The clock is ticking until Microsoft pulls support for millions of Windows 10 users worldwide.
From October 2025 onwards, Microsoft will no longer issue new features, important bug fixes, or crucial security updates to any PCs globally running Windows 10 — despite the decade-old operating system remaining the most popular iteration of the software.
The clock is ticking until Microsoft pulls support for millions of Windows 10 users worldwide.
From October 2025 onwards, Microsoft will no longer issue new features, important bug fixes, or crucial security updates to any PCs globally running Windows 10 — despite the decade-old operating system remaining the most popular iteration of the software.
In a bid to warn Windows 10 users about the dangers of persevering with Windows 10 after the end of support deadline, Microsoft is triggering fullscreen alerts that take over the screen of your laptop or desktop PC. The warning lists some of the options available to Windows 10 users, including encouraging them to purchase new hardware, suggesting they could “do more with a new Windows 11 PC” and “level up to the new Copilot+ PCs”.
Yes, despite the fact that Windows 10 users are not required to purchase new hardware — Microsoft fails to mention the other options in its latest fullscreen warning. Instead, it focuses on switching to a new device ahead of the October 2025 deadline to unlock “the ultimate Windows 11 experience”.
While there are clearly advantages when trading-up to a brand-new machine with the latest desktop operating system from Microsoft — not to mention that Copilot+ PCs, launched over the summer, boast specific Artificial Intelligence (AI) features that you won’t find in other iterations of Windows 11 — it’s not the most affordable option.
Microsoft will offer an Extended Security Updates (ESU) scheme that guarantees that your PC remains protected from security threats and catastrophic glitches after the October 2025 deadline for $30 (£24) per year.
The Extended Security Updates programme will follow a tiered pricing structure for enterprise users, with costs doubling each year to encourage Windows 11 adoption. Business customers pay £48.19 for the first year, £96.39 for the second, and £192.78 for the third, consumer pricing is much more affordable at $30 (roughly £24) a year.
Windows 10 remains the dominant operating system, powering 62.7% of the 1.6 billion Windows PCs worldwide.
