Microsoft will cull support for Windows 10 in a few short months, and the company is on a mission to push as many PC owners onto Windows 11 as possible. Highlighting its newfound mission, a Microsoft executive recently declared that 2025 will be "the year of the Windows 11 PC refresh".
But delivering on that pledge promises to be an uphill climb for the US company.
With roughly 9 months left until its self-imposed deadline, Windows 10's market share has unexpectedly increased — as more people turn to the operating system in its final few months. Few PC manufacturers still sell brand-new machines with Windows 10 preinstalled, suggesting the rise in people using the soon-to-be-defunct operating system could be coming at the expense of Windows 11's market share.
One of the criticisms that has been levelled at Microsoft is the difficulty in upgrading from Windows 10 to its successor, and despite a slew of rumours online that the technology firm is planning to relax its rules to trigger a flood of new upgrades... that doesn't seem to be the case at all.
Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 remain two sticking points that MIcrosoft will not budge on
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In fact, Microsoft has just refreshed its online support pages reinforcing the strict requirements for anyone who wants to use Windows 11.
Since the launch of Windows 11 on October 5, 2021, the minimum system requirements have proven to be a source of controversy due to the strict hardware demands, which many older computers cannot meet. To install Windows 11, which is free to anyone who has a legitimate version of Windows 10 installed on their PC, a computer must have a 64-bit processor, at least 4GB of memory (RAM), 64GB of storage, and specific security features like UEFI firmware with Secure Boot and a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.
For those who don't know, the TPM is a small hardware component designed to enhance security. It stores sensitive information, such as encryption keys and passwords, in a secure way, protecting against malware and unauthorised access.
Secure Boot is another security feature that ensures only trusted software runs when the computer starts, preventing attacks that can compromise the system before the operating system even loads.
Microsoft introduced these requirements to improve security and take advantage of modern hardware capabilities. Of course, if you buy a new desktop PC or laptop from the store with Windows 11 preinstalled, it will have all of the hardware required built-in.
Lol... 'we aren't dropping TPM 2.0' as a requirement, but oh by the way, you can now install Windows 11 without it as we are no longer requiring TPM 2.0'
— Charlie (@ghost_motley) December 10, 2024
Thank you Community Noter 🤣 pic.twitter.com/7eOQReqcE1
But many computers with enough processing power to comfortably run Windows 10 lack these additional security features, like TPM 2.0. As a result, these PCs do not meet these new standards, despite being fully functional.
This has frustrated users who wish to take advantage of Microsoft’s free upgrade offer but are instead faced with either upgrading their hardware or sticking with Windows 10 after the operating system stops receiving updates later this year. Critics argue that the requirements are overly strict, forcing users to replace otherwise capable computers, leading to unnecessary costs and electronic waste.
The minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11 are so strict that rumours circulated online earlier this month that Microsoft was planning to loosen its restrictions in a bid to help more people leave behind Windows 10 in the coming months.
The easiest way to see if your PC is compatible with Windows 11 is by using the PC Health Check app.
Microsoft recently tweaked a support page entitled "Can I upgrade to Windows 11?" to make the requirements easier to understand... likely due to the expected increase in online traffic in the coming weeks and months as the Windows 10 deadline approaches. The change to this help page was spotted by the eagle-eyed team at Neowin.
It now reads:
Can I upgrade to Windows 11?
An existing Windows 10 device can be upgraded to Windows 11 if it meets the following criteria:
Specific timing for Windows 11 upgrade rollouts varies by device. Additionally, certain features have specific hardware requirements. For more information, see Windows 11 specs, features, and computer requirements.
- The device is running a currently supported version of Windows 10. If the device isn't currently running a supported version of Windows 10, upgrade to a supported version of Windows 10.
- The device meets the minimum hardware specifications to run Windows 11.
To see if a Windows 10 device is eligible to upgrade to Windows 11, follow one of these options:
Download and run the PC Health Check app.
From the Start menu, navigate to Settings > Update & Security and then select the Check for updates button.
Select the following Windows Update shortcut and then select the Check for updates button: Windows Update
If you missed the memo, starting from October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer issue new updates to millions of Windows 10 users worldwide — that means no more bug fixes or critical security patches. 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".
Once a flaw in the operating system has been uncovered, hackers can continue to exploit the vulnerability in millions of PCs with no fear that Microsoft will issue a fix. But despite the dire consequences for those who continue to rely on Windows 10 after the End Of Support deadline, millions of PC owners are steadfastly refusing to switch to Windows 11.
Source: StatCounter Global Stats - Windows Version Market Share
Windows 10 still commands a marktshare over 62% of all computers running a version of Microsoft's popular desktop operating system.
It's a troubling trend for Microsoft, which previously boasted that it was "ahead of schedule" with its upgrade plans.
According to industry estimates, somewhere between 800 and 850 million PCs are currently powered by Windows 10 or older operating systems. Around half of these devices do not meet the hardware specifications needed for Windows 11, forcing users to purchase new computers to maintain security updates beyond October.
Microsoft Executive Vice President and Consumer Chief Marketing Officer Yusuf Mehdi on-stage speaking about the advantages of the new Copilot+ PC sub-category of Windows 11 devices during an event in Redmond, Washington
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Microsoft Consumer Chief Marketing Officer, Yusuf Mehdi published a blog post earlier this month, heralding Windows 11 as "the best, most secure and most performant way to realize the benefits of AI today, and into the future".
Mehdi adds: "All of the innovation arriving on new Windows 11 PCs is coming at an important time. We recently confirmed that after providing 10 years of updates and support, Windows 10 will reach the end of its lifecycle on Oct. 14, 2025.
"After this date, Windows 10 PCs will no longer receive security or feature updates, and our focus is on helping customers stay protected by moving to modern new PCs running Windows 11. Whether the current PC needs a refresh, or it has security vulnerabilities that require the latest hardware-backed protection, now is the time to move forward with a new Windows 11 PC."
If your current Windows 10 PC doesn't meet the minimum system requirements to take advantage of a free upgrade to Windows 11, there are two choices available — either switch to a brand-new machine with Windows 11 preinstalled; or subscribe to the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 to continue to receive critical security patches and bug fixes.
While enterprise users will be charged $61 (£48) for the first year of additional support, rising to an eye-watering $244 (£192) for third and final year, consumers benefit from a much more affordable deal.
Priced at $30 (£24) for an extra year of critical Windows 10 updates, this marks the first time Microsoft has offered ESU to everyday PC owners.
It's worth noting that all of these prices are per device, so things quickly become pretty pricey if you have multiple laptops, desktop PCs, tablets, and other Windows-powered devices.
The incoming transition away from Windows 10 will force hundreds of millions of PC users to make crucial decisions about their computing future in the coming months.
Complicating matters, Microsoft is heavily promoting its new Copilot+ PC category as the flagship offering for Windows 11 users. These machines are "the fastest, most intelligent and most secure Windows PCs ever built", according to Mehdi. These laptops, launched last summer, boast a number of exclusive Windows 11 features that you won't find on machines that don't meet the specific Copilot+ PC requirements.
The company claims Copilot+ PCs are up to five times faster than popular 5-year-old Windows PCs, with top models reportedly performing 58% faster than a MacBook Air with M3. The new category features processors from multiple manufacturers, including Snapdragon, AMD Ryzen AI, and Intel Core Ultra.
Microsoft emphasises that security is "at the heart of everything" they do, with Windows 11 devices shipping with numerous security features enabled by default.
Despite the millions of PCs unable to upgrade to Windows 11 — potentially forcing some 240 million working machines into landfill, the Redmond-based technology giant remains firm on its hardware requirements for Windows 11, positioning them as essential for modern security protection.
"Security is at the heart of everything we do at Microsoft", Mehdi stated, underlining the company's focus on protecting customer data. According to IDC data cited by Microsoft, nearly 80% of businesses plan to refresh their PC portfolio by the end of 2025.
The same research suggests 70% of consumers will upgrade their PCs in the next two years.
Windows 11 reworks the design of the operating system and brings the iconic Start Menu to the centre of the screen for the first time MICROSOFT PRESS OFFICE The company is working with global retailers to offer PC recycling programmes and migration tools for the transition. However, with declining market share and concerns from Windows fans about being strongarmed into upgrades, Microsoft faces significant challenges in achieving its 2025 refresh goals.
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The transition timeline has been described by security researchers as a potential "dangerous security fiasco" as the October deadline approaches. Microsoft continues to push forward with its Windows 11 vision, partnering with major hardware manufacturers to drive adoption.
Most recently, Microsoft started to takeover laptops and desktop PCs with a fullscreen advert for Windows 11.
