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With Windows 10's end-of-support looming, support for Office apps is also on the chopping block.
"Microsoft 365 Apps will no longer be supported after October 14, 2025, on Windows 10 devices," Microsoft says in a blog post. "To use Microsoft 365 Applications on your device, you will need to upgrade to Windows 11."
End of support doesn't mean the apps will stop working, Microsoft says on a separate support page. It means that Office apps will stop receiving new features as well as security and other quality updates. So, Microsoft strongly recommends upgrading to Windows 11 "to avoid performance and reliability issues over time."
Microsoft's cut-off date for Office apps coincides with the end of support for Windows 10. Individuals who wish to stay on the older OS can get a one-year extension for $30. Businesses can get a three-year extension, starting at $61 for the first year. Education customers can pay $1 per license for the first year, $2 for the second, and $4 for the third.
At CES 2025, Microsoft dubbed 2025 "the year of the Windows 11 PC refresh." However, the adoption of Microsoft's operating system has been slow. According to StatCounter, 62.73% of PCs still run Windows 10, while 34.1% run Windows 11. This could be partially due to the strict, non-negotiable hardware requirements for the latest OS.