Skip to main content

Microsoft warns users Windows 10 support ends soon, these are your options

Windows 11 and Windows 10 operating system logos are displayed on laptop screens.
Beata Zawrzel / NurPhoto/Getty Images

Many were hoping that Windows 10 might still get another lease on life, but alas — that doesn’t seem to be the case. Microsoft has just started sending out emails to users who are still running Windows 10, and those emails make it quite clear that the end-of-life (EOL) period of the beloved operating system is coming to an end. Microsoft’s advice? Upgrade to Windows 11 ASAP.

Windows Latest received an email from Microsoft, titled: “End of support for Windows — what you need to know.” This message was likely sent out to many more users, and may keep popping into people’s mailboxes as Microsoft keeps rolling out the alert.

Recommended Videos

In the email, Microsoft announces that the end of support for Windows 10 is approaching. After October 14, 2025, Windows 10 will no longer get free software updates, technical support, and security fixes. You can still keep getting updates if you pay for it, though.

Microsoft's email about the end of life of Windows 10.
Windows Latest

As per the Microsoft messaging, the users are left with two choices: Checking whether their current PC is eligible for the Windows 11 upgrade or buying a new PC. The reality is a little more harsh than it sounds. Many computers will not meet the new system requirements for Windows 11, which will leave users exposed to malicious attacks over time as new security patches will no longer be a thing. Microsoft’s suggestion to buy a new PC is sound, but not within reach for every user.

The email comes with a brief FAQ section that advises users to trade in their old PCs or recycle them. Microsoft also clarifies that a Windows 10-based PC won’t just stop working, which, although entirely unsurprising, is good news. The bad news is the lack of updates, which will eventually force all Windows 10 fans to swap to Windows 11.

Microsoft promises that Windows 11 is the “most secure Windows ever built,” inviting people to upgrade. It also promotes OneDrive, which seems unrelated to the content of the email.

There’s no denying it — Windows 10 is going away soon. However, many people are still using the OS, and those users will be faced with either buying a new PC (if their current computer can’t run Windows 11) or dealing with the lack of security updates.

Monica J. White
Monica is a computing writer at Digital Trends, focusing on PC hardware. Since joining the team in 2021, Monica has written…
Microsoft will soon use AI to help you find your photos and files on Copilot+ PCs
The Surface Laptop shown in front of a Copilot+ sign.

In a Windows Insider blog post, Microsoft announced an AI upgrade to Windows Search to make finding photos, documents, and settings easier. However, the enhanced feature is restricted to Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon processors; AMD and Intel support is coming soon.

The update has all the same fixes and improvements from build 26100.3613; nonetheless, some of the best Copilot+ PCs will be left out simply because they use  AMD or Intel processors. Microsoft will release the update gradually, and you can also take advantage of both semantic and lexical indexing to search for your photos and documents more efficiently. Because of this improvement, you don't have to remember the exact file name you're looking for, which is a huge time-saver.

Read more
Microsoft is working on something new, but it’s probably not Windows 12
The Surface Pro 11 on a white table in front of a window.

Microsoft appears to be working on a new major update, but if you're hoping for Windows 12, I wouldn't hold my breath. The company has confirmed that it's testing new content via the Insider program in the Dev Channel, and those changes might lead to a patch that's set to be released later this year. However, we're most likely looking at the successor to the current 24H2 build -- namely Windows 11 25H2 -- and not a whole new operating system.

This was first spotted by Windows Central. The publication cites its own sources as it claims that Microsoft is backporting some platform changes to offer better support for Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon X2 chip. Those changes will allow devices that house that chip to run Germanium-based Windows 11. Germanium refers to the platform release that the current Windows 11 build is built on, and it looks like the upcoming 25H2 build might also be based on Germanium -- but nothing is fully clear at this point.

Read more
5 OneNote for Windows 10 replacements worth using in 2025
Windows 11 and Windows 10 operating system logos are displayed on laptop screens.

In an update to its support document, Microsoft plans to reduce the performance of its legacy OneNote app in an attempt to encourage users to use the Windows 11 OneNote app. Windows Latest first spotted the support document, which mentions how Microsoft is transferring features from the legacy (OneNote for Windows 10) app to the latest version.

Microsoft has removed the older version of OneNote from the Microsoft Store, but the software giant promised that the legacy app would not be replaced. You will still have complete control over the app, and Microsoft will not force you to switch. However, the Windows 10 end-of-support date is approaching, and as a result, the OneNote syncing will get slower.

Read more