Redmond reveals more details on the Windows 8 lifecycle

Oct 14, 2013 05:14 GMT  ·  By

Windows 8.1 will be launched on Friday, so Microsoft hopes that most, if not all Windows 8 users, will make the move to its new platform.

The company announced on the official support page that Windows 8 users have only two years to deploy Windows 8.1 in order to remain under the same lifecycle policy announced at launch. This means that in case you won’t be deploying Windows 8.1, your Windows 8 version will go dark on October 18, 2015.

“Windows 8 customers will have two years to move to Windows 8.1 after the General Availability of the Windows 8.1 update to continue to remain supported under the Windows 8 lifecycle,” Microsoft said in the official Windows 8.1 Support Lifecycle Policy page.

Support for users who decide to make the move to Windows 8.1 will continue to be offered until January 10, 2023, Redmond also revealed.