- Starting June 17, 2021, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 won’t get driver updates anymore.
- Enterprises with value licensing will continue to get support through the Extended Security Update (ESU) program.
- The company is doing this because it no longer uses SHA-1 Trusted Root Certificate Authority, which expired on May 9.
Devices running Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 will no longer receive driver updates via Windows Update starting June 17, 2021. According to BleepingComputer (via Window Central), Microsoft has officially stopped supporting driver download through its Windows Update service.
On a Tech Community post, the company says that it’s doing this after the SHA-1 Trusted Root Certificate Authority expired on May 9, 2021. Since the company is no longer using the certificate, “partners utilizing the Microsoft Trusted Root Program could publish incompatible SHA-2 signed drivers to unpatched” versions of Windows, and this could cause degraded functionality or prevent computers from booting.
As a result, to prevent compatibility issues, Microsoft is stopping the “publishing of SHA-2 signed drivers to Windows Update that target Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2 devices on June 17, 2021.”
While consumers with Windows 7 devices will no longer get driver updates, the company points out that updates will continue to be available for enterprise customers with Volume Licensing agreements in an Extended Security Update (ESU) program to ensure optimal driver reliability.
Windows 7 has reached the end of service on January 14, 2020. If you are still using this version of the OS, it’s recommended to upgrade to the most recent version of Windows 10 to continue getting support.
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 15 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 21 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. Email him at [email protected].