Microsoft details additional Surface product support lifecycles in new documentation

Microsoft on November 13 released a new webpage that details the product support and lifecycle periods for all of its Surface devices. As spotted by Mary Jo Foley at ZDnet, the webpage helps Surface customers plan and manage their hardware and software deployments.

According to Microsoft’s documentation, there are two parts to this support period. It includes the device support period, which is when a Surface will support driver and firmware updates up from when it was released — usually four years. There’s also the OS version support, too, which defines the operating system versions supported by Surface during the device support period.

If you’re confused, here’s what Microsoft has to say, putting it in simpler terms.

Surface devices will receive driver and firmware updates for at least 4 years from when the device was first released. In cases where the support duration is longer than 4 years, an updated end of servicing date will be published in advance of the date of last servicing.

Surface devices will receive driver and firmware updates for Windows OS versions released in the prior 30 months. Surface will not support Windows OS versions earlier than the OS versions supported at device release.

Keeping this in mind, there’s also another interesting note. According to Microsoft, once the device support period is concluded at the End of Servicing Date, devices will continue to receive Windows OS feature and security updates. This is in accordance with the Windows Lifecycle Policy. You can see these Surface support dates in the table below.

It’s interesting to see that Microsoft now has such a detailed page documenting the Surface device life cycle. It’s something that many Surface fans long requested.