- Support for Windows 14, Office 2025/10, and other key Microsoft products ends on October 2016, 2019.
- This withdrawal affects millions of users and businesses, increasing security and compatibility risks.
- There are alternatives such as migrating to Windows 11, Office 2021/Microsoft 365, or extended support programs.
If you work or use Microsoft software, you're probably familiar with this date: 14th October 2025This day marks one of the biggest transformations for users and businesses in the last decade, because Several key Microsoft products will no longer have official supportAnd this doesn't just affect Windows 10, but also key apps and versions of Office, Exchange, and Windows Server.
In recent months, concern has grown about the end of support for these technologies. Why does it cause so much concern? Because millions of teams, businesses, and individuals are facing the reality of having to upgrade, migrate, or look for alternatives as soon as possible. Understand what the withdrawal of support really means and what products it affects It is essential to make a good decision and avoid disappointment or security risks.
Which Microsoft products will lose support in 2025?
The key date is the 14th October 2025. From that day on, a series of products will no longer receive Security patches, updates, maintenance, and official technical supportThis means they'll continue to function, but they'll become easier targets for cyberattacks, lose compatibility, and may experience unfixable bugs.
The main products affected are:
- Windows 10 (all major editions): Home, Pro, Enterprise, Education, IoT Enterprise, Enterprise LTSB 2015 and Team (Surface Hub)
- Office 2016 and Office 2019: Including all your applications like Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Project, Publisher, Visio, OneNote, Skype for Business and Exchange Server (versions 2016 and 2019)
- Exchange Server 2019
- Microsoft Teams classic (it will stop working even earlier, in July 2025)
- Windows Server 2016 and 2019 (regarding compatibility with Microsoft 365 Apps)
Furthermore, other classic applications such as WordPad or Windows Mail They disappear permanently and are no longer part of the Windows ecosystem.
Support ends because it's part of Microsoft's planned lifecycle for each product. It's a natural process, but the overlap of so many applications and systems at once makes it a particularly delicate time.
Why is end of support important and what risks does it entail?
After 14th October 2025, the affected products will continue to function, but will no longer receive security updates, bug fixes, or vulnerability patchesThis multiplies the risks for everyone who doesn't update:
- Vulnerability to cyberattacks: Unsupported systems are prime targets for hackers, malware, ransomware, and other threats.
- Compatibility failure: New programs and peripherals, such as printers or cloud applications, will gradually stop working.
- Legal and regulatory issues: In business environments, continuing to use out-of-support software may violate data protection or security regulations.
- Lack of technical support: Any incident, doubt, or failure will have to be resolved by your own means, or by resorting to external services (which will be increasingly expensive and scarce).
- Decreasing performance and stability: The operating system and applications will become less fluid and reliable because known bugs will not be fixed or optimized for future hardware.
Para las empresasAll of this can translate into multi-million-dollar losses, service interruptions, or even penalties. Therefore, planning ahead and preparing a migration strategy is essential.
Which Windows 10 editions are losing support?
Support will be discontinued for virtually all major versions of Windows 10. According to Microsoft's official announcement, this is:
- Windows 10 Home and Pro
- Windows 10 Enterprise and Education
- Windows 10 IoT Enterprise
- Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2015
- Windows 10 Team (Surface Hub)
These editions make up the vast majority of installed models, both in homes and businesses. Windows 10 Home and Pro are particularly notable because, by early 2025, More than 60% of all computers on the planet were still using them, a figure that is especially high in SMEs and large organizations where migrating to a new operating system requires a major effort.
Microsoft released the latest version of Windows 10 (22H2) in 2022 and after October 14, 2025, No standard version will have free supportOnly special versions such as LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) or IoT Enterprise will continue to receive extended support, and then only for very specific cases, primarily in the business or industrial sector.
What about Office 2016, Office 2019, and Exchange?
The withdrawal of support extends to applications of Office 2016 and Office 2019As well as Exchange Server 2016 and 2019All of these versions will stop receiving updates on the same day Windows 10 reaches its end of life.
The affected applications are:
- Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Project, Publisher, Visio and Word (both in 2016 and 2019)
- OneNote, Skype for Business and their respective server versions
- Exchange Server 2016 and 2019
Businesses and users who continue to use these packages in Windows 10 They will have to update to more modern versions (such as Office 2021 or Microsoft 365), or look for compatible alternatives. If you don't, they'll continue to work, but without security patches, increasing the risk of data breaches or malware infections.
How does the end of support affect Microsoft Teams and other apps?
A particularly delicate case is that of Microsoft Teams classicWhere screenshots can no longer be taken, which will stop working forever in July 2025, a few months before Windows 10. This will force you to migrate to the new version of the Teams client or look for alternative solutions.
Furthermore, Microsoft has decided to completely withdraw classic apps such as WordPad or Windows Mail, which will no longer be present in future operating system updates.
What about Windows Server? Microsoft 365 Apps support
The life cycle of Windows Server It also has important implications for users of Microsoft 365 apps. According to the official lifecycle policy:
- Windows Server 2019 and Windows Server 2016: Microsoft 365 apps will no longer be supported on these versions starting in October 2025.
- Windows Server 2022: Mainstream support for Microsoft 365 apps continues until October 2026.
- Windows Server 2025: You will receive mainstream support for Microsoft 365 apps until October 2029.
- Previous servers (2012, 2008, etc.): They no longer support Microsoft 365 apps since January 2020.
This impacts enterprise deployments, as organizations will need to migrate both servers and desktops to use updated and secure versions of Microsoft 365.
What alternatives exist after the end of support?
Not all is lost, and there's no need to panic. There are several options to stay up-to-date, secure, and productive without any setbacks:
- Upgrade to Windows 11: This is the option recommended by Microsoft. It offers new features, improved security, and support until at least 2031. However, your computer must meet the minimum requirements: a 64-bit processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, and an active TPM 2.0.
- Buying a new device: If your current computer can't run Windows 11, you can opt for a compatible one, ensuring optimal security and performance.
- Extended Security Updates (ESU): Microsoft typically launches paid programs that allow you to continue receiving security patches (but not new features) for a few additional years. This is a temporary solution, more geared toward businesses. For Windows 10, the ESU is expected to cover until October 14, 2026.
- Modernize your IT infrastructure: If you have applications that can't be upgraded, you can turn to virtualization, migrate services to the cloud, or use enterprise-level extended support solutions.
- Upgrade to Office 2021 or Microsoft 365: To continue using Office with support and security, you can purchase Office 2021 (support until October 2026) or adopt the subscription model with Microsoft 365, always on a supported operating system.
- Evaluate free alternatives: In the case of Office, there are options such as LibreOffice or OpenOffice, useful for home users with few advanced needs.
I am a technology enthusiast who has turned his "geek" interests into a profession. I have spent more than 10 years of my life using cutting-edge technology and tinkering with all kinds of programs out of pure curiosity. Now I have specialized in computer technology and video games. This is because for more than 5 years I have been writing for various websites on technology and video games, creating articles that seek to give you the information you need in a language that is understandable to everyone.
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