Updates to be released until EOS for each OS version

Aug 12, 2016 06:14 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft has decided to extend support for Skylake processors on Windows 7 and 8.1 until the end of lifetime for both operating systems, thus changing the support cut-off for the second time since the original announcement in January.

Originally, Microsoft announced that computers with Skylake CPUs would receive updates on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 until July 2017, despite the fact that the former reaches EOS in January 2020 while the latter in January 2023.

Microsoft then reconsidered this decision and extended its support cut-off date to July 2018, with one additional major change: critical updates were supposed to be provided until the EOS for each operating system.

With today’s change, Microsoft will continue to provide security updates to Skylake devices until the end of life of both Windows 7 and 8.1, but the company still sticks with its original policy of providing updates to Kaby Lake and Bristol Ridge chips only on Windows 10. Furthermore, all future silicon releases will require the latest version of Windows 10, so you won’t be able to install Windows 7 and get updates if you purchase the future generations of CPUs.

“We’re listening to feedback”

Microsoft hasn’t said too much about the reasons that made it change this end-of-support date, but the company claims that it just wants to lend a hand to customers to “purchase modern hardware with confidence.”

“We recognize that, in some instances, customers have a few systems that require longer deployment timeframes. We listened to this feedback and today are sharing an update to our 6th Gen Intel Core (Skylake) support policy.* We have extended the support period from July 17, 2018 to the end of support dates for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1; and we will provide all applicable security updates,” the company says.

If you’re not sure whether a specific computer with Skylake is supported on Windows 7 and 8.1, check out this list with several OEMs and PCs (Microsoft says that the list is updated regularly with new models).