Windows 7

Windows 7

Windows 7 running on a laptop
Developer	Microsoft Corporation
OS family	Microsoft Windows
Source model	Closed source / Shared source
Released to manufacturing	July 22, 2009; 15 years ago (2009-07-22)
General availability	October 22, 2009; 14 years ago
Latest release	Service Pack 1 with January 2023 monthly update rollup (6.1.7601.26321)[1] / February 8, 2023; 21 months ago (2023-02-08)[2]
Update method	Windows Update
Platforms	IA-32 and x86-64
Kernel type	Hybrid
License	Proprietary commercial software
Preceded by	Windows Vista[3]
Succeeded by	Windows 8
Official website	microsoft.com/en-us/windows/
Support status
Mainstream support ended on January 13, 2015.[4] Extended support ended on January 14, 2020. Windows 7 was eligible for the Extended Security Updates (ESU) service. This service was available via specific volume licensing programs for Professional & Enterprise editions, and via OEMs for some Windows 7 editions, in yearly installments. Security updates were available for the operating system until January 10, 2023.[5][6] Exceptions exist, such as for Azure customers until 2024, and see also § Support lifecycle for details. Installing Service Pack 1 is required for users to receive updates and support after April 9, 2013.[7][8] The installation of a Service Pack 1 was required for all users in order to receive security updates and support after April 9, 2013.

Windows 7 is a no-longer supported version of Microsoft Windows, an operating system for personal computers. It is the successor to Windows Vista, the sixth major release of the Windows operating system. According to Microsoft, Windows 7 improves the speed, reliability, and compatibility from Windows Vista.

Windows 7 was once the most popular Windows version by far, but is by now third most popular with a tiny market share.

The beta version of Windows 7 was released on January 9, 2009, and the release candidate was released on May 5. The final version of Windows 7 was sent to PC manufacturers on July 22, 2009, so that they have three months to change it and include it with their computers. Windows 7 was released to the public on October 22, 2009. On January 22, 2020, Microsoft Internet Games Services stopped working on Windows 7. Extended Security Updates (ESU) is a paid computer program which allowed to receive security updates for some Microsoft products for 3 years after the end of extended support date, which is now in the past, excluding for some embedded editions and for Azure customers of the its server counterpart, Windows Server 2008 R2.

1. ↑ "Windows 7 SP1 Security Monthly Quality Rollup x64-based". Microsoft. February 8, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
2. ↑ "2023-01 Security Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB5022338)". Microsoft Update Catalog. Microsoft. February 8, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
3. ↑ Thadani, Rahul (September 6, 2010). "Windows 7 System Requirements". Buzzle. Archived from the original on July 6, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
4. ↑ Microsoft. "Windows 7 Lifecycle Policy". Microsoft. Retrieved October 22, 2009.
5. ↑ Spataro, Jared (September 6, 2018). "Helping customers shift to a modern desktop". Microsoft Corporation. Archived from the original on May 20, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
6. ↑ "Lifecycle FAQ-Extended Security Updates". support.microsoft.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2019. The Extended Security Update (ESU) program is a last resort option for customers who need to run certain legacy Microsoft products past the end of support.
7. ↑ "Microsoft Support Lifecycle". Support. Microsoft. Archived from the original on November 8, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
8. ↑ Rose, Stephen L (February 14, 2013). "Windows 7 RTM End Of Support Is Right Around The Corner". Springboard Series Blog. Microsoft. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2013.