Microsoft has announced that sales and downloads of Windows 10 Home and Pro will be discontinued later this month.
Microsoft to stop selling Windows 10 downloads after January 31st
To recall, Microsoft first released Windows 10 in July 2015, with an emphasis on feedback and rapid iteration. The operating system came after Windows 8, which was highly criticized for ditching the traditional Start menu and button and instead embracing a touch-first design altogether.
Windows 10 was also Microsoft’s first version of Windows to be operated as a service, to be regularly updated, and to be referred to be “the last version of Windows” at one time.
“An update was made to the Windows 10 product page to ensure customers have the latest information on purchasing options for Windows 10,” says Amy Bartlow, Windows marketing director, in a statement to The Verge.
The final day to purchase and download the Windows 10 operating system is on January 31, 2023. Up to October 14, 2025, Windows 10 will continue to get security upgrades that can help shield your computer from viruses, spyware, and other malware. Users will also still receive cumulative updates.
Although Windows 11 has been out for more than a year, Windows 10 is still the most widely used version. Some reasons may be compatibility issues, or because of stability since Windows 11 still contains bugs. But personally, I enjoyed using the latest version of Windows as it offers a brand new experience.
While Microsoft is winding down its own Windows 10 consumer sales, third-party Windows 10 license keys and even laptops and PCs with the OS preinstalled are expected to be accessible for quite some time before Microsoft stops supporting the OS.
In addition, Microsoft released its last updates for organizations that have paid for the Windows 7 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program earlier this month. It urged businesses that were still using Windows 7 to buy a new PC with Windows 11 installed or to upgrade to Windows 10. Besides, Microsoft also marks the end of the road for Windows 8.1 earlier this month.
