China moves to retire Microsoft-backed Windows build

The Chinese Ministry of State Security has reportedly instructed local governments and state-affiliated organizations to remove Windows 10 installations from their systems as Beijing pushes to diversify away from Western technology.

The operating system targeted by the order is not the standard Windows 10 release. It was developed by C&M Information Technologies, a joint venture between Microsoft and China Electronics Technology Group, and modified for Beijing’s security requirements. Based on Windows 10 Enterprise, the government version removes or disables several consumer-facing features, keeps activation and updates within China, and supports Chinese cryptographic standards.

Bloomberg reported that the central government has moved up the planned retirement schedule, replacing a previous timeline that would have lasted until February 2027. Despite the customized build, Beijing appears increasingly uneasy about relying on a foreign-origin operating system for sensitive government infrastructure and has a replacement plan for Windows.