Microsoft 365: Support after the end of Windows 10 support

Microsoft has now explained how to deal with Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 after the end of support for the operating system. Spoiler: Even after the official end of support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, Microsoft 365 apps will continue to receive support under the outdated operating system – but with restrictions.

First, Microsoft explains in a support article that apps such as Word will, of course, continue to work when Windows 10 reaches the end of support. However, the use of an unsupported operating system could lead to a loss of performance and reliability of MS 365 apps. Therefore, organizations that are still using MS 365 apps under Windows 10 should migrate to Windows 11.

Migration assistance from Microsoft: extended security updates

"To stay secure during the transition to Windows 11, Microsoft will continue to provide security updates for Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 for three years after Windows 10 reaches end of support," Microsoft promises. "These updates will be delivered through the standard update channels and will end on October 10, 2028."

However, Microsoft is restricting support as usual when products reach the end of their lifecycle. Customers with a valid MS 365 subscription can continue to open support cases. However, if the MS 365 apps are running on Windows 10, the following restrictions apply: If the problem only occurs with MS 365 apps on Windows 10 – whether Windows 10 or Windows 10 with Extended Security Updates (ESU) – and not on Windows 11, Support will ask affected customers to switch to Windows 11.

If customers are unable to switch to Windows 11, Support will only provide troubleshooting assistance. Technical countermeasures may be limited or even unavailable. Support cases for MS 365 apps on Windows 10 (with or without ESU) do not include the option to report a bug or request other product updates. The final end of support will then coincide with the end of extended Windows 10 support in the ESU program.

Such restrictions are common at Microsoft. Around the time of the end of support for Windows 8.1, Microsoft also announced the end of support for Microsoft Office 2019 and newer under the operating system – if the problem relates to the outdated operating system.

(dmk)