Windows 11 upgrades Archives

Winsage

September 2, 2025

Microsoft Issues Free Update Offer To Windows Users—How To Get It

Microsoft has extended Windows 10 support by an additional 12 months at no extra cost, impacting the dynamics of Windows 11 upgrades. Over 700 million users are either unable or unwilling to upgrade, relying on this extended support. To take advantage of the extension, users must click the “Enroll” button in the Windows 10 update panel, which is being rolled out in waves. The enrollment button will be accessible to all Windows 10 users before the deadline of October 13, ahead of Windows 10's end-of-life on October 14. The next Windows 10 update is expected within a week, and users should update promptly to check for the enrollment option. Claiming the Extended Security Update (ESU) is essential for continued protection for at least the next year.

Winsage

August 11, 2025

California man sues Microsoft over Windows 11 upgrades

Lawrence Klein, a California resident, has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft regarding the company's plans to retire Windows 10. Klein, whose laptops are incompatible with Windows 11 due to the lack of a Trusted Platform Module 2.0 (TPM), is seeking continued free updates for Windows 10 until its user base significantly decreases. He argues that Microsoft has violated California's business and consumer protection laws by forcing unnecessary upgrades and neglecting security updates for Windows 10 users. Support for Windows 10 is set to end on October 14, and Klein's legal team claims that many users are not prepared to transition to new devices or pay for extended support. Microsoft offers a paid extended support plan for Windows 10, but Klein is advocating for free support until Windows 10's market share falls below 10%. The lawsuit also criticizes the rapid phaseout of Windows 10, noting that historically, Microsoft has provided longer support periods for previous operating systems. At the time of the phaseout announcement, Windows 10 still held over 50% of the market share, with nearly 43% of users remaining on the older OS. Klein's argument suggests that the transition to Windows 11 has been expedited to benefit Microsoft and its hardware partners financially.

Winsage

August 2, 2025

Microsoft is killing off Windows 11 SE, its Chrome OS competitor

Microsoft will discontinue support for Windows 11 SE by October 2026, ceasing all software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes. Devices running Windows 11 SE will continue to function, but users are advised to transition to another edition of Windows 11 for ongoing support. The upcoming 25H2 update will not be released for Windows 11 SE, leaving devices on the 24H2 version until support ends. Various manufacturers have produced laptops with Windows 11 SE, and Microsoft launched the budget-friendly Surface Laptop SE in 2021. Microsoft's previous attempts to compete with Chrome OS included the introduction of S Mode for Windows 10, which faced challenges due to limited app availability. A Gartner report indicates that Chromebook market share is declining, with a shift in focus towards Windows 11 upgrades rather than migration to Chrome OS.

Winsage

July 29, 2025

Microsoft Windows 11 update shows up on ‘incompatible’ PCs: Should you click upgrade or beware?

Microsoft is extending Windows 11 upgrades to computers that do not meet its official minimum requirements, prompting confusion among users. Reports indicate that users are receiving upgrade prompts despite lacking essential components like TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, or a modern processor. This change raises questions about whether Microsoft is relaxing its compatibility standards or if it is a technical oversight. Users are advised to exercise caution before upgrading unsupported machines, as this may lead to issues such as failed installations, unreliable performance, and lack of future security updates or customer support.

Winsage

April 25, 2025

Time to see Windows 11 as a transformation accelerator – not a drag on resources

Many organizations are hesitant to upgrade to Windows 11, with a global adoption rate of only 38% since its launch in 2021. This reluctance is due to companies wanting to extend the lifespan of existing devices, despite the risks associated with inaction. Microsoft will soon discontinue free security patching for Windows 10, leading to potential costs for continued support. Windows 11 has been shown to reduce security incidents by 58% and decrease firmware attacks by more than threefold. Organizations that delay the transition may hinder their competitiveness and face employee dissatisfaction, particularly in sectors like healthcare. The end of support for Windows 10 presents a crucial opportunity for companies to reassess their IT infrastructure and invest in higher-performing technology.

Winsage

April 21, 2025

Intune flaw pushed Windows 11 upgrades on blocked devices

Microsoft identified a "code issue" within its Intune device management software as the reason for the unintended rollout of Windows 11 to devices not designated for the upgrade. The flaw triggered upgrades despite existing policies meant to prevent them. Microsoft is working on a fix and has advised organizations to pause Windows updates via Intune to avoid further issues. Devices that received the upgrade erroneously will need manual intervention to revert to their previous version. This incident follows a similar occurrence in November 2024, where customers experienced unexpected upgrades from Windows Server 2022 to Windows Server 2025. Microsoft attributed that incident to third-party products used for managing server updates. Additionally, a month prior, Microsoft retracted a preview update for Windows 11 due to severe issues causing crashes.

Winsage

April 16, 2025

Windows 11 upgrades sneak past admin blockades

Microsoft has acknowledged that some users are receiving unsolicited invitations to upgrade to Windows 11, despite configurations in Intune meant to prevent this. The issue is attributed to a "recent service change" that has exposed a latent code problem affecting a subset of users. Affected users are prompted to upgrade regardless of IT restrictions, and those who have upgraded can manually roll back to the previous version. Microsoft has advised administrators to pause Windows Feature Updates temporarily and has announced that a targeted code fix is being deployed to resolve the issue. This incident is reminiscent of a previous Windows Server 2025 error in November 2024, which involved a mistaken release as a security update.

Winsage

April 16, 2025

Microsoft: Some devices offered Windows 11 upgrades despite Intune blocks

Microsoft is addressing an issue where some Windows devices are prompted to upgrade to Windows 11 despite Intune policies preventing such upgrades, a problem attributed to a "latent code issue" since April 12. A targeted code fix is being deployed, and users are advised to pause Windows feature updates via Intune until the resolution is fully rolled out. Users who upgraded to Windows 11 inadvertently will need to manually revert to their previous version. Additionally, in November 2024, certain Windows Server 2019 and 2022 devices were upgraded to Windows Server 2025 without user consent, and Microsoft acknowledged the problem but did not provide guidance on reverting these upgrades. Microsoft has also resolved an issue with prompts for upgrading to Windows Server 2025, clarifying that notifications were intended only for those seeking in-place upgrades.

Winsage

April 16, 2025

Microsoft warns of blue screen crashes caused by April updates

Microsoft has warned customers about potential system failures due to a blue screen error (secure kernel fatal error) following the installation of Windows updates since March, specifically the KB5055523 April cumulative update and the KB5053656 March preview update, affecting Windows 11, version 24H2. Users may experience crashes and a blue screen exception with the code 0x18B. Microsoft is working on a solution and has implemented a Known Issue Rollback (KIR) to reverse the problematic updates, which will automatically reach affected devices within 24 hours. Affected users are advised to restart their devices. For enterprise-managed devices, administrators must install the KIR Group Policy specific to their Windows version to resolve the issue, requiring a device restart. Further assistance is available on the Microsoft support website. Additionally, Microsoft has released emergency updates for local audit logon policies in Active Directory Group Policy and alerted administrators about potential inaccessibility of Windows Server 2025 domain controllers post-restart.

Winsage

February 5, 2025

Microsoft’s Free Offer Deadline—Millions Of Windows Users Must Now Decide

Microsoft is intensifying its initiative to transition Windows 10 users to Windows 11, with around 400 million users still on Windows 10. There has been a rise in Windows 11 upgrades, influenced by speculation about a deadline for free upgrades, although Microsoft has not formally announced a cutoff. The end-of-life for Windows 10 is set for October, which adds pressure for users to upgrade. Many users may be unable to upgrade due to hardware limitations, and Microsoft offers a 12-month extended support plan for those unable to transition. Workarounds for hardware restrictions are declining, as Microsoft has removed guidance on modifying the Windows Registry and blocked the Flyby11 tool, which was designed to assist users with unsupported hardware. As the October deadline approaches, users are advised to upgrade before then to avoid support fees and potential interruptions in free upgrades. Users without compatible hardware may need to consider purchasing a new Windows 11 PC by 2025 to ensure continued support.