In a strategic push to transition users from Windows 10 to its latest operating system, Microsoft has ramped up efforts to encourage upgrades ahead of the impending end of support for Windows 10, scheduled for October 2025. The tech giant has recently implemented fullscreen prompts aimed at Windows 10 users, enticing them to consider new Windows 11 PCs and highlighting the enhanced capabilities they offer.
Promotional Tactics to Drive Upgrades
These fullscreen notifications, which some users began noticing over the weekend, emphasize the advantages of upgrading. Messages such as “do more with a new Windows 11 PC” and “level up to the new Copilot Plus PCs” are designed to showcase the “ultimate Windows 11 experience.” Each prompt conveniently links to a promotional site featuring a selection of new Windows 11 devices.
Microsoft’s latest fullscreen prompt for Windows 10 users.
Interestingly, these prompts do not inform users that they can continue to use Windows 10 securely beyond the support cutoff date. For the first time, Microsoft is offering Extended Security Updates to consumers, albeit at a cost of for a year of additional updates. Commercial clients have the option to purchase up to three years of extended support.
Historical Context and Current Challenges
Microsoft’s approach echoes its previous campaigns, where it aggressively promoted upgrades from Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 to Windows 10. However, the current landscape presents unique challenges. Windows 11 is compatible only with CPUs released from 2018 onward, which means that a significant number of existing devices cannot officially upgrade. This limitation has likely influenced Microsoft’s decision to focus on promoting new hardware rather than simply encouraging users to upgrade their current systems.
Despite the push for Windows 11, adoption rates have not yet surpassed those of Windows 10. Interestingly, Windows 11 did briefly claim the title of the most popular operating system for PC gaming on Steam earlier this summer. Complicating matters further, Microsoft has continued to roll out new features for Windows 10, even after announcing that major updates would cease in 2023. In an unusual move, the company reopened its beta program for Windows 10 users in June, allowing them to test new features for an operating system that is slated for retirement next year.
