When Did Windows 7 Come Out

Boxed copies of Windows 7 Professional and Home Premium. — Friemann/Shutterstock.com

Microsoft released Windows vii in October 2009. At present, more than a decade after, it'due south being retired. Your Windows 7 PCs will keep working, but Microsoft is no longer issuing security patches as of Jan xiv, 2020.

Can I Still Utilize Windows seven?

Windows 7 volition go on working usually, merely similar Windows XP does. If you have a PC running Windows 7 or Windows XP, you lot can use information technology on Jan fifteen, 2020, just as yous could on January xiii, 2020. Microsoft won't stop you from using your PC. You may come across some nags informing you lot that "Your Windows 7 PC is out of support," merely that'south it.

Nosotros recommend you avoid using Windows vii. If yous practise keep using this operating arrangement, information technology's now especially important that y'all have security software (like an antivirus) installed and take steps to secure your PC.

RELATED: RIP Windows 7: We're Going to Miss You

And so What Changes?

Windows 7 PC out of support message from Microsoft.

Now that Microsoft has axed support, Windows vii volition no longer go security patches. In other words, Microsoft won't release any new security patches to Windows Update.

Windows XP, Vista, vii, 8, and ten are all congenital on the same underlying architecture. Often, security holes are found for all recent versions of Windows. Now, when attackers notice such a security pigsty and Microsoft patches it, those patches will be applied just to Windows 8 and 10. Windows 7 volition still have an open up security hole that attackers know about.

With the finish of official support, software developers will receive the signal that they shouldn't continue supporting Windows 7. Many spider web browsers and other software tools have dropped support for Windows XP in their latest versions. Windows seven will somewhen meet the same fate. For now, Google says it will go along supporting Chrome on Windows 7 until at least July 15, 2021.

Can I Get Security Patches Somehow?

Downloading updates from Windows Update on Windows 7.

Windows 7 support hasn't ended completely. Microsoft will still offer "extended security updates" for it, but only to organizations similar businesses and governments—and but if those organizations pay an ever-increasing fee. That fee is designed to encourage organizations to upgrade.

There's no way to pay extra for security updates if you're a home user. Many people take asked u.s.a. if this is an choice, simply Microsoft simply offers them to organizations.

It's possible that, if a particularly dangerous security hole is institute, Microsoft will patch it anyway. The company released a patch for a bad security pigsty in Windows XP in 2019. Unfortunately, this patch was not delivered through Windows Update, so you had to hear about it earlier downloading and installing it manually. Many Windows XP systems in the wild are still vulnerable. That's the kind of time to come that awaits Windows 7 users.

RELATED: How Windows 7'southward "Extended Security Updates" Volition Work

Will It Actually Exist Dangerous?

Is standing to use Windows 7 dangerous? Well, that depends. It probable won't be as well dangerous on January 15, 2020. Merely, as more time goes by, you'll be using a version of Windows with more than and more than unpatched security holes that attackers know about. Somewhen, browsers and other applications you use will driblet support for your operating system. Yous'll exist stuck using out-of-date browsers, and that is specially dangerous. Without browser security patches, a malicious website could compromise your organisation after you open a spider web folio.

The internet is a unsafe identify filled with increasingly sophisticated attacks, and we ever recommend using upwards-to-date software with the latest security patches. We encourage you to upgrade from Windows seven.

Will Software Keep Working on Windows vii?

Almost applications will continue running on Windows seven for the firsthand future. But expect to run across applications gradually cease working on it over the next few years.

For case, Valve'southward Steam gaming service dropped back up for Windows XP and Vista on January one, 2019. In a few years, we'd expect to encounter Steam drop support for Windows vii as well.

Some applications accept already dropped back up for Windows 7. For instance, Microsoft Office 2019 only supports Windows 10 and not Windows seven or 8.

I Still Have a Windows 7 PC, What Should I Do?

Installing Windows 10 on a Windows 7 system.

We recommend you upgrade and go off Windows 7. That may hateful installing a new operating system on your current hardware—or y'all may want to buy a new PC.

To keep using your current PC, you have a few options:

Upgrade to Windows 10 For Complimentary: Despite Microsoft no longer advertising the free upgrade offer, it's still bachelor. You can upgrade a PC to Windows 10 for gratuitous as long every bit information technology has a legitimate, activated Windows 7 or 8 organisation installed. Hither'due south how to take advantage. We don't know how long this free upgrade trick will go on working. It was still working as of January 13, 2020.
Install Linux on Your PC: Don't desire to upgrade to Windows ten? You can always install a Linux distribution like Ubuntu. Information technology's complimentary, supports the latest spider web browsers similar Google Chrome and Firefox, and will continue getting security updates for a long fourth dimension to come. Sure, information technology sounds drastic—but you have an choice if you want to utilise a supported OS on your PC without upgrading to Windows 10.

If your PC is getting too long in the molar, it may just be fourth dimension to purchase a new PC. If you oasis't upgraded your hardware in the concluding seven years since Windows viii was released, you lot'll find that modern PCs (particularly ones with solid-state storage) offer dramatically improved functioning and much longer battery life.

That doesn't hateful y'all have to buy a Windows 10 PC if you don't like it—Chromebooks, Macs, and iPads are all splendid options for many people. Whatever y'all practice, though, nosotros recommend getting off Windows 7.

RELATED: Y'all Can Still Get Windows 10 for Free With a Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 Central

Only I Demand Windows 7 For Something!

If you notwithstanding need Windows seven to run disquisitional software or hardware that doesn't support modern versions of Windows, we recommend restricting your use of Windows 7. You should also ensure security software is installed.

For example, to run software that requires Windows 7, you lot might run Windows 7 in a virtual motorcar on Windows 10 or another operating system. To run hardware that requires Windows 7, you might leave Windows 7 installed on a computer plugged directly into the critical hardware device and use another PC for activities that don't need Windows 7.

If possible, you could even "air gap" your Windows 7 system. You'd leave information technology offline and avoid connecting it to the network. It'd exist isolated from attacks and couldn't be c compromised and turned against other systems on your network. That would amend your online security.

Windows vii Nevertheless Works, But It's Fourth dimension to Motion On

If you employ Windows 7, you tin notwithstanding keep using information technology. Heck, you can even install Windows 7 on a new organisation. Windows Update volition still download all the patches Microsoft released before ending support. Things volition proceed working on January fifteen, 2020 about the same every bit they did on January xiii, 2020.

Just Windows 7 is now the new Windows XP, and it will get increasingly total of known security holes while software developers stop supporting it. It's time to upgrade.