Maxer Host are committed to providing the latest technology on our web, database and email servers. As we maintain regular updates to our servers, it's important our clients maintain regular updates to their own systems. Please make sure your operating system, web browser and email application are kept up to date for optimum security, compatibility and performance.
Over time, older operating systems, web browsers and email applications will reach their end-of-life; they will stop working as they are not compatible with the latest technology & security standards. If you've been directed to this article, you might be using an operating system or application that has reached its end-of-life. This article specifically relates to Microsoft products.
If your computer is still running Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7, you need to update! There are no if's or but's. You are using a legacy operating system that is no longer supported by its creators and is no longer receiving security updates. These operating systems were designed over a decade ago and a lot has changed, making such systems unsafe and incompatible with modern applications.
If your computer is still running Windows 8.1, Microsoft are only providing essential/security updates, and now is a great opportunity to update to Windows 11.
Windows 10 product lifecycle
With the launch of Windows 10 operating system, Microsoft started to provide semi-annual major updates. For example, version "1803" was released in March 2018 and version "1809" was released in September 2018. Windows 10 users need to remember to update their systems to the latest version and this will help keep their system safe and compatible.
Support is traditionally divided into "mainstream support" (where the product is fully supported) and "extended support" (where only essential/security updates are still provided). If you use Windows 10, you can usually add another 18 months of support for your operating system when you install the latest version.
Windows 11 product lifecycle
Windows 11 was released on 4 October 2021 and had its second release one year later on 16 November 2022. If you do not have it, we recommend updating!
Below we'll list the major Windows versions with their launch date and end of support date. For a current and official list for Microsoft products, please refer to this page: Search Product and Services Lifecycle Information - Microsoft Lifecycle | Microsoft Learn
| Windows Version | Launch Date | End of Support |
| Windows 11 (22H2) - latest release of Windows 11 | 20 Sep 2022 | 8 Oct 2024 Windows 11 should be supported until at least 2028 if you install the annual updates. |
| Windows 10 (22H2) - latest release of Windows 10 | 18 Oct 2022 | 14 May 2024 Windows 10 should be supported until at least 2024 if you install the updates. The updates were released semi-annually. From this update (22H2) the updates for Windows 10 will be released on an annual basis. |
| Windows 11 (21H2) - first release of Windows 11 | 4 Oct 2021 | 4 Oct 2023 (upgrade available!) |
| Windows 10 (21H2) | 16 Nov 2021 | 11 Jun 2024 (upgrade available!) |
| Windows 10 (21H1) | 18 May 2021 | 13 Dec 2022 (upgrade available!) |
| Windows 10 (1507) - first release of Windows 10 | 29 Jul 2015 | 9 May 2017 (upgrade available!) |
| Windows 8.1 | 17 Oct 2013 | Mainstream support ended 9 Jan 2018 Extended support ended 10 Jan 2023 |
| Windows 8 | 30 Oct 2012 | Extended support ended 12 Jan 2016 |
| Windows 7 | 22 Oct 2009 | Support ended 13 Jan 2015 Extended support ended 14 Jan 2020 |
| Windows Vista | 30 Jan 2007 | Support ended 10 Apr 2012 Extended support ended 11 Apr 2017 |
| Windows XP | 24 Aug 2001 | Support ended 14 Apr 2009 Extended support ended 8 Apr 2014 |
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook is a very popular email application and we fully support the latest version of it. We're happy to help our clients connect to their email accounts using Outlook 2019 or 2021. If you are using an older version, you should update.
Outlook 2016: Microsoft ended mainstream support in October 2020. This product may or may not work with our email servers. Our support team will offer general guidance only. Please make a plan to upgrade to a more recent version.
Outlook 2013: Microsoft ended mainstream support in April 2018. This product may not work with our email servers. If you are attempting to use Outlook 2013, please make sure you have all the latest updates, especially this update for TLS 1.2 support. Please make a plan to upgrade to a more recent version.
Outlook 2010 and earlier versions are no longer supported by Microsoft, and as such we're unable to provide support for them.
Older versions of Windows XP and/or Microsoft Outlook do not support the oldest supported encryption protocol TLS 1.2, which is required on new email servers. For example, Outlook 2010 will still be trying to connect using SSL 3, an older standard from around 15 years ago that is vulnerable and no longer supported.
Updated by SP on 28/12/2022
