Microsoft releases new versions of Windows 10 twice a year, and if you’re reluctant to download the latest and greatest, you might end up seeing a Windows 10 error code or message about “end of service.” This isn’t something to worry about, though, as it just means your PC needs to be updated. You won’t lose files, your important data, or anything else. The solution is quite easy, and here’s how to fix it.
What Does The “Your Windows 10 Version Is Nearing End Of Service” Error Code Mean?
Before getting into the solution, we want to provide some context as to why Microsoft is pushing you this message. This not only will help educate you, but it also will help explain the way how Windows 10 works, as it’s quite different from other releases like Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows Vista. Keep in mind, we’re only talking about Windows 10 Home and Pro. Windows 10 Enterprise has its own cycle.
Particularly, if you’re currently running Windows 10 version 1909 or older (also known as the November 2019 Update) then you might be seeing this error message. But what does it mean? Well, when you see “your Windows 10 version is nearing end of service,” it means Microsoft is soon no longer going to update the version of Windows 10 on your PC. Your PC will continue to work and you can dismiss the message if you want, but there are risks, as we’ll end this section with.
As we previously hinted, that’s because Microsoft releases major Windows 10 versions twice a year. Once in the spring, and another time in the fall. Because of this, Microsoft has a schedule for when it stops supporting certain Windows versions. You can see these below in the table. As a reminder, you can check your Windows version by clicking the Start Menu and typing in “winver” and then accepting the prompt. Check under where it says “Microsoft Windows” to see the Windows version number.
| Windows 10 Version | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Version 20H2 (Windows 10 October 2020 Update) | 10/20/2020 | 05/10/2022 |
| Version 2004 (Windows 10 May 2020 Update) | 05/27/2020 | 12/14/2021 |
| Version 1909 (Windows 10 November 2019 Update) | 11/12/2019 | 05/11/2021 |
| Version 1903 (Windows 10 May 2019 Update) | 05/21/2019 | 12/08/2020 |
| Version 1809 (Windows October 2018 Update) | 11/13/2018 | 11/10/2020 |
| Version 1803 (Windows 10 April 2018 Update) | 04/30/2018 | 11/12/2019 |
| Version 1709 (Windows 10 Fall Creators Update) | 10/17/2017 | 04/09/2019 |
| Version 1703 (Windows 10 Creators Update) | 04/05/2017 | 10/09/2018 |
| Version 1607 (Windows 10 Anniversary Update) | 08/02/2016 | 04/10/2018 |
| Version 1511 (Windows 10 November Update) | 11/10/2015 | 10/10/2017 |
| Version 1507 (Original Windows 10 version) | 07/29/2015 | 05/09/2017 |
Microsoft is no longer supporting Windows 10 version 1903 and older, which means these versions of Windows no longer get security patches. If you’re running these older versions of Windows, this puts your computer at risk for viruses and other attacks. It’s why the message appears, to let you know it’s time for an update.
How To Fix The “Your Windows 10 Version Is Nearing End Of Service” Message
To fix and get rid of this message, you should update your PC as soon as possible. The easiest way to do this is to visit Windows Update. Click the Start Menu and search for Settings. Then click Update and Security. From there, you can then click Check for Updates to automatically have Windows 10 download the newest version of the operating system.
You can keep using your PC while the update downloads, and when ready, you’ll be prompted to reboot. Coming from an older version of Windows, the update might take a while. You won’t lose any of your files, and your apps won’t be deleted. Everything will remain in place.
The update will be free, and you won’t need to pay anything. If you’re coming from an older version of Windows 10, you’ll even be getting new features. Each new version of Windows brings new features and fixes, too. It’s not something you want to miss out on. A summary of some of the new features in each of the two most modern versions of Windows 10 can be seen in the table below.
| Windows 10 version | New Features |
|---|---|
| Version 20H2 (October 2020 Update) | The new Microsoft Edge browser, ALT+Tab to access open tabs, new look for Start Menu, improved 2-in-1 tablet mode experience |
| Version 2004 (May 2020 Update) | A new Cortana experience, accessibility improvements, virtual desktop improvements, Windows Search improvements. |
Usually, if you’re seeing “your Windows 10 version is nearing end of service” and you update via Windows Update, you’ll get the latest version of Windows installed. Currently, the latest version of Windows is Windows 10, version 20H2, otherwise known as the Windows 10 October 2020 Update.
What If Windows Update Doesn’t Help Fix The Error?
Usually, going to Windows Update will help resolve any errors, but if that doesn’t work, there are some backups. You might see an automatic message appear on the screen to “Update to the latest version of Windows 10.” This message will let you click on an “Update now” button to download the latest Windows 10 version. It works the same way as Windows Update would.
If all else fails, you can download the Windows 10 Update Assistant to help you update Windows 10. Just visit Microsoft’s website, and download the tool and save it to your desktop. Then, choose “Upgrade this PC now” after you launch it.
Final Notes
We hope that you’ve now solved the issue for you, but we have some final notes. Once you update Windows 10, you’ll be in a new lifecycle.
Scottish Microsoft Dude 