Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Reaches End of Life (EOL) – What Now?

Microsoft Windows Embedded CE 6.0 launched on November 1, 2006, and it was the first CE edition that added the name “Embedded” into the product’s official name. While it is assumed that the initials “CE” stand for Compact Edition, it has no explicit meaning.  Windows CE products are optimized for smaller devices with low minimum hardware requirements, and most importantly, it is the only true “real-time” operating system that Microsoft has produced.  

Many OEM customers have created embedded devices that run on Windows CE products and have manufactured these devices for many years. The CE family of products all received 15 years of life, allowing them to standardize products knowing that the CE product will always be available. The CE family continued until 2013 when the last edition was released. In 2015 Microsoft transitioned to the Windows 10 IoT Core products without the “real-time” feature. With this change, many OEM customers preferred to stay with the older CE products until they reached end-of-life (EOL).

For the OEM and IoT Embedded channels, EOL for a product is managed very differently than other Microsoft channels. In most Microsoft OEM channels, when a product goes EOL, you perform a “Last Time Buy”, stocking up on the product so you can continue selling and shipping well past the EOL date. Last Time Buys are not an option for IoT embedded products. OEMs are prohibited from shipping their devices with the COA sticker license of a product past the EOL date. The COA sticker license for the product becomes completely worthless on the day it goes EOL. OEMs should plan well ahead of this date and make sure they have sold and shipped all their devices with the older COA sticker license before the EOL date.

A look back at Windows Embedded Compact over the years

Windows Embedded Compact Versions Windows CE 1.0 (1996) Windows CE 2.0 (1997) Windows CE 3.0 (2000) Windows CE 4.0 (2002) Windows CE 5.0 (2004) Windows Embedded CE 6.0 (2006) Windows Embedded Compact 7 (2011) Windows Embedded Compact 2013 (2013)

What if an OEM wants to keep shipping their CE6 product past the 2/28/2022 EOL date?

In 2018, Microsoft created and published the Windows CE7 Pro Downgrade Rights document that provided an option for OEMs that needed to keep using the Windows CE5 and Windows CE6 products in effect. Microsoft stated that an OEM could purchase the specific CE7 Pro license for all existing projects and gain downgrade rights to keep loading their older CE5 or CE6 image. This downgrade allowance was the only option until March 2022, when Microsoft updated the Program Execution Guide (PEG). This newly updated PEG changed the downgrade rights section and opened the door for OEMs to purchase the most current high-end version for a family of products and then downgrade to the older edition. It also opens the door to buy the more affordable Windows Compact 2013 General Embedded Runtime COA sticker license, apply this Compact 2013 COA to the device, and still load the older CE7, CE6, and or the CE5 image. This gives OEMs six years of life for the CE6 product as the Compact 2013 product does not go EOL until 5/31/2028.

Let me also provide the older CE7 and CE6 part numbers with their respective End of Life (EOL) and End of Support (EOS) dates:

Below is an excerpt from the latest PEG “Schedule 10 – Downgrade Rights” section with the exact wording and requirements:

SCHEDULE 10. DOWNGRADE RIGHTS

10.1 Additional Definitions

• “Downgrade Image” means an Image customized for a specific Enterprise Customer that includes Downgrade Software, and may include customer-requested applications, drivers, and other customizations to the Embedded Application or Customer System.
• “Downgrade Image System” means a Customer System with a preinstalled Downgrade Image.
• “Downgrade Software” means a prior version of the Product that is no longer available for distribution by Company under the Agreement.

10.2 Additional Rights

• Subject to the terms of this Downgrade Rights Schedule and Company’s compliance with those terms, Company may, at the specific request of an Enterprise Customer:
• create a Downgrade Image using an image provided by the Enterprise Customer;
• preinstall that Downgrade Image on Customer Systems; and
• distribute the Downgrade Image System directly to the requesting Enterprise Customer.

Downgrade Rights only apply to a Downgrade Image System that has not been distributed.

10.3 Software Versions 

(a)   Windows Client. The version of the Product acquired by Company for the purposes of Distributing a Downgrade Image must be the most current High-End version of the Product. For example, the most current High-End versions of Windows IoT Enterprise are Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2021 LTSC High End and Windows 11 IoT Enterprise High End, the most current version of Windows CE/Compact is Windows Compact 2013.

Finally, my perspective on the End of Support (EOS) and how that comes into play – All Microsoft IoT products receive ten years of support and 15 years of life – which means product support will always end five years before the product goes EOL. For Windows CE 6, support ended in 2018, and for Windows CE 7 in 2021. All OEMs downgrading to these products will receive no support – no further security patches or tech support for Windows CE 6 and CE7 users, leaving systems vulnerable to security attacks and IP thefts. To avoid systems comprises, I strongly suggest moving to a newer supported product.

As an additional resource, check out the below video from my YouTube channel, The Windows Champ. This video is a great resource for OEMs who need to keep CE6 and want to understand all available options, as well as EOL dates, options for Windows CE 7 and Compact 2013, and downgrade rights for CE products.

For additional questions on Microsoft IoT products, please contact our team via msembedded@arrow.com and we will respond within 24 hours.

Ken Marlin

Supplier Manager

Based in Phoenix Arizona, Ken is a Microsoft Business Development Manager at Arrow Electronics. Ken is a 3-time Microsoft MVP on Windows IoT products and has over 35 years of experience in supporting all Microsoft products and channels. Known in the industry as the Windows Champ, Ken has a youtube channel that provides valuable information on getting started with Windows IoT products and “How To” informational videos. His specialty is helping customers with complex licensing on Windows Server, SQL Server and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise.