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4h ago

Windows 10 Support Cutoff Nears as Google Promotes ChromeOS Flex Option

Google is pitching ChromeOS Flex as a free way to keep older machines patched without buying new hardware.

Windows 10 running on a laptop with desktop elements displayed on its screen
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Overview

  • Microsoft will stop releasing Windows 10 updates on October 14, 2025, warning that remaining on the OS increases malware risk.
  • Microsoft’s stopgap options include Extended Security Updates through October 2028 for an undisclosed annual price, and GB News reports a separate one-year consumer path that may require a OneDrive backup or about $30 with a free route in mainland Europe.
  • Google is offering ChromeOS Flex at no cost to repurpose Windows 10 PCs, though it lacks Android apps, the Google Play Store, a dedicated security chip, and support for Parallels virtual machines.
  • Analysts cited by GB News warn that unsupported Windows 10 systems could drive large-scale e-waste, with estimates ranging from 240 million to about 400 million discarded PCs.
  • StatCounter data reported by GB News shows Windows 7’s share recently jumped to 9.61% from 3.59%, yet the OS remains unsupported and does not receive security fixes.