Microsoft has ‘bad news’ for these Windows users: What is it and how it affects you

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Microsoft has been trying to push people towards the Windows 11 operating system from Windows 10 and other older versions. In pursuit of that, the Windows maker has already announced the end of the life cycle for the Windows 10 operating system. Before that, the company has now announced that support for Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025. This date aligns with the end-of-support for Windows 10 itself, marking a major step in Microsoft's shift toward prioritising Windows 11.

End of updates for Microsoft 365 apps

According to Microsoft’s official announcement page, Windows 10 will stop receiving updates for Microsoft 365 apps and while the apps won’t vanish, they will no longer receive updates after the specified date. Microsoft has warned that this could lead to potential performance and reliability issues over time. And it can also lead to security issues as well.

Most importantly, this decision applies even to users who choose to extend Windows 10’s security updates through the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) Program.

The ESU program, available at $30 per device, offers an additional year of security updates for Windows 10. However, it does not extend support for Microsoft 365 apps, meaning users in the program will need to run the apps without updates. Whether significant performance issues will occur within this extra year remains uncertain.

Windows 11 adoption challenges

The transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 has been gradual. A significant portion of users continues to operate on Windows 10, partly due to hardware limitations that prevent upgrades to Windows 11. Public reception of Windows 11 has also been mixed, which has contributed to slower adoption rates.

Gamers have also hesitated to switch to Windows 11 due to perceived compatibility and performance concerns. However, this trend has shifted recently, with Windows 11 surpassing Windows 10 in Steam's hardware survey in October 2024.

The end of support for Microsoft 365 apps may encourage more users to upgrade to Windows 11, particularly businesses relying on Office tools. Microsoft’s decision highlights its focus on moving users toward its newer operating system, despite offering extended security updates for Windows 10. For users unable or unwilling to upgrade, alternatives like third-party office applications or continued use of outdated software may be necessary.