What Year Did Windows 7 Come Out

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

Microsoft released Windows 7 in October 2009. Now, more than than a decade after, it'due south existence retired. Your Windows seven PCs volition keep working, merely Microsoft is no longer issuing security patches as of January 14, 2020.

Tin can I Still Utilize Windows vii?

Windows 7 will keep working commonly, just like Windows XP does. If y'all have a PC running Windows 7 or Windows XP, you can use information technology on January xv, 2020, just as you could on January 13, 2020. Microsoft won't stop y'all from using your PC. You may see some nags informing you that "Your Windows 7 PC is out of back up," but that's it.

We recommend y'all avoid using Windows 7. If you do keep using this operating system, it's now particularly important that you have security software (like an antivirus) installed and have steps to secure your PC.

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

So What Changes?

Windows 7 PC out of support message from Microsoft.

At present that Microsoft has axed support, Windows 7 will no longer get security patches. In other words, Microsoft won't release any new security patches to Windows Update.

Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10 are all congenital on the same underlying architecture. Often, security holes are found for all recent versions of Windows. Now, when attackers discover such a security hole and Microsoft patches it, those patches volition be applied merely to Windows 8 and 10. Windows 7 will even so accept an open up security hole that attackers know about.

With the terminate of official support, software developers will receive the signal that they shouldn't keep supporting Windows seven. Many web browsers and other software tools take dropped back up for Windows XP in their latest versions. Windows 7 will eventually run into the same fate. For now, Google says it volition keep supporting Chrome on Windows seven until at least July 15, 2021.

Can I Go Security Patches Somehow?

Downloading updates from Windows Update on Windows 7.

Windows 7 back up hasn't ended completely. Microsoft will still offer "extended security updates" for information technology, but only to organizations like businesses and governments—and only 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 lot're a home user. Many people have asked us if this is an option, but Microsoft only offers them to organizations.

It's possible that, if a especially unsafe security hole is found, Microsoft volition patch it anyway. The company released a patch for a bad security hole in Windows XP in 2019. Unfortunately, this patch was non delivered through Windows Update, so you had to hear near it before 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 vii users.

RELATED: How Windows seven'south "Extended Security Updates" Will Work

Will It Really Be Dangerous?

Is standing to use Windows 7 unsafe? Well, that depends. It probable won't exist too dangerous on Jan xv, 2020. But, every bit more time goes past, you'll be using a version of Windows with more and more than unpatched security holes that attackers know about. Eventually, browsers and other applications you utilise will drib support for your operating system. You'll be stuck using out-of-engagement browsers, and that is particularly dangerous. Without browser security patches, a malicious website could compromise your system subsequently you open a spider web page.

The internet is a dangerous place filled with increasingly sophisticated attacks, and we always recommend using up-to-appointment software with the latest security patches. We encourage you to upgrade from Windows 7.

Will Software Keep Working on Windows 7?

Most applications will continue running on Windows seven for the immediate future. Simply await to run into applications gradually stop working on information technology over the next few years.

For example, Valve's Steam gaming service dropped support for Windows XP and Vista on January 1, 2019. In a few years, we'd wait to see Steam drop back up for Windows vii every bit well.

Some applications take already dropped support for Windows 7. For example, Microsoft Office 2019 only supports Windows 10 and non Windows vii or viii.

I All the same Have a Windows 7 PC, What Should I Exercise?

Installing Windows 10 on a Windows 7 system.

We recommend you lot upgrade and get off Windows seven. That may mean installing a new operating arrangement on your electric current hardware—or you lot may desire to buy a new PC.

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

Upgrade to Windows 10 For Free: Despite Microsoft no longer advertising the free upgrade offer, it'southward however available. You can upgrade a PC to Windows 10 for free every bit long as information technology has a legitimate, activated Windows vii or 8 system installed. Here's how to take reward. We don't know how long this free upgrade trick will continue working. It was still working as of January xiii, 2020.
Install Linux on Your PC: Don't want to upgrade to Windows ten? You can e'er install a Linux distribution like Ubuntu. Information technology'due south free, supports the latest web browsers like Google Chrome and Firefox, and will continue getting security updates for a long time to come. Certain, it sounds drastic—but you have an option if yous want to use a supported OS on your PC without upgrading to Windows 10.

If your PC is getting too long in the tooth, information technology may just be fourth dimension to purchase a new PC. If you haven't upgraded your hardware in the terminal seven years since Windows 8 was released, you'll find that mod PCs (particularly ones with solid-state storage) offer dramatically improved operation and much longer bombardment life.

That doesn't mean y'all have to purchase a Windows x PC if you don't similar it—Chromebooks, Macs, and iPads are all splendid options for many people. Whatsoever you practice, though, nosotros recommend getting off Windows 7.

RELATED: You Can Still Get Windows ten for Gratis With a Windows 7, eight, or viii.1 Key

But I Need Windows 7 For Something!

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

For example, to run software that requires Windows 7, yous might run Windows 7 in a virtual machine on Windows 10 or another operating system. To run hardware that requires Windows 7, you might get out Windows 7 installed on a reckoner plugged direct into the disquisitional hardware device and utilise another PC for activities that don't need Windows 7.

If possible, you could even "air gap" your Windows 7 organization. You lot'd go out it offline and avert connecting it to the network. It'd be isolated from attacks and couldn't be c compromised and turned against other systems on your network. That would improve your online security.

Windows 7 Still Works, Simply It's Time to Move On

If you use Windows 7, y'all tin still continue using it. Heck, you can fifty-fifty install Windows 7 on a new organization. Windows Update will nevertheless download all the patches Microsoft released before ending support. Things volition keep working on Jan 15, 2020 nearly the aforementioned as they did on Jan 13, 2020.

Simply Windows seven is now the new Windows XP, and it will become increasingly full of known security holes while software developers stop supporting information technology. It's time to upgrade.