While it'south like shooting fish in a barrel to think of Windows 7 every bit a modern operating system, it actually launched all the way dorsum in 2009. Subsequently but over 10 years of support, Microsoft volition no longer support Windows 7 after January fourteen, 2020.

That appointment will be here sooner than you lot know it. If yous nonetheless use Windows 7, hither'southward what y'all should know about its finish of life and your optionps for upgrading.

Windows Terminate of Life Explained

Every Windows product has 2 important expiry dates:

  • Terminate of mainstream back up.
  • Finish of extended support.

When a Windows version leaves mainstream support, Microsoft no longer adds new features for information technology, and warranty claims cease. This typically lasts for v years after a product's release.

For the side by side v years, the Windows production is in extended support. During this time, Microsoft continues to provide bug fixes and security patches but doesn't actively develop the OS with new goodies.

With Windows 7, Microsoft is actually offering a compromise. Businesses who want to stick with Windows 7 Professional person or Enterprise can pay Microsoft for extended support until 2023 thanks to the Extended Security Updates program.

But this isn't cheap: for Windows vii Pro machines, it volition cost up to $350 for all 3 years of back up. This is much more expensive than a Windows 10 license for a abode user, and is only for companies who can't upgrade however for whatever reason.

If you lot're curious, you can notice dates for other products on the Microsoft Lifecycle Policy page.

What Will Happen to Windows vii Later 2020?

Windows 7 Desktop

Windows 7 won't suddenly break down or stop working after Jan 2020. The nearly important change is that Windows 7 systems won't receive whatever more security patches. Over time, this will pb to Windows vii condign an insecure OS full of known security holes that Microsoft won't ready. This is considering Windows 7 is at end of life.

Another important consequence to keep in mind is that eventually, major software will finish supporting Windows vii. We've seen this with Windows XP; mainstream apps like Dropbox, Spotify, and Microsoft Office don't work on Windows XP anymore. And you tin't install any modern browsers on Windows XP either.

After some fourth dimension, these same apps will decide that Windows 7 is not worth supporting anymore. This also goes for hardware. We've already seen some modern CPUs fail to work with Windows 7, and this volition just get worse as the platform ages further.

How to Disable the Windows 7 Nag Screen

Windows 7 End of Life Message

Later on installing a particular Windows update, Windows 7 users will see a dialog box every so frequently. This reminds you that Windows 7's fourth dimension is limited and prompts you lot to upgrade (which nosotros'll talk nearly in a moment).

Thankfully, this isn't nearly as annoying as the past Windows ten upgrade prompt that incessantly bugged you to upgrade. But it's still abrasive, specially if y'all take your Windows 7 upgrade program sorted out.

To stop this nag screen, just check thePractice not remind me once more box in the bottom-left corner. Then close the window and you lot won't see this notification whatsoever more. You tin can head to Microsoft's Windows 7 terminate of support page to review the linked data if you demand.

How to Upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10

You'll want to look at one of these ways to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 before Jan 2020. Just brand certain your figurer is uniform with Windows 10 first.

one. Upgrade Your Current Computer to Windows 10

Windows 10 Media Creation Tool Architecture

If your current machine is fairly new, you may exist able to upgrade it directly to Windows x. However, if you're had your reckoner since Windows seven debuted, it's probable likewise old to work with Windows 10.

Cheque the Windows 10 organization requirements page to see if your machine is eligible. Note that these are the bare minimums to get Windows 10 running on a computer and don't necessarily mean you'll have a good experience. If your PC has a tiny 100GB hard drive or only 2GB of RAM, y'all're probably better off getting a new machine.

What's not bad about this choice, though, is that you tin can still use a Windows seven product key to activate Windows 10. If you notwithstanding have yours handy, you can thus upgrade at no toll. Detect out how to create Windows 10 installation media if you go this route.

ii. Purchase a New Computer With Windows 10

This is likely the best option for virtually people. Computers running Windows 7 are at to the lowest degree several years quondam, so you should have a more than powerful machine to run Windows 10.

Thankfully, you don't need to break the bank to get a decent computer. Have a look at our best laptops under $500 for some great choices.

3. Upgrade to Windows 8.ane

Windows 8.1 Start Screen

Since Windows 7 and ten are so pop, it'south easy to forget that Windows 8.i exists. While mainstream support for that version concluded in early 2018, Windows eight.1 will receive extended support until Jan ten, 2023.

Thus, moving to Windows eight.1 gives you three more years of life afterwards Windows 7 bites the grit. Still, we don't recommend this pick.

Beginning, Windows ten is a meliorate OS than Windows viii.one. It regularly receives feature updates to improve it, different Windows 8.1 which but receives security updates. Windows 8.i has the much-maligned Start Screen and lacks useful features similar multiple desktops.

Further, Microsoft doesn't sell license keys for Windows 8.i anymore. You'd have to buy one from Amazon or another aftermarket retailer, which can be shady. And while you'll find hundreds of machines running Windows 10, it's difficult to notice a pre-built computer with Windows 8.1 on information technology.

Windows 8.one and Windows 10 have the same system requirements, so if you're going to purchase a new computer, moving to Windows x is the meliorate option. If you lot upgrade to Windows 8.1, you'll accept to worry about this problem again earlier 2023.

4. Switch to Some other Platform

macOS mojave dynamic desktop

If you've lost interest in Windows, you can check out an entirely new operating system.

Those on a budget, or who only apply a calculator for lite tasks, should consider a Chromebook. These lightweight devices are great for basic work like emailing and give-and-take processing, and are piece of cake to use thanks to automatic updates and born security.

If you don't mind spending more on a premium experience, consider a Mac. MacBooks cost much more the Windows laptops yous're probably used to, merely some say that afterwards experiencing macOS, yous'll never want to go back to Windows.

For something totally unlike, consider a Linux machine. While Linux often has a reputation for being usable just past advanced users, you'd be surprised how user-friendly modern versions are.

See our guide to choosing your next PC operating organization if you can't decide.

Get to Know Windows x

Nosotros've looked at the situation with Windows 7 and your options for upgrading to a mod platform. If you desire to stick with Windows, your best option is buying a new reckoner with Windows 10. This will provide a better experience than upgrading an old machine.

Of course, you lot don't have to do this. But whatever you do, make plans to leave Windows 7 behind before January 2020. There's still a way to upgrade to Windows 10 for free. Y'all don't desire to get stuck on an unsupported OS if you can help it. Hopefully, we can leave Windows 7 behind more quickly than it took for Windows XP to die.

Check out our guide to what you must do after installing Windows x to get up to speed. And if you're wondering whether it's worth upgrading to Windows 10 Pro, check out our pro and con article.

How to Compare Two Excel Files

Need to compare ii Microsoft Excel files? We show yous ii easy means to compare your spreadsheets: manually next and conditional formatting.

Read Next

Nigh The Author

Ben Stegner (1803 Manufactures Published)

Ben is the Editor in Chief at MakeUseOf. He left his It job to write total-time in 2016 and has never looked dorsum. He'southward been covering tech tutorials, video game recommendations, and more as a professional person writer for over eight years.

More From Ben Stegner