Microsoft will drop support for Windows 10 later in the year, leaving millions of laptop and desktop PCs without access to critical security patches and updates
With just 267 days until Microsoft terminates support for Windows 10, teams within the company are still hard at work on new enhancements for the desktop operating system
Microsoft will drop support for Windows 10 in October 2025, ending over a decade of its popular desktop operating system.
From October 14 onwards, Microsoft will no longer issue new software updates to fix vulnerabilities, bugs, and glitches. Without these vital software updates, Microsoft has warned that anyone still relying on Windows 10 will be left "at greater risk for viruses and malware".
If you're one of the millions who rely on Windows 10, Microsoft has three lifelines available to you. And one of these will require a paid subscription to ensure your personal data is shielded from hackers.
Ahead of the deadline, Microsoft has ramped-up pressure on PC owners — warning that it's "imperative" to upgrade to a new PC this year, rolling out fullscreen pop-ups about the End of Support on Windows 10, and warning that Microsoft 365 applications (Word, Excel, Outlook) will also lose support at the same time.
Despite estimates that 240 million laptops will be sent to landfill unless Microsoft relaxes its strict minimum system requirements for the free upgrade to Windows 11, the company shows little sign of bowing to pressure.
With so much focus on shifting the millions of Windows 10 users over to its successor, or one of the new slate of Copilot+ PCs launched by Microsoft and its partners, it's a little baffling to see that teams within the $3.19 trillion firm are still working on new features for the soon-to-be-defunct desktop operating system.
Eagle-eyed Windows 10 fans have spotted a new addition in the beta build of the next update. What was supposed to be a simple update with bug fixes and stability improvements now includes a redesign to the Calendar app.
Clicking on the calendar in the taskbar along the bottom of your screen will now load-up an enhanced pop-up with holiday-related pictures and weather forecasts baked into the user interface.
This useful addition means you'll be able to see the forecast around the time of your next event or appointment in the list view of the app.
In one example shared on X, formerly Twitter, by username @PhantomOfEarth, Microsoft has added a small illustration of red roses when the date February 14 is clicking — signifying Valentine's Day.
Since Microsoft is still working on this feature, it's hidden by default. @PhantomOfEarth has shared detailed instructions on how to activate the still-unfinished feature.
In this month's episode of "Windows 10 keeps getting new features": a rich calendar experience in the system tray, with holiday illustrations and weather forecasts - at the cost of a clock with seconds. (19045.5435) https://t.co/BSaRV5SaCc pic.twitter.com/cG0qtBBxDi
— phantomofearth ⛄ (@phantomofearth) January 19, 2025
If you want access to the latest features coming to Windows ahead of their official release, you will need to register as a Windows Insider. This beta scheme is free to join, although you might need to put with some unfinished features and patchy performance to help Microsoft iron-out any kinks in its next update.
To enable this: vivetool /enable /id:51858330
— phantomofearth ⛄ (@phantomofearth) January 19, 2025
(48433719 + 49453572 if the above ID doesn't work.)
In return, you'll be one of the first people to unlock the latest features. If you want to become a Windows Insider and download the latest beta update, follow the steps below:
Windows key + I.