The original Windows 10 version 1507 that launched in July 2015 will reach the end of support on March 26 this year, Microsoft has confirmed.
The news is not exactly surprising as the company previously warned that this moment will come, and the company has launched several updates since the original release of Windows 10.
"After March 26, 2017, Windows 10, version 1507 will no longer be serviced, as only the two most Current Branch for Business (CBB) versions are actively serviced," explains Nathan Mercer, a senior product marketing manager at Microsoft.
What This Means
The March 26 end-of-support date means that from then on, the original Windows 10 version 1507 will no longer receive updates, including security patches. That said, the version will still continue to work, but it will not be up to date.
The move falls in line with Microsoft's year-month labeling for Windows 10 editions and is strategy to have only two CBB versions supported at the same time. With Windows 10 version 1607 reaching the CBB track back in November, the end of support for the original version 1507 was expected.
Ending support for the original version from two years ago marks an important milestone in Microsoft's new model for Windows 10, treating the software as a service.
With only two CBB versions supported concurrently, it means that when a new version hits the CBB track the oldest one has roughly 60 days until it falls off the support list.
Windows 10 version 1507 was followed by version 1511 in November 2015, then version 1607 that was announced in November 2016. Version 1607 becomes broadly available this month, which means the end of support for the old version 1507 in late March falls right on track with the schedule. The same thing will then happen with version 1511 as soon as a new version follows version 1607 in the CBB.
According to Mercer, Microsoft launched an updated 1607 version via Windows Update for Business (WUB) and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) and MSDN Subscriptions on Jan. 19. The same CBB-eligible build will hit the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) on Jan. 26, allowing customers to download the disk images.
Microsoft determines the 60-day countdown for older CBB builds based on the availability date of the new build in the VLSC.
"With the availability of Windows 10, version 1607 to the VLSC on Jan. 26, the 60-day grace period for Windows 10, version 1507 will begin."
That means, after March 26th, 2017, Windows 10, version 1507 will no longer be serviced as only the two most Current Branch for Business (CBB) versions are actively serviced," Mercer further explains.
What To Do
As previously mentioned, the original Windows 10 version 1507 will continue to work even after March 26, but it will no longer receive any updates. This means that users currently running that version will be able to keep using it, but it's highly recommended to move to a newer version.
In this case, Windows 10 users who are still running version 1507 are advised to update their software as soon as possible. Those who are already running version 1607 don't have to do anything, and neither do businesses that have already placed their Windows 10 machines on the CB track.
To check out the various Windows 10 versions and see when each of them got its last update, head over to Microsoft's website.
