- Only half will update the operating system or device, a quarter will refuse to switch from Windows 10
- UK customers can get one year of ESU free, but it won't be automatic
- Consumers can also get help reducing e-waste by upgrading
With Windows 10 ending next week, new research has revealed exactly how many people are planning to upgrade, and it's not looking good for Microsoft.
The Which? study found that about a quarter of people still using Windows 10 will continue to use the previous generation operating system even after support is removed.
With 21 million people still using a Windows 10 device, this means that 5.4 million Windows 10 devices could still be in use after the October 14, 2025 deadline, putting users at risk of attacks.
Windows 10 isn't going anywhere
With 26% planning to continue using Windows 10, just over half will update the operating system on their current device (39%) or update their entire device to support Windows 11 (14%). Six percent even said they would convert to another operating system as a result of the planned deprecation.
Which? notes that Microsoft is offering a free year of Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) to customers in the UK and Europe, although the company recently came under fire for not offering the extension in other markets globally (particularly the US).
Even so, the free year ESU will not occur automatically. Instead, users should choose to back up their Windows settings to OneDrive.
Which? Tech editor Lisa Barber summarized: “If you don't act, you could become more vulnerable to hackers and scams.”
The report also highlighted that UK retailers must help consumers safely and responsibly dispose of old devices by upgrading them, under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive; However, while this can reduce e-waste through recycling schemes, it does not always translate into savings and financial incentives on exchange.
With the exception of a small blip in August, Windows 10's market share has been steadily falling since the launch of Windows 11, but it wasn't until July 2025 that the new operating system overtook its predecessor (via Statcounter).
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