In just a few short months, Microsoft will officially pull the plug on Windows 10 with early builds included. For millions of users who are still using it, the clock is ticking to make the jump to Windows 11. To help those hitting roadblocks, Microsoft has published a support guide aimed at identifying upgrade blockers.
The biggest barrier for many is still the strict Windows 11 system requirements. Meeting them often means buying new hardware, which is something Microsoft openly recommends, especially if it’s one of the new Copilot+ PCs. These requirements aren’t just for show either; some popular games have begun enforcing them, and certain features in Windows 10 are already starting to stop working.
If you’re already running eligible hardware and wondering when Windows 11 will arrive for you, Microsoft has outlined that process in detail. But for an estimated 400 million users still on Windows 10 with unsupported PCs, the situation is far from simple. Some are exploring unofficial workarounds like the “End of Windows 10 Toolkit,” while others are preparing to stay put.
One user, however, is taking things much further, straight to court. A lawsuit filed by Lawrence Klein accuses Microsoft of putting customer data at risk in its rush to dominate the generative AI PC market. Klein’s claim suggests that the push to end Windows 10 is less about security and more about forcing hardware upgrades, potentially at the expense of data safety.
“Microsoft is well aware,” the lawsuit states, “that ending support so abruptly could leave millions of individuals and businesses alike exposed to cyberattacks or data breaches.” Klein wants Windows 10 support extended until the number of active devices drops to what he calls a “reasonable threshold.”
With the end date now just months away, the real question is how many users will follow Microsoft’s lead, and how many will resist.