Microsoft Tells Three-Quarters of Windows Users: “No New Features for You!”
“The current version, 22H2, will be the final version of Windows 10,” said Microsoft’s Jason Leznek in a post on the Microsoft Blog. The intent of this move seems obvious: To push more Windows 10 users to upgrade to Windows 11. But there’s a problem with this and we’ll discuss that in a minute.
Microsoft announced that it will stop releasing feature updates for Windows 10. According to StatCounter, almost 75% of those currently using Windows are using Windows 10, so this news concerns most Windows users.
The current version of Windows 10, version 22H2, will be the last, and support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025. Microsoft said it will continue to release monthly security updates and bug fixes for all Windows 10 editions until it reaches the end of support date3 in 2025.
With no new Windows 10 feature updates, Microsoft recommends that users upgrade to Windows 11. But for many that is not possible and could be costly as Windows 11 won’t run on most older computers.
Why can’t older computers run Windows 11?
The main reason older devices can’t run Windows 11 is the processor not being up to the task. Windows 11 requires a 7th-generation or newer Intel (or equivalent) processor. Intel released the first 7th-generation processors in Q1 of 2017. So any device built early in 2017 or before will not support Windows 11. So it is quite likely that users who have computers purchased in 2018 or before may not be able to run Windows 11. And for those who are thinking of upgrading their device’s processor – you might want to reconsider. A newer Windows 11-compatible processor will set you back around $200. That’s money that may be better spent on buying a new computer with Windows 11 pre-installed.
And there’s the TPM 2.0 requirement…
The second biggest reason that many Windows 10 devices cannot run Windows 11 is that they do not meet the TPM 2.0 requirement. TPM stands for Trusted Platform Module. TPM is a security feature built into the device’s hardware. Once again computers built in 2018 or before mostly likely won’t have a TPM 2.0 module and without it, the device won’t support Windows 11.
What about workarounds?
Tes, there are workarounds for installing Windows 11 on computers that don’t support it. However, we don’t recommend that anyone go down that road.
Most of you will have a decision to make
So, almost three-quarters of Windows users will have decisions to make. If you’re one of them, Luckily, you have almost two-and-a-half years to do so.
And let’s look on the bright side of things. With no new feature updates, your Windows 10 computer will not be changing at all – and that’s not a bad thing. Plus, without any new features, Windows updates should install more quickly and cause fewer problems.
What do you think?
Do you think Microsoft is pushing people to move to Windows 11? Since almost three-quarters of you reading this are using Windows 10 – are you ready to upgrade or are you going to stick with Windows 10 until October 14, 2025?
Is Windows 12 coming?
And rumor has it, Microsoft will release Windows 12 sometime in 2024. And you know what that means…Maybe by the time you finally do upgrade to Windows 11, you may only have a couple of years to use it before it reaches its end-of-support date. It may be the same old Windows conundrum all over again.
I am glad to hear that they will not be messing around with windows 10 anymore, except for ironing out any bugs!!
May windows 10 finish up good and stable!
My computer could run win 11, but I won’t be worrying about up grading at this stage!
Cheers to you all from down under, Jeff.
I agree!
Me too. My pc is new enough to run 11 but I will not upgrade until I need to.
I for one will not be going out to buy a new computer. I think it was wrong of Microsoft to make windows 11 so that only some were able to upgrade to it. Whats to say that maybe if I went and bought a new computer then say 2 1/2 or 3 years go by and they do it again to people I never thought it was right to begin with.
I’ll keep my Windows 10 till it runs out or dies before I will buy another computer.
Totally agree!!
I agree…..I for one will keep what I have.
I have Windows 10 Home and Windows 11 Pro on different computers. Although I can understand why Microsoft is pushing its users to keep up with the latest and greatest. Microsoft is also guilty of not keeping up with reality, especially in today’s society. People do not simply have the money to go out and buy a “new” and updated PC every year. Money is tight for a lot of families the world over. I also do not like how Microsoft is being very aggressive in that it is not “how about trying this?” instead from them it is very much “I dont care if you want too, you will change to this”. Windows is not the only Operating System out there. Microsoft needs to remember that. Moreso as several of the alternatives are free and are getting much more stable and user friendly and more importantly getting very user friendly in running “windows” based programs. In a lot of ways. I get the feeling that Microsoft if it could would get rid of Windows totally and only have all its other offers…. and it shows in how they are treating their current users.
I absolutely LOVE the idea that they are going to leave windows 10 alone……. I’ve always said they should have one version that only changes if necessary to keep it safe. Sure the younger set wants new features all the time, but we older ones are happy with what we have (most of the time there are already way too many features we never use/need) and hate changes and new things. Something like a version for old folks, for people who don’t want to be forced to learn something new all the time.
If it’s not broken, leave it alone. So this announcement makes me very happy…. well for a few years anyway 🙂
I agree with you fully! I have Windows 10 and am very happy with it. I’m 83 years old
and don’t want to be changing to different Windows.
I totally agree. I’m not about to update to Windows 11 until I absolutely have to. By then an updated Widows operating system will be starting up. So would be senseless to upgrade to Windows 11 if Microsoft has plans to upgrade to Windows 12. Might as well wait for that to happen unless it goes beyond the Oct. 2025 deadline for Microsoft 10. I am perfectly happy with 10 so why change. If it isn’t broken why change.
When my computer dies, then and then alone will I decide on whether I want W11 or not. Maybe I will purchase a nice new Chromebook, it does everything I need it to do. That way I do not have to worry every month about MS ideas of what I need and want. Computing used to be fun but MS is taking all the fun out of it.😣
L
I am already changing some of my systems to Linux. I started computing when DOS was the platform and Windows was just being talked about, and then I saw Windows. Furthermore, I still like Linux and I don’t have to put up with constant upgrades that cause downtime.
Sorry, Microsoft, but tossing out otherwise perfectly good computers that wont run Win 11 is not the way to go given the increasing amounts of electronic waste that is being generated. Don’t get me wrong as I am not knocking Windows as an operating system. It is actually quite good. However, I already have a workshop machine running Linux Mint quite nicely on an older machine. I’ve set up a 92 year old neighbor’s second machine to run Linux and she has no problems with it. Used to be that a Linux install was tricky, but now, if you can Install Windows, you can just as easily install most Linux distributions. Good options exist for when Windows 10 is no longer supported after October, 2025
Thanks again for the great information that you provide. 👍😊👍
I will either keep W 10 ’til the date cited or I will quit my computer hobbies, fun, pictures, music & friends forever due to “old age”. Sorry to even think about that date or whichever comes first to my life…J. B.
I like Windows but have seriously considered switching to Apple. It is much simpler to use. I have not had problems with updates but there are just too many other changes to keep up with in Win. There are a couple more years to think about this and I may change my mind when 2025 comes along. In the meantime I sure appreciate Cloudeight and all the assistance from the newsletters and from all other assistance from TC and EB. They are the only reason I’ve survived.