Microsoft to end support for original Windows 10 release on March 26

By: Jay Decenella

▪ January 24, 2017 ▪

2 minute read

The original release of Windows 10 will reach its terminus on March 26 after Microsoft rolled out the updated media for its Windows 10 Anniversary Update to business customers. The last time the Windows 10 Anniversary Update for the Current Branch for Business became available was on November 29 last year.

Microsoft released the latest media to Windows Update for Business, Windows Server Update Services, and MSDN Subscriptions. The software giant now plans to post the files on the Volume Licensing Service Center on January 26. Microsoft explains in a blog announcing the media release:

“As we mentioned in our November 29th blog post, for many organizations, no specific action is needed. If you have already installed the December cumulative update (KB 3201845), or any later cumulative update, that device is already running the equivalent of what was declared to be CBB.”

The Redmond company will kick off the 60-day countdown toward the end of support for Windows 10 version 1507 once it rolls out the media to VLSC. That will effectively put an end to the original version of Windows 10 released in July 2015 because Microsoft supports only the latest two versions for the CBB.

As a result, Microsoft will also begin the 60-day countdown for Windows 10 update version 1511 that the company released in November once the Creators Update sees the light of day in April.

The end of support for Windows 10 version 1507 only applies to the Current Branch for Business. That means the Long-Term Servicing Branch will continue to support this version. Nonetheless, Microsoft currently recommends the Windows 10 Anniversary Update version 1607 for all branches. The company already declared the Anniversary Update as the supported version for all branches.