that product. This may create security and compliance issues and expose an organization's applications and business to serious security risks. Learn more at Microsoft Lifecycle Policy.

Recommended path: Enroll in Microsoft 365 or upgrade directly to the latest version of Windows 10. If you experience any application compatibility issues after you update to Windows 10, go to Desktop App Assure for assistance.

To help reduce security risks and continue to get regular security updates, we recommend that you upgrade to the latest versions of our software in the cloud.

• If your organization has access to cloud transition SKUs or Software Assurance (SA), talk to your account manager about your transition path. The Microsoft FastTrack program includes a large portfolio of deployment offers and tools that can help you reduce the time and cost that you require to upgrade. This portfolio includes remediation services such as Desktop App assure, Desktop Analytics, and others.

• If your organization doesn't have access to programs such as SA, talk to your account manager or Microsoft Partner about finding licensing offers that meet your needs.

Support for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 ended on January 14, 2020. Learn more here.

Organizations that have Windows 7 VMs in Azure will continue to have access to those VMs after January 2023.

Starting January 2024, any connections to Windows 7 Azure Virtual Desktop session host VMs will be blocked to maintain the security of our service. These VMs will still not be deleted, but they can only be accessed by Administrators.

We'll investigate the issue. If the issue can be resolved by a product enhancement that is available in a recent release, we recommend that the organization upgrade to that release (or a later release).

Windows Autopilot simplifies the process of deploying new Windows 10 devices by providing an alternative to creating, maintaining, and loading custom images. Windows Autopilot lets you deliver new off-the-shelf Windows 10 devices directly to your users. Through a few simple clicks, the device transforms into a fully business-ready state, dramatically reducing the time required to get users up and running on new devices.

For more information, see Simplifying IT with the latest updates from Windows Autopilot.

Desktop Analytics is a cloud-based service that integrates with Configuration Manager. The service provides insight and intelligence for you to make more informed decisions about the update readiness of your Windows clients. It combines data from your organization with data aggregated from millions of devices connected to Microsoft cloud services. For more information, see What is Desktop Analytics?.

FastTrack deployment guidance for Windows 10 helps you to envision a technical plan, determine how to onboard and deploy new services and users, and provides support as you deploy to get the most value out of your technology investments. This assistance is available at no additional cost for those who have 150 or more licenses of an eligible service or plan. For more information, see FastTrack Center Benefit for Windows 10.

App Assure service from FastTrack is a new service from Microsoft FastTrack that is designed to address app compatibility issues for Windows 10, Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, and Microsoft Edge. If you find any app compatibility issues after you update to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise or Windows 10, or after you switch to Edge from Internet Explorer or Chrome (including issues about macros and add-ins), App Assure helps you fix them. Simply let us know by filing a FastTrack ticket, and a Microsoft engineer will follow up to work with you until the issue is resolved.

Ready for Microsoft 365: The Ready for Microsoft 365 directory lists software solutions that are supported and in use on commercial devices running Windows 10 and Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise. The directory is intended for IT managers at companies and organizations worldwide who are considering the latest versions of Windows 10 and Office 365 for their deployments.

After January 2020, if you use Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise on a Windows 7-based computer, Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise won't receive any new feature updates. However, to provide some more time to make the transition to Windows 10 or other supported Windows operating system, Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise will receive security updates through 2023.

Windows 7 ESU will have no effect on support for Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise on Windows 7. Office 365 is governed by the Modern Lifecycle Policy that requires organizations to stay current per the servicing and system requirements for the product or service. These requirements include using Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise on a Windows operating system that is currently in support.

We strongly advise against using Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise on Windows 7. Using a modern cloud-backed client on an older, unsupported operating system may, over time, cause performance and reliability issues. Learn more about the relationship between Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise and Windows 7 end of support.

Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020. Windows 7 users may receive notifications to remind them that their device is no longer supported and is no longer receiving security updates.

We designed these notifications so that they wouldn't appear on devices in managed organizations. More specifically, notifications are designed to exclude devices that have the following characteristics:

• Devices that run Enterprise or Server editions of Windows 7
• Devices that run any edition of Windows 7 from a Volume Licensing program
• Domain-joined devices
• Devices that operate in kiosk mode
• Devices on which registry settings restrict free upgrade notifications

Any devices in your organization that aren't covered by the listed criteria would see a notification. For more information about notifications, see You received a notification, "Your Windows 7 PC is out of support."

Updates were released on January 14, 2020 and all Windows 7 devices were eligible for those updates. Any security updates released after the end of support date apply only to Windows 7 devices that are covered by Windows 7 ESU.