end-of-support date Archives

Winsage

April 8, 2025

Microsoft is finally fixing my biggest issues with the Windows 11 Start menu

Microsoft has introduced an updated Start menu for Windows 11 in an Insider preview build, addressing user concerns since its 2021 release. The new design allows users to pin up to eight apps per row, compared to the previous limitation of three rows, and enables users to hide the Recommended feed. The All Apps list is now located at the bottom of the menu for immediate visibility and easy scrolling. Additionally, users can toggle the Phone Link panel on and off with a button press. These changes aim to attract Windows 10 users considering a transition to Windows 11.

Winsage

March 22, 2025

Microsoft is sending this ‘reminder email’ to Windows 10 users as ‘retirement deadline’ nears – The Times of India

Microsoft is notifying Windows 10 users that support will end on October 14, 2025, meaning no more free software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes will be provided. Users are encouraged to upgrade to Windows 11, which is described as more secure, or to trade in or recycle their old devices. While Windows 10 PCs will continue to function, they will not receive support after the deadline. Many PCs made before 2018 may not meet the requirements for Windows 11 due to lacking the TPM 2.0 module, potentially leaving around 1 billion machines on Windows 10. As of February 2025, Windows 10 holds a 58% market share, while Windows 11 has 38%.

Winsage

March 11, 2025

Microsoft Intensifies Push for Windows 11 Adoption Amid Looming Windows 10 End-of-Support

Microsoft is encouraging users to transition to Windows 11, highlighting its advantages as the end-of-support date for Windows 10 approaches on October 14, 2025. As of August 2024, Windows 11 accounts for nearly 32% of global Windows installations, up from 23% in July 2023, while Windows 10 holds about 64% market share. Windows 11 has become the preferred operating system for PC gamers on Steam, with 49% of users choosing it over 47% for Windows 10. Key features of Windows 11 include mandatory TPM 2.0 for enhanced security, a redesigned Start menu, improved multitasking with Snap Layouts, integration with Microsoft Teams, and a more efficient Windows Update process. However, some users are hesitant to upgrade due to hardware compatibility issues and a preference for Windows 10's interface. Microsoft may increase efforts to promote the transition to Windows 11 as the support deadline nears, and users remaining on Windows 10 will face security risks without official support.

Winsage

March 7, 2025

Windows 10 is supposed to be dying, so why are gamers running back to it?

Windows 10 is set to reach its end-of-life on October 14, 2025. As of April 2023, Windows 10 held a 71.6% share of the global desktop market, which decreased to 69.9% by April 2024 and fell to 58.7% by February 2024. In contrast, Windows 11's market share increased to 38.1%. Despite the overall trend favoring Windows 11, gamers are still favoring Windows 10, with a 10.4% increase in Windows 10 64-bit users and a 9.3% decrease in Windows 11 64-bit users among Steam users. The rise in users selecting Simplified Chinese as their preferred language on Steam may be contributing to Windows 10's resurgence, with only 26.4% of users in China using Windows 11. Windows 7 still holds a 16.5% share among desktop PCs in China.

Winsage

March 3, 2025

Windows 11 adoption accelerates at the expense of Windows 10

Recent data shows an increase in Windows 11 adoption as businesses prepare for the end-of-support date for Windows 10. Windows 10 currently holds a 54.36 percent share of Windows operating systems, while Windows 11 has reached 41.99 percent. The end of support for most versions of Windows 10 is set for October 14. Valve's Steam Hardware and Software Survey indicates that as of February, Windows 11's share decreased to 44.1 percent, while Windows 10 increased to 53.34 percent. Microsoft is exploring strategies to enhance Windows 11 adoption, including simplifying hardware requirements and extending support for older hardware.

Winsage

February 20, 2025

Can’t quit Windows 10? You can pay Microsoft for updates after October, or try these alternatives

An ESU subscription allows customers to receive updates automatically through Windows Update, with updates also available for individual download via the Microsoft Update Catalog. Customers can set reminders to check for updates after their release, typically on the second Tuesday of each month. For a more streamlined approach, the third-party service 0patch offers critical security patches for Windows 10 for at least five years after the end-of-support date, costing between and per PC annually. 0patch provides "micropatches" for vulnerabilities discovered after October 14, 2025, which are small and applied to running processes without altering Microsoft's original files. Unauthorized alternatives, like PowerShell activation scripts from the Massgrave hacking collective, allow users to bypass Microsoft's licensing agreements for a free three-year ESU subscription, but using these scripts is illegal and poses significant risks to businesses.

Winsage

February 20, 2025

Firefox extends Windows 7 support for at least another six months

Mozilla has extended support for Firefox on older Windows operating systems, with the new deadline for Firefox Old ESR set to August 19, 2025. Official support for Firefox on Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 will continue until September 2025, with a reassessment of this timeline planned for August. The extended support applies to Firefox 115 (Old ESR) and Firefox 128 (ESR), which will be deprecated on September 16, 2025. After this date, users must upgrade to a newer version of Windows and transition to Firefox 140 ESR to continue using the browser.

Winsage

February 19, 2025

Windows 11 update is reportedly breaking the operating system’s most vital tool

The recent 24H2 update (KB5051987) for Windows 11 has caused significant disruptions, particularly affecting File Explorer, leading to user frustrations. Many users report that File Explorer has become unresponsive, preventing access to commonly used folders. The issue has been confirmed to occur even on fresh installations of Windows 11, indicating a problem with the update itself. Some users are also experiencing Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) errors and complete operating system corruption. Microsoft has not yet provided a definitive solution, but users can temporarily revert to the previous January 2025 update to resolve File Explorer issues. There is hope that a fix will be included in the upcoming February 2025 optional update.

Winsage

February 9, 2025

“Roll back to Windows 10 immediately”: Microsoft issues stark warning to wily Windows 11 users

Microsoft has advised Windows 11 users on unsupported hardware to revert to Windows 10, especially as the end-of-support date for Windows 10 is set for October 14, 2025. The recommendation is aimed at users who bypassed Windows 11's hardware requirements, particularly the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 chip. Microsoft has begun blocking third-party tools that allow installation on ineligible devices, labeling such tools as Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs) or hacking tools. Devices not meeting Windows 11's requirements will not receive support or updates, including critical security patches. Users can continue using Windows 10 past its end-of-support date but will lack essential updates unless they pay for the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.

Winsage

February 4, 2025

Microsoft has a big Windows 10 problem, and it’s running out of time to solve it

Windows 10 will reach its end-of-support date on October 14, 2025, after nearly a decade since its launch in July 2015. PCs running Windows 10 will continue to function but will no longer receive security updates unless users opt for an Extended Security Updates (ESU) subscription. Without an ESU subscription, vulnerabilities discovered after October 2025 will remain unaddressed. Approximately 60% of PCs worldwide are still using Windows 10, and if the current upgrade pace continues, about 38% of PCs will still be running Windows 10 by the end of 2025, equating to over 500 million devices. Users with older hardware, corporate environments, and Windows 10 loyalists may face challenges in transitioning to Windows 11. Microsoft has provided options for extended support, particularly for enterprise customers, but general consumers may be less inclined to pay for updates.