Updated: July 9, 2020 (November 5, 2012)

Important Dates for Windows Client

As managing vice president, Rob Helm covers Microsoft collaboration and content management. His 25-plus years of experience analyzing Microsoft’s technology... more

Customers must upgrade to Windows 7 SP1 in order to get support after Apr. 2013, and Extended support for Windows XP SP3 ends in Apr. 2014. Mainstream support for Windows 7 and Windows 8 will end in 2015 and 2018, respectively. As Windows Vista has entered the Extended support phase of its product support life cycle, customers still running Windows Vista may want to consider upgrading to Windows 7 at this time.

Microsoft has changed its support policy for consumer editions of Windows. The new policy adds five years of Extended support, including access to security updates, and brings the policy in line with support for enterprise editions. Consumer editions of Windows XP will now be supported until Apr. 2014, Windows Vista until Apr. 2017, Windows 7 until Jan. 2020, and Windows 8 until Jan. 2023. The change could help “bring your own device programs” and improve the overall threat environment for computers, depending on what Microsoft delivers during the Extended support phase.

No support life-cycle information for Windows RT is available at this time.

Atlas Members have full access

Get access to this and thousands of other unbiased analyses, roadmaps, decision kits, infographics, reference guides, and more, all included with membership. Comprehensive access to the most in-depth and unbiased expertise for Microsoft enterprise decision-making is waiting.

Membership Options

Already have an account? Login Now