Microsoft is designing to send reminders to Windows 8.1 users that will conclude on January 10th, 2023. The software giant will send messages to existing Windows 8.1 devices next month as a first reminder showing up to the January 2023 support cutoff.
The notifications will be identical to those Microsoft used to remind Windows 7 users about end-of-support dates. Microsoft initially sunset Windows 8 support in 2016, but the Windows 8.1 update will discontinue support entirely in January 2023.
In addition, Microsoft will not be delivering an Extended Security Update (ESU) program for Windows 8.1, so companies won’t be able to pay for extra security patches and will have to upgrade or bear the risk of running software without security updates.
Windows 8.1 was a bug fix for the reception of Windows 8. Windows 8 raised a new touch-centric vision for Microsoft’s future, but it ditched the traditional desktop and Start buttons so much that many PC users abandoned it. The mobile-first OS didn’t tease with what users desire, and Windows 8.1 brought about the Start button in admission from Microsoft that it had disarrayed up.
Despite the Windows 8.1 update advancements, the Windows 8 era will be one Microsoft and many customers will be keen to overlook. Microsoft tried to modernize Windows in the face of iPad competition, estranging many of its loyal customers.
Windows 10 was anchored in 2015 and stepped back many of Windows 8’s most aggressive changes. Windows 11 has gone even further by releasing the Windows Phone-like Live Tiles from the Start menu and rebuilding many ancient relics that have lived in Windows for decades.
Windows 8.1 users will now require to decide whether to upgrade their operating system or buy a new PC. However, due to its severe CPU requirements, most Windows 8.1 machines won’t even support Windows 11, reveals Microsoft. “Most Windows 8 or 8.1 devices will not satisfy the hardware requirements for upgrading to Windows 11; as an option, compatible Windows 8 and 8.1 PCs can be boosted to Windows 10 by buying and installing a full interpretation of the software,” describes Microsoft in a support note.
That leaves Windows 10 as the likely upgrade path, which will continue to be supported until October 14th, 2025. Of course, Windows 8.1 machines won’t magically stop working on January 10th, 2023, but without software updates and security fixes, it’s a significant risk to keep running the OS next year. Microsoft’s support site has many FAQs and articles to support Windows 8.1 users upgrading or moving files to a new machine.
Just like on a PC, now and again, it’s exemplary to clear out junk files on your Android. Removing out the cookies and cache on your Android phone’s web browser is an excellent way to eliminate a lot of that, as it’s likely to have built up throughout visiting many different websites every day. Whether your phone utilizes Google Chrome, Firefox, or Samsung Internet, your browser accumulates and stores data every time you surf the internet. This information creates cookies and cache and helps your phone speedily log in to your accounts and load frequently visited sites.
But this data ultimately builds up, taking up space on your phone and probably including cookies tracking your browsing history to serve personalized advertising.
It doesn’t damage to occasionally clear this data out to support your web browser lean, running efficiently, and storing as few tracking cookies as possible.
You can delete your cache and cookies from the Android version of Google Chrome by first clicking the More key in the top right junction of the browser, indicated by a column of three dots, then History, then Clear browsing data. You can access it from the Chrome Settings menu, Privacy and Security, and Clear browsing data.
Chrome also shows Basic and Advanced settings for clearing your Browsing History, Cookies, site data, and Cached images and files. In addition, you can employ the Time range drop-down to select whether you desire to delete the entire History or a selection of anywhere from the past 24 hours up to the last four weeks. Tapping Advanced will also allow you to delete Saved passwords, Autofill form data, and Site settings. After deciding what you want to delete, tap the blue Clear data button.
You might receive an additional prompt if Chrome feels certain websites are “important” to you, and if so, you’ll get the option to confirm before clearing. Otherwise, if you do not obtain that prompt, Chrome will immediately move to clear as you instructed.