Windows 10 may have a share of around 70% of the total Windows user base, but that’s not making Microsoft flinch when it comes to its plans to retire the fan-favorite operating system. The date when Windows 10 will end support and new updates will be available has been set (it’s October 14, 2025) and current Windows 10 users are being reminded again.
This isn’t the first time Microsoft has urged users to upgrade to Windows 11 – far from it. Previously, the company showed full-screen multi-page reminders, and now Microsoft has added an official web page detailing the inevitable.
The new ‘End of support’ page provides advice and recommendations from Microsoft for moving to Windows 11 if you’re using Windows 10 (or any Windows version older than Windows 8.1 or Windows 7).
Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 have already been left behind and haven’t received updates for quite some time, with Windows 10 joining them next year. The official page goes into detail about what will happen when support ends and what users can expect.
The Windows 10-specific page has a prominent banner urging users to upgrade to Windows 11 for free if their PC is eligible. Microsoft also explains that Windows 10 users will no longer receive security or technical updates after October 2025. Their PCs will continue to work, but they will not receive security updates and will be open to potential security breaches. Therefore, Microsoft recommends that they move on to Windows 11 (if their hardware allows the upgrade).
The special transition page also contains other linked pages with details Windows 11 features and how they are a marked improvement over Windows 10, but also simple comparison page between the two operating systems. There is a page that even walks you through the process how to buy a new laptopif you want to upgrade to Windows 11 on a new device, and how to do that backup your data to OneDrive to ensure you don’t lose it when you switch to a new machine.
Microsoft is quite insistent that you need a device that can run Windows 11, preferably a new one, and if you really want to make Microsoft happy, you can opt for one of its brand new next-gen Copilot+ PCs.
What’s next for Windows 10 users?
Windows 10 users who don’t want to migrate to Windows 11 will face a tough choice: switch completely to an alternative operating system (like Linux), or stick with Windows 10 and open their PCs to potential malware and security holes that don’t. will not be fixed by updates after October 2025. These users will also not see any new features for their system or apps introduced via updates.
The other choice is to continue receiving critical security updates for Windows 10 by signing up for the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for the operating system. It is intended as a permanent solution and the purpose is to provide a temporary solution. This is mainly intended for organizations and companies that are switching to a newer operating system.
The pricing plans for individual users who choose the ESU program have not yet been announced, but Windows Latest learned it that Microsoft will share this information later this year. Companies will pay $61 per device for the first year (and that price will increase every year).
Many people simply prefer Windows 10 over Windows 11, but there are also those whose devices don’t meet the hardware requirements to run Microsoft’s latest operating system. While workarounds exist for some PCs to screw up a Windows 11 installation, we don’t necessarily recommend this course of action (nor is it suitable for the less tech-savvy).
Microsoft may be eager for people to switch to its shiny new AI-powered Copilot+ PCs, but many people can’t afford a new computer right now, and for now, Windows 10 will work just fine. Many people aren’t too excited about Windows 11 either, due to some performance issues, perceived flaws in the operating system’s design, and Microsoft’s continued attempts to integrate AI features into multiple parts of the operating system.
I don’t know if Microsoft will succeed in converting more users to Windows 11 and the new line of PCs, but Windows 10 fans are still hesitant to move on. Whether that will change next year we’ll have to wait and see, but Windows 11 adoption seems to have stalled lately, so things aren’t looking great for Microsoft. That said, Windows is still the most used desktop operating system in the world, and there’s no threat to its dominance that will cause Microsoft to feel the heat in any meaningful way – for now.