Critics Slam Microsoft’s Limited Free Updates for Windows 10 After 2025

Microsoft also offers free security updates for Windows 10 after the end of the support – but consumer advocates criticize the solution as inadequate. According to the critics, up to 400 million PCs could be affected.

Criticism of Microsoft’s Windows 10 plans is growing

Microsoft is under growing pressure to rethink his plans for the end of the Windows 10 support. Although the group recently announced free security updates beyond the official support end on October 14, 2025, the conditions encounter violent criticism from consumer advocates. The free updates only get if you either synchronize your PC settings via a Microsoft account with the cloud, redeem 1000 Microsoft-Rewards points or pay $ 30 (about 25 euros) for the Extended Security Update (ESU) program.

The Public Interest Research Group (Pirg), which is committed to longer use times of electronics products, describes this solution as completely inadequate. Lucas Rockett Gutterman, head of the “Designed to Last” campaign at Pirg, told opposite The Register: “Microsoft’s new options do not go far enough and will probably have no influence on the up to 400 million Windows 10 PCs that cannot upgrade to Windows 11.”

Massive environmental impacts feared

The Pirg warns that Microsoft’s decision could lead to the “largest wave of disposed computers of all time”. According to current statistics, Windows 10 continues to hold the largest share in the Windows market with 48.92 percent, closely followed by Windows 11 with 47.73 percent. However, due to the strict hardware requirements, many of these devices cannot be updated to Windows 11-in particular the Trusted Platform modules (TPM) 2.0 request and the Secure Boot support exclude millions of older but functional devices.

For companies, there are even $ 61 per device – a price that doubles in the following years. “Microsoft has already made some concessions after public pressure: ESU for private individuals for the first time, affordable prices for schools and now their new OneDrive option. What you have not done is to commit yourself to an automatic longer support for Windows 10 or to loosen the hardware requirements for Windows 11,” criticizes Gutterman. Windows 11’s hardware requirements are significantly stricter than that of the predecessors. While Windows 10 was still on devices with a gigabyte RAM and 16 gigabytes of storage space, Windows 11 needs at least four gigabytes RAM, 64 gigabytes of storage and modern security chips. These requirements are relatively new devices that were sold between 2017 and 2019.

Linux as an alternative

Under the name “End of 10”, a group that encourages Windows 10 users to switch to Linux forms. The campaign advertises the lack of advertising and telemetrie tracking as main sales arguments. Although Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, MINT and Fedora offer support for older hardware, Linux remain practical hurdles such as compatibility problems and the learning curve.