- Microsoft has been encouraged to offer more free support for Windows 10 devices
- 400 million cannot update due to hardware restrictions that generate e-waste
- European customers have already received an extra year of support
It’s no secret that Microsoft has struggled to change people away from Windows 10 and into Windows 11, but even with plenty of warning, many are still reluctant or unable to upgrade.
With Windows 10 reaching the end of life on October 14, 2025, millions of PCs will be left without free security updates. Estimated two out of five PCs can’t upgrade to Windows 11 due to hardware problems, making the upgrade far more expensive than many had expected.
With this in mind, nearly 400 repair companies and other public representatives have signed a letter calling on Microsoft to expand its Windows 10 free updates.
Windows 10 upgrade still worries consumers and businesses
The letter was signed by 382 repair companies and nonprofit organizations globally as well as 19 libraries and school officials, 83 state and local elected officials and 49 environmental and consumer lawyers.
Organized by America’s Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), senior director of the campaign for the right to repair Nathan Proctor, also noted the organization’s petition, signed by over 16,000 consumers, and a similar French petition signed by 43,000 citizens.
“People are tired of short -term electronics that force us to upgrade, remove software support, or create unexpected payment walls for basic functions,” explained PIRG SVP and COO other subtries.
PIRG also noticed the sustainability questions associated with forced OS-Upgrades-with “Up to 400 million computers … On the losing end” and are unable to upgrade to Windows 11, e-waste is set to spike in the coming months.
“Less than a quarter of electronic waste is recycled so that most of these computers end up at landfills,” the letter reads.
Proctor criticized Microsoft for offering European customers an extra year of support on the quiet to comply with EEA LOVE, but not mirror it in other markets, including the United States.
With Windows 10’s end of support less than two weeks away, the operating system’s market share continues to fall. From September 2025, Windows 10 had a 40.5% slice of the Windows market compared to 48.9% for Windows 11 (via Statcounter).
Microsoft reminded us of its long -standing obligation to sustainability, and although it designs units for repair, recycling and recycling, there will ultimately come a time when hardware and software have evolved so much that older devices are no longer suitable.
Redmond claims it has seen a 62% decrease in security events and a 3x reduction in Firmware attacks in Windows 11 compared to Windows 10.
Users who are unable to update to Windows 11 of hardware causes can still get one year of extended security updates (ESU) – companies can get up to three years of ESUs.
