Microsoft's recent movements are prompting me to write yet again, unfortunately. First they said they'd pull the plug on security updates for Windows 10 in Oct 2026, but have now extended that to Oct 2027, as of June. The reasons for this are: (a) Microsoft made a lot of perfectly usable machines built prior to 2018 obsolete due to Windows 11's system requirements. These are bypassable if you know what you're doing, but it pissed a lot of people off. (b) Demand for computer components from mass-scale AI data centers has made new computers cost around 3 times what they did 3 years ago. So Microsoft is compensating for the fact that the vast majority of people can't afford a new computer just to run Windows 11 on it.
But there are other things afoot. Microsoft has pushed hard on grafting AI into everything it can in Windows 11, including Notepad (the default text editor), where it recently popped up a notice to users saying that their typing data would be used to train AI. This is now the norm for Microsoft - the user agreement for Office 365 also explicitly allows them to use your typing data to train AI. But, Notepad? Really a new low, Microsoft. In addition there have been many Windows 11 updates written with the assistance of AI, that have since been found to be buggy and filled with security holes. Hence it is gaining a reputation for instability. In general, AI-assisted programming isn't working out the way those in the upper tier management thought it would.
My advice for the moment: Windows 10 is comparatively AI-free, runs faster, supports older hardware and is just better/more-stable overall. So long as you're on the extended updates program (you can check this by going into Settings->Update & Security->Windows updates) you're fine till Oct 2027, so if you're still on it, just stay with it till then. If you're not on the extended updates program, get yourself on it (or get someone to help you), as otherwise you're not receiving security updates and your computer is vulnerable online. It's anybody's guess as to whether Microsoft will extend this program past 2027, and I wouldn't trust them if they told you. But if they don't extend it further, what should you do?
If all you're using the computer for is to read/write emails and visit websites/facebook/etc, it might be best to transfer to Linux. The only problem is if you need Microsoft Office and can't get used to the user interface of the free office package, Libreoffice; in which case you need to stick with Windows or Mac. Though I'm not really in favour of switching to Mac for longevity purposes, as their security update support for new devices is about 7 years unless you hack around it. Or you could just buy a new (or post-2018 second-hand) computer and install Windows 11 on it.
Finally a note for those running Windows 11 version 24H2, who may've received a notification stating that security update support for that version will cease in October 2026 - this is correct, and if you can, you should upgrade to version 25H2. However, many computers do not seem to be able to, for no obvious reason; if that's the case just wait until 26H2 arrives, which should be roughly the same time as 24H2 becomes obsolete. If you're not sure which version of Windows 11 you're on, this can be found in Settings->System->About->Version. Seek help if it doesn't update by itself.
- written entirely by Matt Bentley