Like XP and 7 before it, Microsoft is pulling the plug on support for Windows 8.1 after nearly ten years of service.
Usually regarded as an awkward in-between version of the venerable operating system, 8.1 included more tablet-friendly features and paved the way for many components we use in Windows 10 and 11 today. Unlike Windows 7, however, 8.1 will not receive what Microsoft calls its Extended Security Update program, as 8.1 never reached the user levels of XP and 7. After January 10, 2023, you cannot expect to receive timely security updates for Windows 8.1.
If you still have a personal device running Windows 8.1, it would be an excellent time to upgrade to a newer version of Windows that will still receive security updates. Here at SMU, the vast majority of our devices have already been upgraded to supported versions of Windows.
Additional information on the end of support for Windows 8.1 is available directly from our friends at Microsoft.
