Windows 10 will officially end support on October 14, 2025, but Microsoft has unexpectedly announced that it will extend support for Office and Microsoft 365 applications for an additional three years, lasting until October 10, 2028. This move brings great news to millions of users and businesses still relying on this operating system, especially since Microsoft had previously announced it would end all Office support on Windows 10 at the same time as the operating system’s End Of Support.
Major Changes in Support Policies for Office and Microsoft 365 on Windows 10
Initially, Microsoft stated that all Office and Microsoft 365 applications on Windows 10 would simultaneously lose support starting October 14, 2025. This caused concern for both individuals and businesses unable to migrate to Windows 11, primarily due to hardware limitations or investment costs. However, Microsoft has quietly updated its policy: Microsoft 365 applications such as Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and OneDrive will continue to receive security patches and bug updates on Windows 10 until October 10, 2028.
With this new decision, individual users and especially businesses will have more time to plan their transition, minimizing security risks while using Office on Windows 10. Simultaneously, Microsoft still recommends upgrading to Windows 11 soon to ensure optimal performance and reliability, as using an operating system that has reached End Of Support poses potential risks to performance and data security.
Support Policy Comparison: Microsoft 365 vs. One-time Purchase Office Versions
One notable point is that the support policies between Microsoft 365 and one-time purchase Office versions like Office 2021 and Office 2024 have distinct differences. Specifically:
- Microsoft 365 on Windows 10 will continue to receive security updates until the end of October 10, 2028, free of charge for users currently using this service.
- Office 2021 is supported on Windows 10 until October 2026, while Office 2024 extends until October 2029, following a fixed-lifecycle policy.
- Windows Defender will also continue to receive malware definition updates at least until October 2028, helping to protect the system against new threats.
Additionally, Microsoft is implementing the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10. Individual users can purchase ESU licenses after October 2025 if they wish to continue receiving security patches, while organizations/businesses can pay to maintain support until October 10, 2028.
Overall, this extension move helps Microsoft retain Office and Microsoft 365 users while creating favorable conditions for the transition to Windows 11. However, the company still employs certain “tactics” to encourage upgrades, such as slowing down the performance of certain applications (e.g., OneNote) on Windows 10 to increase migration pressure.
In summary: Microsoft’s extension of Office and Microsoft 365 support on Windows 10 until 2028 helps reduce the transition pressure for individuals and businesses, providing more preparation time before being forced to upgrade to Windows 11. However, using Windows 10 after the End Of Support period still carries potential security, performance, and software compatibility risks. Users should consider enrolling in the ESU program or finding suitable alternatives if they cannot migrate immediately, while also needing to plan a move to Windows 11 to ensure long-term safety and stability.
