Sunday, December 10th 2023

Microsoft Announces October 2025 Date for Windows 10 End of Support

Microsoft announced that the world's most popular PC operating system, Windows 10, will attain EOS (end of support) on October 14, 2025. From that date forward, the company will no longer release regular security updates for the OS, or the so-called "patch-Tuesday" updates for Windows 10. This announcement only covers the client Windows 10 editions, and not Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC (long-term servicing channel), or special editions of Windows 10 for large organizations and government agencies. Organizations on the client editions, such as Windows 10 Pro, can avail the ESU (extended security update) program, which will give them access to critical security updates, but no new OS or software features. Microsoft took the opportunity to urge those on Windows 10 to upgrade to the latest Windows 11 operating system. The company plans to launch its next-generation Windows 12 some time in 2024.
Sources: Microsoft Tech Community, TweakTown
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102 Comments on Microsoft Announces October 2025 Date for Windows 10 End of Support

#26
ThrashZone
Hi,
Microsoft has a knack for making older os's look better with new releases.
Posted on Reply
#27
lexluthermiester
KaleidThat's quite soonish for a lot of folks who can't even install win11
Everyone can install Windows 11.
Posted on Reply
#28
ThrashZone
lexluthermiesterEveryone can install Windows 11.
Hi,
Only question is should they.
Personally getting your data bitlocked with no key does not sound good to me frankly.
Posted on Reply
#29
Chaitanya
AusWolfNo, thank you. I'll give Windows 12 a go (unless it's riddled with spyware just like 11), but if worst comes to worst, I can live without updates, no biggie.
Even Win 10 is full of telemetery crap will keep running Win 10 on PC but with it disconnected from internet while might get a cheap laptop for internet surfing needs .
Posted on Reply
#30
Guwapo77
R-T-BI mean if you're going to violate the eula though why pay at all? Just pirate the thing at that point.

(Note to mods: not endorsing piracy, just saying it's no better to pay some greymarket vendor for an equally dubious license).
Man...these grey vendors are what I use for windows. I've had zero problems. /shrugs
Posted on Reply
#31
R-T-B
lemonadesodaYou make too much sense. Far too practical. My point is, irrespective of where in 12, you can be sure it is going to be embedded as a antecedent dependency such that other wanted functions/services will not work without it. Remember how iexplorer got embedded?
Yes, but even iexplorer wasn't in the kernel.

All the same, your point overall is valid, sadly.
Posted on Reply
#32
lemonadesoda
⊨ MS → telemetry , is a tautology!

Things I don’t like. Would rather have them as separate apps or service, not integrated:
Teams integrated within the Shell.
Copilot will add GPT-4 integration to the Windows taskbar.

I just don’t want that stuff on my workstation
Posted on Reply
#33
ThrashZone
Hi,
Yeah 23h2 is a pass I installed 22h2 instead so definitely watch from the side lines
So far bitlocker activating twice so far is a bad sign installing through win updates
I'd normally mount a prepared iso with rufus but still you really have no control what ms installs just checking for updates can auto kick in downloading and if you're lucky it will show install but seriously it's already downloaded and likely installed so the option to install or download and install all is just there for show :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#34
windwhirl
R-T-BHasn't this lifecycle date been declared for some time? Or am I misremembering?

Guess MS just wants to remind us...
Yes, pretty much since Windows 11 launched, at least.
KaleidThat's quite soonish for a lot of folks who can't even install win11
Windows 10 has been around since 2015. Ten years is a lot of time.

Aside from the technical requirements question, I don't think many people are excited about updating the OS anyway.
Posted on Reply
#35
Easo
lexluthermiesterBut they ARE easy to buy. $20 on average though, not $10.
I have a bridge to sell if you think those keys are actually legitimate. Just because they activate doesn't mean it is legal. OEM key reselling, basically.

We all know Microsoft doesn't really knock on the doors of consumers, though, so you do you.
Posted on Reply
#36
ThrashZone
windwhirlYes, pretty much since Windows 11 launched, at least.


Windows 10 has been around since 2015. Ten years is a lot of time.

Aside from the technical requirements question, I don't think many people are excited about updating the OS anyway.
Hi,
Stats are pretty wild though so not sure what all the win-10 users are waiting for ?
Maybe their waiting for win-12 hehe seeing 12 restrictions will be a crapload worse and enforced harder can't see that as viable
More likely waiting for steam to take over linux seeing linux is way to split up to take seriously.


Posted on Reply
#37
windwhirl
ThrashZoneHi,
Stats are pretty wild though so not sure what all the win-10 users are waiting for ?
Maybe their waiting for win-12 hehe seeing 12 restrictions will be a crapload worse and enforced harder can't see that as viable
More likely waiting for steam to take over linux seeing linux is way to split up to take seriously.


Probably all the press about Windows 11's issues plus the TPM requirements has kept W11's growth down.
Posted on Reply
#38
ThrashZone
windwhirlProbably all the press about Windows 11's issues plus the TPM requirements has kept W11's growth down.
Hi,
Yep win-11 is 2 years old now 26 months to be exact and like 3+ years by the time 12 is released.
None of those win-10 users will qualify for it either unless they buy a new machine.
Large risk in using bypasses unless someone has multiple machines to fall back on.

Edit forgot about those bypass gals and guys
Making 11 usage probably half the stats shows and really 10% migration.
Posted on Reply
#39
Mysteoa
MS said they will provide paid Win 10 updates after the EOL date, if you want to continue using it. No new on the price yet.
Posted on Reply
#40
Dr. Dro
ThrashZoneHi,
Only question is should they.
Personally getting your data bitlocked with no key does not sound good to me frankly.
That... doesn't happen? :confused:

I'll be upfront about Windows 11 needing a lot more advanced configuration and a couple of third party tools to become to our taste as more advanced computer users but... that's our reality now. We're 1 in a million users. People don't really know much or anything about computers, they just want something that has complete emphasis on the ease of use, colorful and pretty graphics, you click and the computer thing goes beep beep bop poop, y'know.

Our ship sailed the day Windows 7 was discontinued 3 years ago, and beginning January 2024, once 7 gets dropped by the last few applications that still stubbornly supported it, it's just historical software that belongs in a museum at that point. Might, unironically want to get acquainted with Linux or move to the Apple ecosystem (where they always move fast but, somehow, macOS keeps its usability intact).
Posted on Reply
#41
windwhirl
ThrashZoneHi,
Yep win-11 is 2 years old now 26 months to be exact and like 3+ years by the time 12 is released.
None of those win-10 users will qualify for it either unless they buy a new machine.
Large risk in using bypasses unless someone has multiple machines to fall back on.

Edit forgot about those bypass gals and guys
Making 11 usage probably half the stats shows and really 10% migration.
I doubt 100 million people are bothering to manually bypass the TPM etc requirements, tbh
Posted on Reply
#42
ThrashZone
windwhirlI doubt 100 million people are bothering to manually bypass the TPM etc requirements, tbh
Hi,
Hell once the bypasses hit the internet how easy it is, all bets are off

Hell rufus has made it effortless to bypass all of them in the iso for you and this is at least a year old
Now rufus even makes a local account for you with no password yet and prompts to add one after the install is over I just used it on my new laptop with 11 home.
Posted on Reply
#43
lexluthermiester
ThrashZoneHi,
Only question is should they.
Personally getting your data bitlocked with no key does not sound good to me frankly.
Then don't use bitlocker. How is that difficult?
EasoI have a bridge to sell if you think those keys are actually legitimate.
Go talk to microsoft about it. Don't whine about it here. Until THEY say otherwise, keys sold by key sellers are perfectly legal and legitimate even IF they're not being used as intended.
Posted on Reply
#44
ThrashZone
lexluthermiesterThen don't use bitlocker. How is that difficult?
Hi,
It's a requirement same as ms account/ onedrive where the bitlocker key is supposed to be located.

Pretty good ransomware to make a ms account seems to me lol
Posted on Reply
#45
windwhirl
ThrashZoneHi,
It's a requirement same as ms account/ onedrive where the bitlocker key is supposed to be located.

Pretty good ransomware to make a ms account seems to me lol
Bitlocker is only enabled in three scenarios:
1-You enable it (meaning you go to the corresponding Control Panel/Settings area and enable Bitlocker)
2-It comes enabled from the factory (the case with at least some laptops)
3-It's enabled by Group Policy / Active Directory (important if you're using Microsoft 365 provided by your employer/education institution or any "enterprise" environment)

Bitlocker is never enabled "by itself".

Also, I always install Windows the way Microsoft intended (i.e., with TPM and Secure Boot enabled, with no bypasses/adjustments/hacks of any kind), so I can confidently say that nowhere during the process you're forced to enable it. In fact, I don't recall that I was ever asked to enable it to begin with, and it has stayed disabled the whole time.
Posted on Reply
#46
Lew Zealand
lexluthermiesterThen don't use bitlocker. How is that difficult?
It seems to be a standard but also easily missed feature to disable as part of a new Win 11 setup. We've had a few users now with disk issues/OS corruption and seeing the Bitlocker screen come up the first time was a heart attack as I don't have the key and neither does the user (to their knowledge).

But they do because MS forced very heavily pushed them to create an MS account (in Azure I think?) on initial setup and the BL key is stored there. Had a few by now so we know what to expect but none of these people knew they had Bitlocker or even remembered/had heard of it but all were able to get the key so we could fix their PCs. So that's good I guess?
Posted on Reply
#47
lexluthermiester
ThrashZoneHi,
It's a requirement same as ms account/ onedrive where the bitlocker key is supposed to be located.
It is not. Where did you hear that nonsense? No one is required to use bitlocker. It is entirely optional as is OneDrive, which can be readily unistalled.
Lew ZealandIt seems to be a standard
Not it isn't. Bitlocker is NOT enabled unless the user enables it. End of story!
Posted on Reply
#48
Tek-Check
Lovely! Microsoft, can you, please, make sure that Windows 12 brings back movable taskbar? This is the main reason I have not installed Windows 11. Many others too.
It's absurd we cannot move taskbar to left or right, especially on ultrawide monitors where vertical real estate is essential
Posted on Reply
#49
Robin Seina
So it is here, a date when they plan to kill last useable windows. It has been 2 years since W11 release and they are still experimenting with UI, making user feel like a guinea pig. If this is how W12 will look and work a year after its release, then I would seriously consider moving to Steam's version of Linux.
Posted on Reply
#50
JohH
Maybe in 2 years the taskbar will be able to be moved again.
Posted on Reply
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