China Fast-Tracks Removal of Its Custom Windows Edition From State Computers
The software being pulled isn't Windows in general but a specific joint-venture build Microsoft co-developed with a state-owned Chinese firm — and its early retirement sent domestic OS makers' shares surging.
Beijing wants a specific version of Windows off government computers, and wants it gone faster than originally planned. China’s Ministry of State Security recently directed some state-linked entities to uninstall a customized Windows 10 build,Bloombergreported, pushing the removal timeline up from a February 2027 target the software’s own developer had set. The sources tied the directive to data security concerns without specifying what vulnerabilities prompted it. The software in question isn’t generic Windows — it’s a joint-venture product built byC&M Information Technologies, formed in 2016 whenMicrosoftpartnered with state-ownedChina Electronics Technology Group, which holds the controlling stake in the venture. The build modifies Windows 10 Enterprise byremoving OneDrive and similar consumer tools, routing all activation and update traffic through Chinese servers, and letting officials swap in China-developed cryptography instead of Microsoft’s own. Early pilot users included China Customs and Shanghai’s Commission of Economy and Informatization when it launched in 2017. Sponsored · First Phosphate Corp. The CMIT build’s significance grew after Microsoft ended mainstream Windows 10 support worldwide in October 2025 — at that point, it became the only Windows variant Beijing still permitted on government systems. Removing it now eliminates that option entirely, rather than simply retiring one product among several. “Microsoft is not aware of a security incident affecting this product,” a company spokesperson told Bloomberg, adding that it continues to receive regular security updates. Chinese OS vendor stocks reacted immediately. Hunan KylinsecandArchermindeach surged to Shanghai’s 20% single-day cap, whileChina National Softwarerose 10%. Domestic alternatives poised to benefit include Kylin V10,UnionTech‘s Deepin-based UOS,Huawei‘s HarmonyOS 5 on laptops, and Huawei’s own Kirin 9000X chip powering its Qingyun desktop line. Microsoft just lost another government. This time it is China. Bloomberg reports China's Ministry of State Security has ordered state-linked agencies to remove Windows 10 immediately, citing data security concerns. This was originally planned for February 2027. They moved it…pic. twitter. com/5f3Ig4RrUN— Ayaan 🐧 (@twtayaan)August 18, 2026Beijing has been building toward this for over a decade — government procurement rules excluded Windows 8 starting in 2014, a 2019 directive gave agencies three years to swap out foreign-made PCs, and by 2022 central agencies and state firms faced orders to eliminate foreign-branded computers altogether. Despite that run, the campaign has barely touched ordinary consumers. Windows still accounted for 87. 64% of Chinese desktop web traffic in July 2026, andWindows 10 still accounts for nearly 44% of Chinese Windows installations, versus 50% for Windows 11— a full ten months since mainstream support lapsed. Information for this briefing was found via the sources and the companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.