Millions of users say they'll keep using Windows 10 past end of life, despite losing security support

Date:
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 10:18:00 +0000

Description:
Windows 10 End Of Life is just days away, but 5.4 million Brits say they will still use it instead of upgrading.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Only half will upgrade OS or device, one quarter refuse to switch from Windows 10 UK customers can get one years free ESU, but it wont be automatic Consumers can also get help reducing e-waste when upgrading

With Windows 10 end of life coming next week, new research has revealed exactly how many people plan to upgrade, and its not looking good for Microsoft.

Which?s study found around one quarter of the people who still use Windows 10 will continue using the previous-gen OS even after support is withdrawn.

With 21 million people still using a Windows 10 device, this means 5.4
million Windows 10 devices could still be in use after the October 14, 2025 deadline, putting users at risk of attack. Windows 10 isnt going anywhere at all

With 26% planning to keep using Windows 10, only a little more than half will upgrade their existing devices OS (39%) or upgrade their entire device to support Windows 11 (14%). Six percent even said they would convert to another operating system as a result of the planned deprecation.

Which? notes Microsoft is offering one free years Windows 10 Extended
Security Updates (ESU) to UK and European customers, though the company recently came under fire for not offering the extension in other markets globally (notably, the US).

Even so, the free years ESU wont happen automatically. Instead, users must
opt in by backing up their Windows settings to OneDrive.

Which? Tech Editor Lisa Barber summarized: If you dont act, you could become more vulnerable to hackers and scams.

The report also stressed that UK retailers must help consumers safely and responsibly dispose of old devices when upgrading, under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive, however while this may reduce e-waste via recycling schemes, it doesnt always translate to trade-in savings and financial incentives.

With the exception of a small blip in August, Windows 10s market share has been steadily dropping since the launch of Windows 11, but it wasnt until
July 2025 that the newer OS overtook its predecessor (via Statcounter ).

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the
Follow button!

And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too. You might also like Weve listed the best Windows laptops around Hundreds of businesses beg Microsoft not to kill off free Windows 10 updates Need to upgrade? These are the best business laptops and best mobile workstations



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/millions-of-users-say-theyll-keep-using-windows- 10-past-end-of-life-despite-losing-security-support


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)