Support from third-party software providers is also expected to be dropped in the following years due to security concerns. — Photo by Clint Patterson on Unsplash
While Windows 11 has been out for a little over four years at this point, as of September this year, 40.5% of Windows users are still on the older Windows 10, according to web analytics provider Statcounter.
Now that Microsoft is ending support for the decade-old Windows 10 on Oct 14, holdouts on the operating system face larger bugbears than simply not getting updates for the latest features.
The company itself says that once the operating system hits end of support, users will no longer get regular security updates and fixes or technical support, leaving them potentially susceptible to viruses and malware that exploit newly discovered vulnerabilities.
Support from third-party software providers is also expected to be dropped in the following years due to security concerns.
This has already happened in the case of Windows 7, with Valve's Steam no longer working on the operating system last year, while Google Chrome dropped Windows 7 all the way back in 2023.
Even Microsoft itself announced that it would stop offering Office apps including Word, PowerPoint and Excel on the same day that Windows 10 hits end of support.
What can you do?
For those still on Windows 10, Microsoft recommends making the jump to the newer Windows 11, which is available as a free upgrade for compatible devices.
Users can check if the free upgrade is available for their device by going to the Settings in Windows 10, selecting the Privacy and Security, and then clicking on Windows Update. If supported, an option to upgrade will be shown on screen.
Users can also check if they are eligible for a free upgrade on the Microsoft website.
