diff --git a/user/common-tasks/updating-qubes-os.md b/user/common-tasks/updating-qubes-os.md
index 8ba8f6ea..07f87b0c 100644
--- a/user/common-tasks/updating-qubes-os.md
+++ b/user/common-tasks/updating-qubes-os.md
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@ If you're instead looking to upgrade from your current version of Qubes OS to a
   (By contrast, <a href="/doc/software-update-domu/#installing-software-in-templatevms">installing</a> packages using direct package manager commands is fine.)
 </div>
 
-It is very important to keep your Qubes OS system up-to-date to ensure you have the latest [security](/security/) updates, as well as the latest non-security enhancements and bug fixes.
+## Routine updates
+
+It is very important to keep your Qubes OS system up-to-date to ensure you have the latest security updates, as well as the latest non-security enhancements and bug fixes.
 
 Fully updating your Qubes OS system means updating:
 
@@ -43,11 +45,23 @@ Even if no updates have been detected, you can use this tool to check for update
   <b>Advanced users and developers:</b> For the command-line equivalents of using the <b>Qubes Update</b> tool, see the Salt formulae <a href="/doc/salt/#updatequbes-dom0"><code>update.qubes-dom0</code></a> and <a href="/doc/salt/#updatequbes-vm"><code>update.qubes-vm</code></a>.
 </div>
 
-The final step is to make sure that all of your VMs are running a supported operating system so that they're all receiving upstream security updates.
+## Upgrading to stay on a supported release
+
+The above covers routine updates.
+Eventually, however, most operating system releases will reach [end-of-life (EOL)](https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/End_of_life), after which point they will no longer be supported.
+This applies to [Qubes OS itself](/doc/supported-versions/#qubes-os) as well as operating systems used for TemplateVMs and StandaloneVMs, such as [Fedora](/doc/templates/fedora/) and [Debian](/doc/templates/debian/).
+It is very important to use only supported releases, since generally only supported releases receive security updates.
+This means that you must periodically upgrade to a newer release before your current release reaches EOL.
+
+In the case of Qubes OS itself, we will always [announce](/news/categories/#releases) when a given Qubes OS release is approaching and has reached EOL, and we will provide [instructions for upgrading to the next stable supported Qubes OS release](/doc/upgrade/).
+Again, you can always see the current support status for all Qubes OS releases [here](/doc/supported-versions/#qubes-os).
+
+Periodic upgrades are also important for TemplateVMs and StandaloneVMs.
 For example, you might be using a [Fedora TemplateVM](/doc/templates/fedora/).
 The [Fedora Project](https://getfedora.org/) is independent of the Qubes OS Project.
-They set their own [schedule](https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Fedora_Release_Life_Cycle#Maintenance_Schedule) for when each Fedora release reaches [end-of-life](https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/End_of_life) (EOL).
+They set their own [schedule](https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Fedora_Release_Life_Cycle#Maintenance_Schedule) for when each Fedora release reaches EOL.
 You can always find out when an operating system reaches EOL from the upstream project that maintains it, but we also make EOL [announcements](/news/categories/#announcements) and publish guides for official TemplateVM operating systems as a convenience to Qubes users.
 When this happens, you should make sure to follow the guide to upgrade to a supported version of that operating system (see the [Fedora upgrade guides](/doc/templates/fedora/#upgrading) and the [Debian upgrade guides](/doc/templates/debian/#upgrading)).
-The one exception is dom0, which [doesn't have to be upgraded](/doc/supported-versions/#note-on-dom0-and-eol).
+
+The one exception to all this is the specific release used for dom0 (not to be confused with Qubes OS as a whole), which [doesn't have to be upgraded](/doc/supported-versions/#note-on-dom0-and-eol).