Windows 8 · Version Status
Windows 8 End of Life Date
Windows 8 end-of-life date, support status, and CVE risk. Data from endoflife.date and official vendor documentation.
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Windows 8 is past end of life. This version no longer receives security patches. 3770 days past EOL — migrate to a supported version immediately.
EOL Date
Jan 12, 2016
3770 days past EOL
Latest Release
6.2.9200
Standard release
Release Date
Oct 30, 2012
Windows 8 series
| Version | Latest | EOL Date | Status |
|---|
| 5-sp3 |
5.1.2600 |
Apr 8, 2014 |
EOL |
| 6-sp2 |
6.0.6200 |
Apr 11, 2017 |
EOL |
| 7-sp1 |
6.1.7601 |
Jan 14, 2020 |
EOL |
| → 8 |
6.2.9200 |
Jan 12, 2016 |
EOL |
| 8.1 |
6.3.9600 |
Jan 10, 2023 |
EOL |
| 10-1507-iot |
10.0.10240 |
Nov 10, 2020 |
EOL |
| 10-1507 |
10.0.10240 |
May 9, 2017 |
EOL |
| 10-1507-e-lts LTS |
10.0.10240 |
Oct 14, 2025 |
EOL |
What does Windows 8 end of life mean?
When Windows 8 reaches end of life, the maintainers stop issuing security patches for this version. CVEs discovered after the EOL date are publicly disclosed on the National Vulnerability Database with no patch available. Exploit code frequently appears on GitHub within days of disclosure.
The CVE blind spot: Most vulnerability scanners check for known CVEs but do not flag the ongoing accumulation of unpatched vulnerabilities in EOL software versions. Running Windows 8 past its EOL date creates a permanently growing attack surface that standard security tooling will not surface.
Migrate to Windows 11-26h1-e or implement compensating controls — network segmentation, enhanced monitoring, restricted access — while migration is underway.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Windows 8 reach end of life?
Windows 8 reached end of life on January 12, 2016. This version is no longer receiving security patches.
Is Windows 8 still supported?
No. Windows 8 reached end of life on January 12, 2016 and is no longer receiving security patches.
What should I upgrade to from Windows 8?
The recommended upgrade from Windows 8 is
Windows 11-26h1-e — the latest actively supported version. Check the
Windows full timeline for all supported versions.
What are the security risks of running Windows 8 past EOL?
When Windows 8 reaches end of life, the maintainers stop issuing security patches. Any CVEs disclosed after the EOL date accumulate with no remediation path. Most vulnerability scanners do not flag this — it is the CVE blind spot. Organizations running EOL Windows should migrate immediately or implement compensating controls.