Microsoft sent alerts this week to hundreds of millions of people still using the Windows 10 operating system, advising them to upgrade to Windows 11 or sign up for extended service updates.
A 60-day notice that was sent to Windows 10 users through the operating system’s update program says that those who have Windows 10 Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations will not receive any crucial security updates starting on Oct. 14, 2025.
“The October 2025 monthly security update will be the last update available for these versions. After this date, devices running these versions will no longer receive monthly security and preview updates containing protections from the latest security threats,” Microsoft said in its alert.
Hundreds of Millions Still Use Windows 10
Operating system market share information from Statcounter shows that as of July 2025, around 42 percent of all Windows users are currently running Windows 10 on an estimated 700 million computers. About 53 percent are using Windows 11, while 2 percent are still using Windows 7, according to the data.
Some Windows 10 users may receive a message saying that “this PC doesn’t currently meet the minimum system requirements to run Windows 11,” precluding them from upgrading, according to an Epoch Times review.
Extended Security Options for a Price
Some users can sign up for the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates, or ESU, option.
“Individuals or organizations who elect to continue using Windows 10 after support ends on October 14, 2025, will have the option of enrolling their PCs into a paid ESU subscription,” Microsoft has said. “The ESU program enables PCs to continue to receive critical and important security updates through an annual subscription service after support ends.”
It requires users to be running the 22H2 version of Windows 10. Microsoft also said that ESUs will not include new operating system features or programs, design changes, non-security upgrades requested by customers, and that general support will not be provided past the mid-October date.
More Details on How to Enroll
Last month, Microsoft released a post saying that Windows 10 users, as of July 22, “should have started to see an enrollment wizard through notifications and in Settings, making it simple to select the best option for you and enroll in ESU directly from your personal Windows 10 PC.”
“Once you select an option and follow the on-screen steps, your PC will automatically be enrolled,” Microsoft added. “ESU coverage for personal devices runs from Oct. 15, 2025, through Oct. 13, 2026. Starting today, the enrollment wizard is available in the Windows Insider Program and will begin rolling out as an option to Windows 10 customers in July, with broad availability expected by mid-August.”
Organizations can subscribe to the ESUs and “receive monthly critical and important security updates for one year,” according to the company. “The subscription can be renewed annually for up to three years, with the cost increasing each year. Enrollment is available today through the Microsoft Volume Licensing Program and will be offered by Cloud Service Providers starting Sept. 1.”
“Microsoft’s decision to discontinue support for Windows 10 while most of its consumer base was still using it was part of the company’s larger strategy to force its customers to purchase new devices optimized to run Microsoft’s suite of generative artificial intelligence (AI) software such as Copilot, which comes bundled with Windows 11 by default,” said the lawsuit.
