Did Microsoft just crush the hopes of Windows 10 users?

Hundreds of million of Windows 10 devices will run out of support in 2025 with no option to upgrade to a new version of the operating system.

Up until now, every version of Windows could be upgraded to a new version. All Windows versions reach end of support eventually. Microsoft stopped support for Windows 7 and 8 just recently, but this did not place users in a cul-de-sac. The upgrade path to Windows 10 allowed them to continue using their devices.

Things changed with the release of Windows 11. Microsoft changed the system requirements for the first time in a long, long while. The last big change dates back to Windows Vista, which Microsoft released in 2007 to the public.

From that moment on, Windows users had the reassurance that they’d be able to upgrade their devices to a new version when the currently installed version ran out of support.

Windows 11 requires a fairly modern processor and a security chip, TPM. Bypasses are available to install Windows 11 on devices that don’t meet the requirements. It is an artificial limit, not one born out of necessity.

Windows 11 does run better on modern PCs, but that is true for nearly anything else. Most Windows users who run older hardware know about the limitations. Most may prefer to continue using a newer version of Windows over the other choices that they have right now.

Microsoft confirms end of Windows 10 Support

Microsoft published a new support page on November 16, 2023 that some see as confirmation that Microsoft won’t extend support of the operating system.

The most important sentence on the page is the following one:

The Windows 10 end of support date of October 14, 2025, is unchanged.

The statement confirms Microsoft’s decision to end support of Windows 10 in October 2025. While it is very likely that Microsoft will stay true to this, at least for consumers, it can also be read as confirmation of the current plan.

Microsoft will give Enterprise and business customers an extension. There is little doubt about that. The system, first launched for Windows 7 about three years ago, allows these customers to extend the life of the operating system.

Windows 7 got a three-year life extension this way. Companies had to buy the extensions, but it meant that they could continue using these devices for up to three years.

Windows 10 will likely get the same deal, at the very least. A three year extension would allow commercial customers to use Windows 10 devices until October 2028. By then, Windows 12 and even Windows 13 may be out already.

What you can do about this

If your Windows 10 device is incompatible with Windows 11, you may wonder what you can do about it.

Microsoft recommends buying a new Windows 11 PC. That is an option, but it will result in millions of devices being put in the trash.

Users have quite a few options, but not all are equal:

• Continue running Windows 10 at the expense of security and stability.
• Upgrade to Windows 11 by bypassing the system requirements.
• Migrating to Linux.

The first option may look like the worst of the three options. There are mitigations, however. First, third-party security patcher 0Patch will support Windows 10 with security patches for years after Microsoft ends its support. The company focuses on critical issues and it costs a couple of Dollar per year, but it is an option to continue using Windows 10 and feel a bit safer about it.

If Microsoft extends support for Enterprise and business customers, some clever folks will find ways to install these patches on user devices. The same happened when Windows 7 ran out of support, and it will happen again in two years time.

Installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware is another option. It makes a few things less comfortable and some, mostly minor, features may not work, but it ensures continued security updates for the device.

The one big downside to this is that feature updates include additional requirement checks. This means, in essence, that you need to run bypasses at least every two years to continue receiving updates.

Migration to Linux is the most daring option. It is an entirely different operating system and there is no direct migration path. Some apps and programs may not be available on Linux either.

Good news is that you will be able to use the device for a long time.