On October 14, 2025, Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 10despite widespread requests from millions of users who still trust the operating system. The risky move leaving almost 400 million PCs without updateseffectively rendering them obsolete. However, Microsoft finally extended the life of Windows 10 through its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, giving users continued access to critical patches beyond the end of support date.
The Restart Project group, which helped co-develop the “End of 10” toolkit To help Windows 10 users who cannot upgrade to Windows 11, stated that Microsoft’s decision to continue pushing security updates for Windows 10 beyond its end of support It feels like a last minute snooze button.It only acts as a band-aid on a bleeding system.
It’s no secret that Microsoft has been pushing users to upgrade to Windows 11, but Rising RAM prices have skyrocketed hardware costs, making the transition even more difficult. This is on top of the operating system. strict hardware requirements and arguments of faulty design elements.
In France, Critics even organized a symbolic “funeral” for Windows 10.protesting Microsoft’s push towards Windows 11 and what they see as planned obsolescence. However, as recent events suggest, the company may finally be listening.
Microsoft quietly extended the Windows 10 ESU program for another year. As a result, users enrolled in the program will continue to receive support until October 14, 2027. The extension is free for those who sign in to Windows 10 with a Microsoft account, ensuring that critical updates remain available beyond the original limit.
“People might start to switch to linux and use open source software for replacements if this RAM/storage issue is not resolved over the next year,” a Windows Central reader indicated.
Groups like End of 10 has been pushing users to transition to Linux after the end of life of Windows 10. The campaign encourages strong Windows 10 users to completely leave the Windows ecosystem and switch to a version of linux on any outdated device, using the lack of ads and telemetry tracking as key selling points for users to switch sides.
“I said a year ago this was going to happen, and I’ll say it again, it will happen next year too.” Another reader added. “Windows 10 will be supported until October 2028. This has nothing to do with pricing. This was planned from the beginning. But like last year, Microsoft didn’t say until late that this would happen for free, so people didn’t plan accordingly and as many as possible upgraded to 11. Same this time. Same next year.”
“Windows 10 to Windows 11 is like when you need new running shoes, but Nike discontinued the kind you’ve been buying new versions of for years, and the other kinds are fine, but not up to par.” Another user commented on the Subreddit r/technology on Reddit. “Then you’re like, ‘Fuck it, I’ll wear these until they fall apart.’
For context, A recent HP survey found that 3 in 10 HP PCs still run Windows 10. This was a slight decrease from September 2025, when HP and Dell indicated that up to 50% of PCs were still running the operating systemprompting PC makers to suggest that users won’t upgrade to Windows 11 overnight, and that the process could even extend into 2026.
Some even claimed that Microsoft’s decision to extend Windows 10 support beyond 2026 is an outright admission that it is better than Windows 11. “So are they finally admitting that Windows 11 isn’t good enough almost five years later?”
To that end, it’s unclear how Microsoft extending support for Windows 10 through its ESU program through 2027 will impact Windows 11’s market share. The operating system had just started to gain momentum and even overtook Windows 10 as the world’s most dominant desktop operating system in July 2025.
In the meantime, you can take advantage of Microsoft’s extended support for Windows 11 by enroll in the ESU program for free by signing in with a Microsoft account or paying for access through 1,000 Microsoft Rewards Points or $30.
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