Earlier in 2020, Microsoft finished extended support for Windows 7. The company expected users and companies to switch to newer versions of OS, but some of them couldn't do that. So for enterprise customers who had to stay on Windows 7 Microsoft continued supporting Windows 7 on a paid basis.
The initial intention was to stop the paid extended Windows 7 support in January 2023. Extended Security Update customers would continue to receive monthly security updates that fix various security vulnerabilities until that date.
Looks like the plans have changed. Reportedly, Microsoft intends to extend paid support for Windows 7 for another three years. The July updates KB5015861 and KB5015862 include appropriate bits for licenses and ESU keys to continue paid support for the system. If so, then Windows 7 will receive paid updates for more three years, i.e. until January 2026.
The Windows 7 editions that will receive Extended Security Updates are as follows:
- Windows 7 SP1 Enterprise
- Windows 7 SP1 Pro
- Windows Server 2008 R2
- Windows Embedded Standard 7
- Windows Embedded POS Ready 7
Microsoft is yet to announce or confirm this change.But such a move looks reasonable. Windows 7 still retains a significant market share. According to various stat reports, Windows 7 is still being used on 11.54% of devices.
If support for Windows 7 will be extended for another three years, then its support time frame will beat its successors's support. Both Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 quickly reach their end of life. And Microsoft isn't even going to support Windows 8.1 in the same fashion.
via Deskmodder
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Hope they just have paid support also for Windows 10 (Pro and Enterprise and Enterprise/IoT LTSC) after the End of Support date.