Microsoft to start nagging Windows 7 users about end of support

The countdown to the end of support for Windows 7 has begun.

Windows 7 to Windows 11 upgrade
Windows 7 to Windows 11 upgrade

As support for Windows 7 is coming to an end on January 14, 2020, and to ensure that everyone is aware of the deadline, starting April 2019, devices running the decade-old operating system will begin receiving a “courtesy reminder” pop up on their desktop.

According to the company, the reminder should help to inform users that after the end deadline, their device will no longer receive maintenance or security updates. The notifications are expected to appear multiple times throughout the year, but if you prefer not to see them, you’ll be able to select the “do not notify me again” option to stop the reminders.

If you have a device running Windows 7, now is a good idea to upgrade to Windows 10, which not only is a far more secure operating system, but every time there’s a new release, you can install it for free.

If you need help preparing and upgrading to Windows 10, you can use this guide that includes everything you need to know. However, you’ll still need to buy a copy of Windows 10 before you can activate your device.

Although the end of support applies to every device, businesses with a volume license or Microsoft 365 subscription can enroll and pay a yearly fee per device for the Extended Security Update (ESU) plan to continue getting cumulative updates.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.