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Microsoft has just made a significant policy shift that will directly impact millions of users around the globe. Initially, the tech giant planned to end support for Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 by October 2025. However, in a reversal that many see as a win for consumers and IT professionals alike, Microsoft has announced it will now continue providing security updates for Office apps on Windows 10 until October 2028.
This extension gives users more breathing room to prepare for the eventual transition to Windows 11, especially in light of hardware compatibility barriers that have slowed widespread adoption of the newer operating system. Here’s everything you need to know about the new policy, its implications, and what industry watchers should expect going forward.
What You Need to Know:
Microsoft originally announced that support for Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 would end on October 14, 2025.
Following significant feedback and adoption concerns, Microsoft will now continue security updates for these apps until October 10, 2028.
This decision affects Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other Microsoft 365 applications running on Windows 10.
Microsoft has emphasized that while these apps will continue to work, running them on an unsupported OS could lead to reliability and performance issues.
Security updates will be delivered through the standard Office update channels, as confirmed in Microsoftâs latest documentation.
Organizations are still encouraged to upgrade to Windows 11 to ensure full compatibility and performance optimization.
Microsoft reiterated in April that Office 2016 and Office 2019 will lose extended support on October 14, 2025.
The company continues to offer guidance for transitioning to Microsoft 365 Apps, which are subscription-based and cloud-integrated.
Despite ongoing campaigns to encourage migration, over 52% of global Windows systems still use Windows 10, while just over 43% run Windows 11, according to Statcounter.
One major deterrent for upgrading remains the TPM 2.0 hardware requirement, which many older devices do not support.
In an effort to ease the transition, Microsoft is allowing users to purchase Extended Security Updates (ESU) for \$30 per year, starting in October 2025.
Specialized systems, such as those running Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 or Windows 10 2016 LTSB, will continue receiving updates well beyond 2025.
The announcement provides IT departments and enterprise users additional time to budget and plan for full-scale upgrades.
The extension is also seen as a way to prevent potential security vulnerabilities in a large user base that may not migrate in time.
What Undercode Say:
Microsoftâs backpedaling on the original support timeline is more than a customer-pleasing maneuver â itâs a strategic move to address the slow adoption of Windows 11 and its strict hardware requirements. As of early 2025, the adoption rate for Windows 11 remains lower than expected, with over half the world still running Windows 10. The decision to provide three more years of Office 365 updates could be a tacit admission that the transition path has been steeper than Microsoft anticipated.
By extending security updates, Microsoft acknowledges the sheer scale of Windows 10’s active user base. With businesses still recovering from the economic impacts of global shifts, many are simply not ready to upgrade fleets of hardware just to meet TPM 2.0 requirements. This extension buys valuable time for IT managers, who can now roll out upgrades more deliberately instead of rushing them under looming deadlines.
From a cybersecurity standpoint, continuing security updates is essential. Cutting support in 2025 would have exposed a massive percentage of users to risks, especially since Office apps are high-value targets for threat actors. Microsoftâs move could be viewed as a way to uphold its own security reputation while also avoiding the bad optics of leaving users behind.
This decision also aligns with
On the consumer side, many casual users are breathing a sigh of relief. They can continue to use their existing systems and productivity apps without being forced into expensive upgrades. However, this extension is a stopgap, not a solution. It gives users three more years, but come 2028, theyâll either need to switch to Windows 11 or face similar end-of-life issues.
Enterprises with mission-critical applications running on specialized LTSB or LTSC versions benefit the most. Their need for long-term OS stability makes this kind of extended support essential. By addressing this niche, Microsoft signals its understanding of industry-specific use cases where frequent upgrades simply arenât viable.
Ultimately, Microsoftâs announcement showcases a blend of realism and strategy. It softens the blow of Windows 10âs sunset and helps ensure security continuity across its user base, while keeping the pressure on to adopt Windows 11 in the long term.
Fact Checker Results:
Microsoft officially confirmed support for Office 365 on Windows 10 will continue until October 10, 2028.
Over 52% of Windows users still operate on Windows 10, according to Statcounter.
TPM 2.0 remains a major barrier to Windows 11 upgrades for older hardware.
Prediction:
Microsoft will continue to push Windows 11 adoption through strategic incentives and gradual nudges, but widespread transition wonât happen overnight. By 2026, we can expect a clearer split between consumer-level adoption and enterprise migration timelines. Itâs also likely that Microsoft will announce broader support extensions or offer hybrid models combining local and cloud-based Office features to accommodate slow movers.
References:
Reported By: www.bleepingcomputer.com
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