end-of-support date

Winsage
May 2, 2025
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 during the third-quarter earnings call, highlighting that Windows 10's end-of-support date is October 14, 2025. Windows 11, launched in 2021, has seen a nearly 75% increase in commercial deployment since last year. Surveys show that Windows 10's user base dropped from 70% in April 2024 to 54%. The upgrade to Windows 11 is free for eligible hardware, but the system requirements are more demanding. Windows contributes only 9% to Microsoft's overall income in fiscal year 2024.
Winsage
May 2, 2025
Microsoft is encouraging Windows 10 users to transition to Windows 11, promoting its Copilot+ PCs as a solution for those whose devices do not qualify for the upgrade. Copilot+ PCs feature AI tools like Recall, which captures and indexes screenshots for easy searching, and offer performance improvements, claiming to be up to five times faster than devices that are five years old. However, there are concerns about privacy and security related to Recall. Support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025, after which it will no longer receive security updates. Options for Windows 10 users include upgrading to Windows 11 if eligible, purchasing a Copilot+ PC, paying for extended support, switching to Linux, or remaining on Windows 10 with associated risks.
Winsage
April 21, 2025
Microsoft is intensifying efforts to encourage users to transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 as the deadline for Windows 10 support approaches. A dedicated webpage has been launched to highlight the security advantages of the Trusted Platform Module (TPM), which is a mandatory requirement for Windows 11. This requirement has made many older Windows 10 machines ineligible for the upgrade. However, resources are available for users with Windows 10 systems that do not meet the TPM specifications to help extend the life of their PCs after the end-of-support date in October.
Winsage
April 18, 2025
Microsoft's Windows 10 will reach its end-of-support date on October 14, 2025, after a standard 10-year support lifecycle. Most editions, including Home, Pro, and Enterprise, will stop receiving updates, although PCs running Windows 10 will continue to function without updates. Windows 10 Enterprise Long Term Servicing editions have different end dates, with some extending support until 2029. Current data indicates that approximately 1.6% of Windows 10 PCs are replaced by Windows 11 each month, suggesting that around 35% of the 1.4 billion Windows devices will still be using Windows 10 by the end-of-support date, equating to over 500 million PCs potentially vulnerable to cyber threats. As of April 2025, about 54% of PCs globally are still running Windows 10. Users likely to remain on Windows 10 include those with incompatible hardware, corporate environments that have standardized on Windows 10, and users resistant to upgrading due to dissatisfaction with Windows 11. Microsoft faces challenges related to a significant number of unsupported PCs, and while extended support options exist for enterprise customers, consumer adoption is expected to be low. Users unable or unwilling to upgrade may consider non-Microsoft operating systems or continue using Windows 10 without official support, which poses security risks.
Winsage
April 14, 2025
The official end-of-support date for Windows 10 is October 14, 2025, after which all editions will cease to receive technical support and security updates. Users can choose to continue using Windows 10 without updates, buy a new PC or rent a virtual PC, switch to a Linux distribution or ChromeOS Flex, pay Microsoft for Extended Security Updates (ESUs), or upgrade incompatible hardware to Windows 11 through specific methods. Microsoft will offer ESUs for Windows 10 at a cost, with reduced rates for educational institutions and higher prices for business customers. Users can bypass compatibility restrictions to upgrade to Windows 11 by making registry edits and using tools like Rufus for clean installations.
Winsage
April 11, 2025
Microsoft is testing a change that removes the seconds display from the Calendar flyout in Windows 10, coinciding with the operating system's approaching end-of-support date in October. The update to build 19045.5737 includes bug fixes but strips away the clock feature for some users as part of an A/B testing phase. User reactions on platforms like Reddit indicate frustration over this change, which may be linked to the new Outlook application introduced earlier this year. Restoring the previous functionality requires technical skills in registry editing, and the new design is criticized for providing less information and having a visually unappealing layout. While Windows 11 still supports the seconds display, some Windows 10 users do not have this feature. Microsoft has also released a checklist advising Windows 10 users to consider upgrading their machines.
Winsage
April 10, 2025
Microsoft is transitioning Windows 10 users to Windows 11, with an end-of-support date for Windows 10 set for October 14, 2025. Windows 11 has achieved a desktop market share of 42.69%. A newly released end-of-support checklist suggests users prepare to replace their Windows 10 machines rather than simply upgrade. The checklist outlines Windows 11's minimum hardware requirements and implies that Microsoft encourages users to consider new hardware, raising suspicions that the stringent requirements are designed to stimulate sales of new devices. The checklist emphasizes backing up data and responsible recycling of old devices, and it suggests trading in older machines for discounts on new Windows 11-compatible computers. Since its launch in 2021, Windows 11 has evolved significantly, particularly with the integration of generative AI, which has raised hardware specifications. The introduction of Copilot+ PC-branded laptops highlights the urgency for users to upgrade from aging Windows 10 devices.
Winsage
April 8, 2025
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 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%.
Search