Microsoft Windows

Support pattern

How Microsoft Windows has behaved across the cycles tracked here, rather than what its policy documents state. Useful for judging how much runway a version is likely to have before you commit to it.

Support windows have stayed consistent across the tracked history, so past cycles are a reasonable guide to what a new one will get.

Computed from release and end-of-life dates tracked for Microsoft Windows. Medians are used rather than averages so one unusually short or long release does not skew the figure. Cycles with no recorded end-of-life date are excluded from the support window.