If your Perth business still runs Windows 10, here's the short version: from this month, Microsoft 365 apps — Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams — stop receiving new features and Copilot on Windows 10 PCs. Your apps keep working and keep getting security updates until 10 October 2028, so nothing breaks today. But the feature side is now frozen, and it's the clearest signal yet that it's time to plan your move to Windows 11. This isn't an emergency — it's a deadline taking shape, and the businesses that plan for it calmly will spend far less than the ones that scramble.
What actually changed in August 2026
Microsoft 365 Apps follow a "stay current" servicing model, which includes running on a supported version of Windows. Windows 10 itself reached end of support on 14 October 2025, so Office on Windows 10 has been living on borrowed time since then. August 2026 is the next milestone:
- Version 2608 is the last feature build for Windows 10. Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 receive feature updates and Copilot support (where eligible) up to Version 2608 — the August 2026 release — then stay pinned on that version.
- Security updates continue until 10 October 2028. For three years after Windows 10's end of support, Microsoft keeps delivering security patches for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 through the normal update channels. After that date, the apps stop being updated entirely.
- OneDrive is treated separately. The OneDrive desktop app keeps updating on Windows 10 22H2 through 10 October 2028. On older Windows 10 builds, OneDrive stops updating now — worth checking if you rely on it for file sync.
In plain terms: your Office apps won't suddenly vanish, but from this month they stop getting smarter. Every new capability and every Copilot improvement from here on lands on Windows 11 only.
"Do our computers still work?" Yes — with a catch
The apps keep running and keep getting security fixes until October 2028, so day to day nothing changes. The catch is what happens when something goes wrong and you call for help. Microsoft has spelled out clear limits on support for Microsoft 365 Apps running on Windows 10:
- If a problem happens only on Windows 10 and not on Windows 11, Microsoft support will ask you to move to Windows 11.
- If you can't move, they'll offer troubleshooting only — technical workarounds may be limited or unavailable.
- These cases don't include the option to log a bug or request a product fix.
So you're not cut off, but you're on a narrowing path: security-patched, feature-frozen, and increasingly "please upgrade" whenever you hit a snag. Running Microsoft 365 on an operating system that's already past end of support can also cause performance and reliability issues over time — the software is simply no longer designed or tested for that combination.
Why this matters more than it first sounds
For a lot of Perth businesses the instinct is "our computers are fine, we'll deal with it later." That's understandable, but three things make this worth acting on sooner rather than later:
- The AI and feature gap widens every month. Copilot and the productivity features Microsoft is investing in are Windows 11 only. If your team is meant to get value from those tools, staying on Windows 10 quietly locks you out.
- Cyber-insurance and compliance don't love unsupported systems. Insurers and many client/contract security questionnaires increasingly ask whether you're running supported operating systems. "Windows 10, end-of-support" is an awkward answer at renewal time.
- The real clock started in October 2025. August 2026 is a reminder, not the beginning. Windows 10 has already been unsupported for the OS itself since late 2025 — the Microsoft 365 feature freeze is just the next visible consequence.
What Perth businesses should do now
You don't need to replace everything this week. You need a plan that fits between now and the October 2028 security cut-off — and ideally well before it. Here's the practical order:
1. Inventory your devices
Get a clear list of every PC: which are on Windows 10, which are already on Windows 11, and — for the Windows 10 machines — which are actually capable of running Windows 11. Windows 11 needs relatively modern hardware (TPM 2.0 and a supported processor), so some devices will upgrade for free and others simply won't qualify.
2. Split the fleet into "upgrade" vs "replace"
Eligible machines can move to Windows 11 in place at no licence cost. Incompatible machines need replacing — and that's a budget conversation, not a same-day job. Knowing the split early lets you spread hardware spend across a couple of budget cycles instead of taking one big hit.
3. Phase the rollout so nobody loses a workday
Upgrades and replacements are best done in planned batches — data and settings migrated, line-of-business apps tested, users given a heads-up — so the transition is invisible to your clients. This is exactly the kind of lifecycle planning that a good managed IT provider handles as routine work rather than an emergency.
4. Use the moment to tidy up Microsoft 365
A Windows 11 refresh is a natural time to make sure the rest of your Microsoft 365 setup is right — security features switched on, backups in place, and licences matched to what people actually use. If you want a primer on getting more out of the platform, our Microsoft 365 for Perth business guide is a good starting point, and our broader cloud services cover how the pieces fit together.
The bottom line for Perth businesses
August 2026 doesn't break anything — but it draws a clear line. Microsoft 365 on Windows 10 is now feature-frozen, security-patched until October 2028, and firmly on the "please upgrade" list. The smart move is to treat this as the trigger to inventory your PCs, work out what upgrades versus what needs replacing, and plan a calm, phased shift to Windows 11 over the next year or two rather than a rushed one in 2028.
That's the kind of planning we've done for Perth businesses since 1997. If you'd like a straight answer on which of your machines can move to Windows 11 and what it would cost to sort the rest, get in touch or call us on (08) 9325 1196 — we'll audit your fleet and give you a plan, not a sales pitch.
