Users begin to flee Windows 10

Microsoft has been encouraging users to upgrade to Windows 11 ahead of this deadline, and after months of hesitation, tens of millions of people have decided to make the update.

Windows 10 will no longer be supported by Microsoft after October 14.

According to data from StatCounter, Windows 10 adoption has fallen below 60% for the first time, with 58.7% of global users using the operating system as of February 2025. In contrast, Windows 11 adoption has increased to nearly 40%, reaching 38.2%. However, StatCounter does not provide details on how users switch between software versions.

Previous studies have shown that many businesses are choosing to upgrade to Windows 11 when replacing hardware rather than simply upgrading from Windows 10, despite many computers meeting the minimum requirements to install the new operating system. At the same time, many companies are also promoting computers with attractive features like the Copilot + AI tool that comes with Windows 11.

One of the biggest challenges with Windows 10 reaching end of life is that Microsoft will stop developing and providing security updates for the operating system, leaving many devices vulnerable to cybersecurity threats.

This makes Windows 11 more interesting.

To address this situation, Microsoft is expected to offer Windows 10 users a 12-month security extension for $30, allowing them to continue using the operating system beyond the specified deadline. Users will need to enroll in the Extended Security Update (ESU) program, and the enrollment period will open closer to October 14.

However, Forbes has questioned whether Microsoft can maintain its strict rules regarding Windows 10 end of life and ESU subscription periods. The Verge has previously pointed out that in urgent cases, the company may have to provide free security updates for outdated software, as happened in 2017 when an update was released for the discontinued Windows XP operating system.