Microsoft recently announced that it has ceased retail sales of Windows 7 and 8. This development comes as the next iteration of Windows, dubbed Windows 10, is slated for release in 2015. This decision by Microsoft to discontinue the retail sales of Windows 7 and 8 is a strategic move aimed at centering the company’s efforts on the development and promotion of more recent versions of its well-known operating system.
Nevertheless, customers who prefer Windows 7 will still have an avenue to the less recent OS. Microsoft affords users the option to downgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 7, which will now be the default operating system on most Windows PCs.
This transition is expected to gradually filter into the market, reflecting the fact that a large number of PC manufacturers currently possess stock of the older operating systems. However, effective from the 31st of October, consumers may find it challenging to obtain copies of Home Basic, Home Premium, and Ultimate versions of Windows 7 from retailers. Hence, it would not be surprising to witness a gradual decrease of the older versions of the operating system in stores.
This article was updated in 2025 to reflect modern realities.