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4h ago

Windows 10 Support Cutoff Nears as Microsoft Promotes ESU and Critics Press for Free Updates

Millions locked out of Windows 11 now press Microsoft for broader support.

Windows 10 running on a laptop with desktop elements displayed on its screen
AI applied to Satya Nadella
Windows 10 operating system logo is displayed on a laptop screen for illustration photo.
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Overview

  • Security updates for Windows 10 end on October 14, 2025, with Microsoft’s consumer Extended Security Updates now live via a free Microsoft Account route, 1,000 Rewards points, or a $30 license that can cover up to ten devices.
  • Consumer Reports sent a letter to CEO Satya Nadella urging free security updates for all users and calling the policy hypocritical, citing 200–400 million PCs that cannot upgrade and an estimated 46.2% of PCs still on Windows 10 in August.
  • Microsoft says Windows 11 requirements remain unchanged and instructs users on unsupported hardware to roll back to Windows 10, while a new Windows Update link promotes trade‑in or recycling options for older PCs.
  • A lawsuit filed by Lawrence Klein alleges Microsoft is using the cutoff to push purchases of new devices optimized for Windows 11 and Copilot, framing the move as planned obsolescence.
  • Market responses include refurbished laptops preloaded with ChromeOS Flex from Back Market and guidance encouraging Linux or ChromeOS conversions as immediate alternatives to unsupported Windows 10.