Microsoft warns: get off Windows 10 1703, no patches after October 9

Admins managing PCs running Windows 10 version 1703 — aka the Creators Update from early 2017 — need to update as soon as possible, according to Microsoft. 

Microsoft has alerted enterprise customers using the Enterprise and Education editions of Windows 10, version 1703, that it will stop releasing security updates from October 9. Microsoft released version 1703 on April 5, 2017.

The official end-of-life (EOL) for this version of Windows 10 comes ahead of the Windows 7 extended-EOL that’s marked for January 14, 2020. However, in the case of Windows 10, Microsoft will not supply patches for version 1703 after the EOL cut-off dates, whereas Windows 7 allows customers to pay for extended contracts for security patches. 

Microsoft on Monday posted a warning on its Windows 10 message center, advising customers that “the Enterprise and Education editions of Windows 10, version 1703 (the Windows 10 Creators Update) will reach end of life on October 9, 2019.”

That patches won’t be available after the cut-off date for Windows 10 1703 is part of Microsoft’s move to ‘Windows as a service’ model, where it’s released new versions of Windows 10 every 6 months around March and September and set new deadlines for organizations to receive patches.  

“There is no extended support available for any edition of Windows 10, version 1703,” Microsoft said. “Therefore, it will no longer be supported after October 9, 2019 and will not receive monthly security and quality updates containing protections from the latest security threats.”

Windows 10 1703 Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, and IoT Core editions reached end of service on October 8, 2018.

Microsoft recommends that customers update devices to the latest version of Windows 10, which is version 1903, otherwise known as the May 2019 Update.

The current deadline is the result of two extensions and reflects the problems Microsoft has had in shifting customers to its new Windows 10 servicing model, which has moved too fast for some customers and used confusing nomenclature to describe stages of the rollout for enterprise customers. 

In February 2018, Microsoft extended support for Windows 10 version 1703 for Enterprise and Education customers by six months, moving EOL to April 9, 2019. The October 9, 2019 EOL is another six month extension from those outlined in February last year. 

Microsoft changed course again this year in the wake of data deletion bugs that hampered the Windows 10 version 1809 rollout from September 2019. 

As per Microsoft’s current support document regarding “updates to servicing and support for Windows 10 (published Sept 6, 2018)”, Windows 10 Enterprise and Education March feature updates will be serviced for 18 months from the release date, while September features updates will be served for 30 months

In light of recently discovered security flaws that Microsoft believes could be as bad as WannaCry, organizations with devices on Windows 10 1703 should probably update to a supported version of Windows 10.