Last week, Microsoft quietly announced that it will extend support for Windows 10 through 2027, even though the operating system officially reached the end of support on October 14, 2025. Initially, the company had planned to offer just one additional year of updates under its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, but the new decision gives Windows 10 a longer lifeline.
However, critics and groups like The Restart Project, which helped co-develop the "End of 10" toolkit to support Windows 10 users who can't upgrade to Windows 11, claimed that Microsoft's move to continue pushing security updates to Windows 10 beyond its end-of-support feels like a last-minute snooze button, which only acts as a band-aid on a bleeding system.
They argued that the move would force up to 400 million working PCs into early retirement, prompting many users to brand it as programmed obsolescence rather than anything else. It also seems like an outright, blatant attempt designed to make users transition to Windows 11.
However, if previous complaints lodged are anything to go by — Microsoft's stringent hardware requirements for the operating system, coupled with arguments of flawed design elements, including unnecessary AI and Copilot integrations, will only widen the digital divide, making the jump even harder.
Currently, users enrolled in Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program will continue receiving critical security patches for one additional year, extending coverage beyond the original end-of-support date of October 14, 2025, through October 14, 2026.
Windows 10
As highlighted in the poll results, a clear majority of participants (68%) indicated they plan to continue running Windows 10 on their devices following Microsoft’s support extension. Interestingly, 19% of respondents said they have already upgraded to Windows 11, highlighting a smaller but notable shift toward the newer operating system.
Granted, only 321 people voted, so we need to take the results with a pinch of salt.
If you are still running Windows 10 on your PC, you can take advantage of the extended lifeline by enrolling in the ESU program for free by signing in with a Microsoft account, or pay for access via 1,000 Microsoft reward points or $30.
Last week, I wrote an article attempting to capture the overall sentiment from the community and tech enthusiasts following Microsoft's decision to extend support for Windows 10 through 2027. It quickly became apparent to me that many people are still running Windows 10 on their devices, with some outrightly calling for Microsoft to extend Windows 10's shelf life to 2028 because 2027 won't cut it.
The conversation about alternative operating systems like Linux also popped up. According to an avid Windows Central reader:
"Linux has gotten way better, and perhaps with some install help it does everything the common folks want to do (read: not gamers or others reliant on some very specific tailored app).
The way Microsoft has been talking about their future makes every conscious consumer know this is only the beginning, and regular os subscription payments, more surveillance etc is coming.
I might buy win 11 based pc in the future when the current one stops working, but I already know it will run Linux just fine, so MS has opened Pandora's box.
Though frankly I'm surprised MS cares so much. corporate world has been their sole focus for over a decade, and they still have a good stranglehold there. ofc one piece of wisdom might be that if people use Linux at home, eventually they'll start asking why we are using MS products at work. We are used to Linux and more competent with apps there."
"What they are admitting is that they are afraid of letting part the 25% Windows base go for Linux or worse, to become botnets for cybercrime after they get infected for lack of security patches, creating havoc," another reader added.
Some users came up with interesting ideas, painting a picture where Microsoft continues to support Windows 10 and Windows 11 simultaneously.
At this point I'd say, keep both. Make them into two variants of one core, like Chevy and Cadillac, or Citroen and Peugeot, depending where you are. One standard version has all the bells and whistles suitable for any hardware. The other is a fully functioning and safe barebone budget version with diminished capabilities. Good marketing would be essential to avoid misunderstandings.
While it seems inevitable for users to eventually upgrade to Windows 11, the current RAM crisis due to AI's heavy appetite for computing power isn't making the jump any easier, as hardware prices are steadily increasing and becoming unaffordable for most people. According to another Windows Central reader:
"That people don't have the money to upgrade at today's prices.
Let's not make too much of this: MS OSes have always run a bit ahead of entry level hardware and conversely, people have always stayed with trailing edge software longer than safe. There are probably still people running Windows XP out there.
The security rationale of W11 over W10 can be debated but in the end, everybody will have to upgrade the hardware...
...when they can afford it. At least MS is being understanding that it's not just parsimony holding people back."
That said, it will be interesting to see if Microsoft will continue to hold its massive dominance in the desktop landscape with Windows.
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