Microsoft has announced that it will discontinue the Windows 10 Home and Pro licenses sale from January 31st, 2021. The company stated that the platform will continue to support the operating system until October 2025 but will no longer offer licenses for the two versions of Windows 10.
The announcement is part of Microsoft’s efforts to move away from the traditional Windows licensing model. The company has been transitioning to a cloud-based subscription model with its Windows 10 S, Windows 10 Pro for Workstations, and Windows 10 in S mode offering.
Microsoft has yet to reveal what will happen to those who purchased a Home or Pro license before the cutoff date. The company has indicated that users will still be able to activate their Windows 10 installation using a product key. However, there is no guarantee that the license will be valid beyond October 2025.
The move will likely affect those planning to buy a new PC or upgrade from an older version of Windows, like to upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8 Licenses will no longer be able to purchase a Windows 10 license from Microsoft.
However, users will still have to abandon the Windows platform completely. Microsoft is still offering extended support for Windows 7 until January 2022 and Windows 8.1 until January 2023. This means those looking to upgrade to an older version of Windows can do so without purchasing a Windows 10 license.
It is also worth noting that while Microsoft will no longer be selling licenses for Windows 10 Home and Pro, the company will continue to provide security updates and other support services for those versions of Windows. This means that while users may not purchase licenses for these versions, they will still be able to get support and security updates until October 2025.
Overall, Microsoft’s decision to stop selling Windows 10 licenses is likely to significantly impact those looking to upgrade their PC or purchase a new one. While the company is still offering extended support for older versions of Windows, those looking to upgrade to Windows 10 can no longer purchase a license from Microsoft.