Microsoft started reminding its customers still using Windows 8.1 that this operating system will reach the EOL (end-of-life) on January 10th, 2023.
This means that Windows 8.1 machines will continue to work after that date, but users will no longer receive any security updates or bug and performance fixes. This deadline also brings the end of technical support from Microsoft of any kind for the Windows 8.1 operating system.
Mainstream support for Windows 8.1 was set back in 2018. Since then Microsoft has stopped adding any new features to it. Unlike some other Windows versions, Microsoft will not be offering an Extended Security Updates program where users can pay a fee for up to three years to continue receiving critical and security updates.
According to StatCounter, there is still 2.53% of people that are using Windows 8.1.
How many users are still actually using Windows 8.1 is unclear. The company said that in January 1.4 billion devices were running Windows 10 or Windows 11. When combined with Statcounter estimates this suggests that around 40 million devices are still running Windows 8.1 which is a huge number that could attract attackers to try to spot and exploit security holes in this soon-to-be outdated system.