Windows 7 64bit support lifecycle?

A Former User

Is there any information regarding when the ability to run on Windows 7 64bit is likely to end? I have moved backward from Windows 10 to Windows 7 in an attempt to have an enjoyable UX again and it is like a breath of fresh air. I was worried at first when many secure websites did not work but several hundred Windows Updates later and the Root certificates were updated to allow things to run properly.

Now that I feel like I have some digital "sanctuary" back in my life I am wondering how comfortable I should get with the situation...?

I thought BSD or Linux would be a good option, but not much compares to Windows 7! So here I am.

leocg

leocg Moderator Volunteer @Guest

@pv9685 There is no info about it as far as I know.

Based on what happened in XP/Vista situation, they will simply announce the end of support when they release the last supported version.

burnout426

burnout426 Volunteer

This article says January 15, 2023 will be the end of support for Windows 7 in Chrome. If Chromium starts failing to work on Windows 7 then, it will automatically affect Opera (unless Opera does workarounds, which I doubt will happen).

blackbird71

blackbird71 @Guest

@pv9685 If the experience of Windows XP's end-of-support "descent profile" is any precedent, there are some negative things you will face with Windows 7 going forward. As time goes by, increasing numbers of updated/new programs (browsers, applications, games, etc) will no longer support Win7. That means their new manifestations either may still work in Win7, may work with certain impaired functions, or fail to work at all. If you have a reasonably stable suite of user software on your present system that you don't intend to update/upgrade, this may present you no user-facing issues - for a while.

However, eventually you are likely to find that two program types in particular will give increasing compatibility problems of significance: browsers and antivirus programs. Once compatibility with Win7 is dropped by those program types, you will face immediate security risks if you intend to take that system online. In the case of browsers ending their Win7 support, you may be able to migrate to other brands still supporting Win7 for a time, but eventually you will run out of options and face the very real security risks of taking a vulnerable browser model online. Since a browser reveals its brand and model (its user agent string) whenever contacting a website, any site containing malware can immediately recognize an obsolete browser and attempt to attack its known vulnerabilities.

In the case of antivirus, a similar situation will eventually come to exist... support for Win7 will wither away, leaving you with the choice of no longer updating the AV or simply running the system "barefoot" with no AV protection.

Based on experience with XP, the time for various forms of program support to end for an obsolete OS is likely to be within a 3-10 year window after Win7's end-of-life. The longer an out-of-support system is run, the more compatibility issues will arise.