New warning for millions of Windows users
The Windows 11 fun and games continues, with another new twist in the battle to push hundreds of millions of stubborn Windows 10 holdouts to update their software and maybe their hardware as well. There are some 400 million users without the right hardware to update their OS. The temptation is to move anyway to protect PCs against cyberattacks, but there’s a serious risk—Microsoft may cut you off.
As spotted by Neowin, Microsoft has updated its disclaimer for users taking this risk. The wording is clear: “Installing Windows 11 on this PC is not recommended and may result in compatibility issues. If you proceed with installing Windows 11, your PC will no longer be supported and won’t be entitled to receive updates. Damages to your PC due to lack of compatibility aren’t covered under the manufacturer warranty.”
That threat isn’t new—it has been the same for several years. What is new, though, is Windows 10’s impending end-of-support in October 2025, now just over 10 months away. Users are faced with making a change, paying the new one-year-only $30 support extension, or plumping for an incompatible hardware upgrade.
What’s also new and could be a nasty surprise is that if you proceed when Windows warns your PC doesn’t have the right specs, Microsoft now warns that “by selecting Accept, you are acknowledging that you read and understand this statement.” That is the statement that includes an end to both hardware and software support.
Fortunately, Microsoft has also added instructions on how “to go back to Windows 10 on an unsupported Windows 11 device.” This is a must-have escape path.
Windows 11 down and Windows 10 up in November
As XDA-Developers comments, “Microsoft sent a warning to anyone using Windows 11 on incompatible hardware… it seems Microsoft is doubling down on getting people to upgrade their PCs or buy a new one. And with Windows 10’s end-of-life date looming, users may be stuck between a rock and a hard place.”
To expand on that—you’re amongst the 400 million Windows 10 users with incompatible hardware, you want to upgrade to Windows 11 to maintain security support, but in doing to your may lose support. Meanwhile you can pay $30 to kick the problem down the road by 12-months. Has that become the best option?
Despite some acceleration in the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 earlier this year, the numbers remain stark. And worse, November actually saw Windows 10 up its share at Windows 11’s expense, per Statcounter, reversing some of Windows 11’s gains. This will be a tough, surprising read at Microsoft. Maybe it was driven by the new $30 ESU option kicking out the deadline, but it’s bad news regardless.
More than 800 million Windows 10 users and another 50 million on even older, already obsolete versions of Windows. Of the 800 million Windows 10 users, more than 400 million likely don’t meet the TPM 2.0 threshold.
All eyes on October 2025, and how many users will be convinced to take the plunge and buy a new PC, and if they do so, will it be the Copilot AI-capable PCs Microsoft is pushing or simply a newer device that ticks those right boxes.
As I’ve said before, the good news is that 2025 might be a good year to buy a PC, given the new extended support option might dampen some demand and drive some decent deals in the marketplace.