Microsoft is soon planning on ending support for Windows 10, and has asked users to shift to their latest OS, Windows 11. However, to upgrade to Windows 11 for free, your PC will need to meet certain requirements. And this hasn’t gone down well with Consumer Reports, a US-based non-profit organisation that advocates for consumers. The organisation has urged the company to rethink its decision to end free security updates for Windows 10 from October 14, 2025. The organisation has also argued that pulling the plug on updates at that point will expose millions of users to unnecessary risks, particularly those running older PCs that cannot meet the strict hardware requirements of Windows 11.
SurveyConsumer Reports asks Microsoft to continue Windows 10 support
Consumer Reports has written a formal letter to Microsoft’s leadership urging them to reconsider, at least for users who cannot upgrade their machines. The group describes Microsoft’s policy as unfair and “hypocritical.” The letter was shared on Consumer Reports’ official website.
“Consumer Reports sent a letter to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella calling on the company to extend its support of Windows 10 devices given the security threat posed by leaving millions of operational devices unprotected. On October 14, these computers will be stranded when Microsoft transitions from the Windows 10 operating system to Windows 11,” the organisation’s website reads. It further adds that a large number of Windows users are still on Windows 10 and many of these users won’t be able to upgrade as they won’t meet hardware requirements.
What does the letter say
In the letter to CEO Satya Nadella, the advocacy group says consumers now face three costly or impractical choices – pay $30 for a one-year extension of support, spend hundreds on a new Windows 11-capable PC, or risk using an unprotected system that could endanger both personal and national security.
The letter argues that many users never had a fair chance to prepare. Even after Microsoft announced in 2021 that Windows 10 support would end, the company and its partners continued selling PCs incompatible with Windows 11 through 2022 and 2023. A survey of more than 100,000 computer owners showed that over 95% of devices bought since 2019 are still in active use, underlining how long consumers keep their machines.
Consumer Reports also accused Microsoft of breaking its tradition of backwards compatibility, noting that hundreds of millions of PCs cannot meet Windows 11’s stricter hardware requirements. It then called on Microsoft to extend free updates, avoid charging users for basic security, and create recycling partnerships to ease the transition.
What should users do?
If you are still using Windows 10, the first thing to do is to check if your machine is eligible for upgrade to Windows 11. If eligible, that remains the best path forward for full support. If not eligible, consider enrolling in ESU once your device meets version 22H2. However, this might cost you some money. It is also a good idea to back up your data as when support drops, the risk of unpatched vulnerabilities increases.
If Microsoft listens to Consumer Reports, the October deadline might shift, or a more generous grace period could be introduced. Whether Microsoft will act on this letter, remains to be seen.
Follow Us
Divyanshi Sharma
Divyanshi Sharma is a media and communications professional with over 8 years of experience in the industry. With a strong background in tech journalism, she has covered everything from the latest gadgets to gaming trends and brings a sharp editorial lens to every story. She holds a master’s diploma in mass communication and a bachelor’s degree in English literature. Her love for writing and gaming began early—often skipping classes to try out the latest titles—which naturally evolved into a career at the intersection of technology and storytelling. When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her exploring virtual worlds on her console or PC, or testing out a new laptop she managed to get her hands on. View Full Profile
