#windows 8.1

Microsoft officially announced the end of support for Windows 8.1 on January 10, 2023. Windows 7's three-year extended software support also now met its end. [caption id="attachment_325428" align="alignnone" width="1083"] A laptop running Windows 8.1 | Image/ Microsoft[/caption] This means anyone continuing to use Windows 7 or 8.1 PC will be much more vulnerable to security risks moving forward. Due to its popularity among users, Windows 7 that officially ended support on January 14, 2020 got an Extended Security (ESU) program for three more years of software support. Unfortunately, this won't be the case for Windows 8.1 as Microsoft noted in a statement. Microsoft recommends buying a new Windows 11 PC and that makes sense as PCs built with Windows 7 are running technology that is over a decade old already. [caption id="attachment_325429" align="alignnone" width="570"] A laptop running Windows 11 | Image/ Microsoft[/caption] It said that there aren't any free upgrade paths from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10/11, and that the free upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 already ended in 2016. Most Windows 7/8.1 PC should be compatible with Windows 10, and you may upgrade for a price. Read more in our articles including "Windows 7 and 8.1 are dead for good: Microsoft recommends buying new Windows 11 PC" and "Microsoft announces end of support for Windows 8.1".