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Starting from August 2026, Microsoft has announced that it will stop adding new features to Microsoft 365 Office apps on Windows 10, signaling a major shift in its software development strategy.
While users on the older operating system will still receive security updates until October 10, 2028, they will need to upgrade to Windows 11 to benefit from any new features or improvements in apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
The transition will roll out in phases across Microsoft 365 update channels. Personal, Family, and business users on the Current Channel will lose access to new features in August 2026.
Users on the Monthly Enterprise Channel will see feature updates stop by October 13, 2026, while the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel will no longer receive new features after January 12, 2027.
This decision comes even after Microsoft reversed an earlier plan to end security updates for Windows 10 users. While critical patches will continue for several more years, Microsoft is making it clear that new functionality and innovations will be reserved for Windows 11 users only.
This includes the latest AI-powered tools and performance improvements being integrated into Microsoft 365.
Microsoft also confirmed that general support for Windows 10 will officially end on October 14, 2025, but users who enable Windows Backup will receive one free year of extended security updates. After that, organizations may need to pay for continued protection.
The move is part of Microsoft’s broader strategy to push users toward adopting Windows 11, which now has a larger active user base than Windows 10.
The company emphasizes that Windows 11 offers a more secure, faster, and future-ready experience, particularly as AI features become central to its productivity tools.
