[German]ISupport for Windows 10 will end in October 2025; it will not be possible for many existing systems to switch to Windows 11. Recently, there was hope that Microsoft would offer a support extension for Windows 10 (possibly for a fee). However, Microsoft has now dashed this "dream" in a new support article – the announced end of support for "Windows 10, the 'last' Windows", as Microsoft once announced.
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Hoping of an extension of support
Microsoft's support for Windows 10 (Home, Pro, Enterprise, Education) will end on October 14, 2025. This date has been communicated for some time. Only the so-called LTSC versions and the IoT counterparts of Windows 10 Enterprise will continue to receive security updates until 2029 or 2031 (depending on the version).
In view of the fact that many Windows 10 machines are not suitable for Windows 11 and that the end of support would result in large mountains of electronic waste, there was hope that Microsoft would be persuaded to extend support. In the article Petition to Microsoft demands Windows 10 support extension, I reported at the end of October 2023 that Microsoft had been presented with a petition to this effect. The Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) had set up a petition calling for Microsoft to extend support for Windows 10 beyond 2025. The aim is to avoid a huge mountain of electronic waste being created because many computers are unsuitable for Windows 11.
These hopes were fueled by a post by Zack Bowden that Microsoft is discussing internally whether to offer a (possibly paid) support extension for Windows 10 after all. The effort for Microsoft would be limited – and Microsoft's plans to also roll out Copilot on Windows 10 somehow gave me "hope".
Copilot and optional update control are coming
As early as 16 November 2023, Microsoft stated in an undated support article How we are maximizing value in Windows 10 that it had received great feedback on Copilot in Windows (Copilot is only available as a preview). As a result, the approach for Windows 10 has been reconsidered and Copilot (currently as a preview) will be rolled out in Windows 10. This is not relevant for the EU because Microsoft still has to clarify how Copilot harmonizes with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). There was this post from Microsoft on Nov. 20, 2023.
The support article also states that Windows 10 will have an option that allows users to control whether optional updates can be installed automatically (there will be an option "Get the latest updates as soon as they are available"). This feature has been available in Windows 11 for some time.
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Together with the planned option to uninstall the recently rolled out Windows Backup update (see Windows 10 update KB5030211 ships backup app to LTSC versions and frustrates LTSC users) and the approach of being able to uninstall Microsoft Edge (see Windows 10/11: Changes due to the European Digital Markets Act) raised hopes for more.
No support extension beyond 2025
I hadn't recognized it, but EP left this comment here on the blog, which references the post Hoping for a Windows 10 support extension? Microsoft just quietly crushed your dreams by Ed Bott on ZDNet. Ed already stated on November 16, 2023 that Microsoft "crushed all dreams". In the undated support article How we are maximizing value in Windows 10 , Microsoft doesn't just talk about the great feedback it has received about Copilot in Windows.
It also clearly states: The Windows 10 end of support date of October 14, 2025, is unchanged. Microsoft has therefore decided (at least so far) that there will be no support extension for Windows 10 beyond October 14, 2025. Windows 10 users therefore have the following options in my view:
- Switch to a machine with Windows 11
- Buy a Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC license (21H2 is supported until 2031)
- Hope for the solutions from ACROS Security with 0patch – I assume that something is coming
Or you could switch completely to another operating system such as Linux.
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