![\"Microsoft](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750803728_780_960x0.jpg\")
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Decision time for millions<\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
Republished on June 24 with Microsoft\u2019s sudden offer to extend Windows 10 support..<\/p>\n
Another suggestion this week that the decision to keep Windows 10 may soon be impossible, with all owners of eligible PCs forced to upgrade. That would put a deadline on the free upgrade offer before it\u2019s taken out of your hands. As I\u2019ve warned before, Microsoft\u2019s small print on recent Windows 10 updates opens up that risk.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, the Windows-maker forcibly installed its new Outlook client<\/a> on Windows 10 devices, and then did the same with Windows 11 24H2 for PCs running Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 \u201cthat are not managed by IT departments<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n But the more critical confirmation<\/a> came last year, when the company auto-installed the KB5001716 patch on Windows 10 PCs, warning<\/a> it may now \u201cattempt to download and install feature updates to your device if it is approaching or has reached the end of support for your currently installed Windows version.\u201d<\/p>\n ForbesDo Not Use These Networks On Your Smartphone, Warns GoogleBy Zak Doffman<\/a><\/p>\n That affects 400 million Windows 10 users. As another wave of Windows 10 upgrade warnings floods social media, Windows Latest<\/a> points out that \u201cWindows 10 support ends on October 14, and it can be extended for a year if you pay $30. Otherwise, Microsoft will force upgrade supported PCs to Windows 11 whether you like it or not.\u201d<\/p>\n There are two questions that will shape the next 100 days. First, how many eligible Windows 10 PCs will upgrade. On that note, this month has seen some surprisingly good news<\/a> for Microsoft, as millions suddenly upgrade after months of inertia, meaning Windows 11 is poised to overtake Windows 10\u2019s market share for the first time.But it\u2019s not there yet \u2014 alarmingly more than half of all users remain on Windows 10.<\/p>\n Second, how many PCs are not capable of that free upgrade. Analysts think there are at least 240 million<\/a> of those PCs, but there could be many more. These can\u2019t be forcibly upgrades and are not eligible for a free upgrade of any kind. Those users will need to pay Microsoft for a 12-month security update extension or will be left open to attack.<\/p>\n That Windows 10 deadline is October 14. Microsoft and PC OEMS are pushing hard for those 240 million users \u2014 and plenty of those with eligible devices as well \u2014 to buy new Copilot PCs. This is all about \u201csecuring your future\u201d the company warns PC owners.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, millions of Windows 10 users are finally switching in droves. Last week, it seemed clear that Windows 11 was set to catch Windows 10\u2019s global market share<\/a> for the first time \u2014 at least according to the best data available to Statcounter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Well, that has now happened. On June 24, both versions of Windows reportedly had 47.65% of the Windows OS market \u2014 that\u2019s a huge milestone for Microsoft. The primary question has not changed though \u2014 when does that hard ceiling hit, at which point we\u2019ll know how many users need new hardware or to pay that $30 to maintain support.<\/p>\n ForbesDelete This Message From Apple Or Google\u2014It\u2019s An AttackBy Zak Doffman<\/a><\/p>\n That means Windows 11 has closed a 10% gap in just 3 weeks \u2014 again according to the available data, which will not be exact but will be illustrative and directional.<\/p>\n As for those needing new PCs, The Register<\/a> reports that \u201cfresh stats from channel watcher Context this week show that in the first two months of calendar Q2 (April and May), distributors and resellers across Europe shipped 22 percent more desktops to enterprise customers.\u201d This has driven revenue up 17% year-on-year.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, there\u2019s some good news for those Windows 10 users without PCs eligible for the Windows 11 upgrade. Microsoft has suddenly revealed an almost free 12-month support extension for those users, giving them additional time.<\/p>\n \u201cWe understand that moving to a new PC can take time, and we\u2019re here to support you every step of the way,\u201d Yusuf Mehdi, the company\u2019s consumer CMO, posted<\/a> on June 24.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program is designed to help keep your Windows 10 PC protected after support ends on Oct. 14, 2025. ESU delivers monthly critical and important security updates to help you stay secure during the transition. However, it\u2019s not meant to be a long-term solution\u2014it doesn\u2019t include new features, non-security updates, design change requests or technical support.\u201d<\/p>\n Confirming these \u201cadditional free enrollment options\u201d, Mehdi detailed three different options for consumers to secure the additional time.<\/p>\n\n