Microsoft wanted to remind its users that Windows 7 support will be ending in less than a year. A newly deployed update will let users know that security updates will end after January 14, 2020. There’s even a not-so-subtle reminder that the OS has been around for 10 years and now is the time to consider what’s next. This update should start appearing on those Windows 7 machines starting April 18th. It’ll be hard to miss the alert the first time it appears, but you will get an option to disable future reminders.
According to Engadget, a lot of people will be seeing this notice with Net Applications data suggesting Windows 7 is represented nearly 40.2 percent of desktop usage as of February. But we don’t know if these users will heed the warning. A lot of these are PC users that would struggle with the change, and others are using corporate machines where updating isn’t in their control. But Microsoft is hoping the alert will reach the holdouts. Once official support ends, only those who paid for extended support will get security updates (that is until 2023). Outside of a big issue, like the WannaCry ransomware outbreak, Microsoft won’t release anymore updates.