With its focus on Windows 11, the Microsoft it still maintains Windows 10 as an alternative for those who cannot or do not want to upgrade to the new version. The news has slowed down, but the necessary security updates and corrections are still maintained.
To have this updated version, Microsoft is forced to make some decisions. To do this, it will start blocking updates to older versions of Windows 10.
With each new major update that is released, Microsoft tries to get users to keep up with the new version. Only in this way are the news made available and all the necessary corrections applied to the systems that are already being used.
Since that step is not always taken, Microsoft has to take some more unpopular measures with users. The simplest, and most commonly used, way is to end support and make an upgrade mandatory. Now it looks like it's going to take new measures, also not very popular.
"After March 2023, there are no more non-security preview releases for supported editions of Windows 10, version 20H2 and version 21H2. Only the monthly cumulative security updates (known as version “B” or Update Tuesday) will continue for these releases. Windows 10, version 22H2 will continue to receive security updates and optional releases".
BUT: Microsoft Edge will stop supporting Windows 7 and Windows 8.1
What can be read in the changelog since the last update, in addition to new fixes, there is a new rule that will be put into practice. The older versions, and spoken of 20H1 and 21H2, miss part of the updates of these older versions of Windows 10.
This change comes to limit what will be made available for these older versions of Windows 10. It will limit itself to presenting the normal monthly security corrections, leaving the 22H2 version to be maintained completely and with all the news, if any. exist.
It should be noted that Windows 10 version 20H2 is already out of support for most editions, but it is compatible with Enterprise, Education and IoT Enterprise clients until May 9, 2023. On the other hand, Windows 10 version 21H2 is compatible with Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstation SKUs through June 13, 2023 and through June 11, 2024 for Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise customers.
These are the two versions of Windows 10 affected by this announcement and will not receive Microsoft's optional preview updates starting in March of this year. They still receive cumulative security updates until the end of their lifecycle.
