Windows 7 retiring January 2020

Two people work on a laptop.

Published January 14, 2020

After nearly ten years, Microsoft is ending support for the flagship Windows 7 operating system as of January 14, 2020. Find out what you can do to keep the Windows devices you rely on running safely and smoothly in the new decade. 

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If your Windows device is already running Windows 10, you won’t need to do anything. But if you use a device running Windows 7 at UB, whether personally or university-owned, it’s important to upgrade your operating system as soon as possible.

I'm running Windows 7. How can I upgrade?

Good news: free upgrades to Windows 10 are available to UB faculty, staff and students.

If you are a UB employee with a UB-owned work machine running Windows 7, talk to your IT support staff as soon as possible to arrange an upgrade to Windows 10.

If you’re a student with a personal device running Windows 7, visit the UBIT website to download your free upgrade to Windows 10 today.

Why is it important to upgrade?

Devices with outdated or unsupported software cannot connect to UB’s networks, per UB’s Minimum Security Standards. This means that, after January 14, 2020, your Windows 7 devices may not be able to connect to UB’s networks.

Why is this necessary? Outdated software can contain serious security flaws. Once these flaws are discovered, attackers target people using that outdated software, because they know the manufacturer will never update the software to fix the flaws.

A currently supported operating system like Windows 10, however, receives regular updates from Microsoft to fix security flaws before they can be widely exploited. This in turn disincentivizes attackers from taking advantage in the first place.

Using supported software, and keeping that software up to date, is a tested and true way to keep you, and everybody with whom you share a network, safer.  

Get help with software upgrades

Microsoft will no longer provide security updates for Windows 7 after January 14, 2020. Therefore, UB Tech Squad will no longer provide technical support for personally owned devices running Windows 7 or any other unsupported operating system.

If you’re a UB employee, your departmental IT staff can help you upgrade software on your university-owned device.