China’s Ministry of State Security has told some state-linked entities to uninstall a customised Windows 10 system.

The order brings forward a phaseout that CMIT had previously scheduled for February 2027, as Beijing tries to reduce reliance on foreign technology over data security concerns.

The software was developed by C&M Information Technologies, or CMIT, a China-based joint venture between Microsoft and state-owned China Electronics Technology Group Corp.

The venture was created to deliver a tailored Windows 10 version for government agencies and users at state-owned enterprises, while Microsoft retained the core operating system technology.

Microsoft said it was not aware of a security incident affecting the product and that the software continued to receive regular security updates.

Microsoft’s standard Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Its public support materials do not describe a separate lifecycle for the China-specific edition.

China has pushed government agencies and other sectors handling sensitive data to replace foreign technology with local alternatives, including operating systems, personal computers, and AI chips.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg