Consumer Reports has taken a firm stance against Microsoft’s impending deadline of October 14th, which will cease free security updates for Windows 10 users. In a direct appeal to CEO Satya Nadella, the organization expressed concern that this decision will “strand millions of consumers” who own devices that do not meet the hardware requirements for Windows 11.
Current statistics reveal that approximately 46.2 percent of global users are still operating on Windows 10 as of August 2025. This translates to an estimated 200 to 400 million PCs that are unable to upgrade due to hardware limitations. The letter from Consumer Reports criticizes Microsoft for what it perceives as hypocrisy; the company encourages users to transition to Windows 11 for enhanced cybersecurity while simultaneously leaving Windows 10 devices vulnerable to potential cyber threats.
The organization also highlighted the fee imposed by Microsoft for a one-year extension of security support, which they argue is an inadequate solution for users seeking to protect their machines. Furthermore, they pointed out that the free support options available effectively compel users to adopt Microsoft products, thereby allowing the company to gain a slight edge over its competitors.
In their request, Consumer Reports urged Microsoft to maintain free support for Windows 10 until a greater number of users have successfully transitioned to Windows 11. Echoing this sentiment, the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) has also advocated for an extension, warning that “as many as 400 million perfectly good computers that can’t upgrade to Windows 11 will be thrown out.”
