Europe forces Microsoft into free extended support for Windows 10
Windows 10 is officially not supported from next month … in a way. Perhaps by seeing the writing on the wall (which he wrote himself), Microsoft gave Windows 10 Holduts an additional year of security updates, but you will have to pay for this or do a job busy to qualify-unless you live in some European countries, which called Baloney on this subject.
The EuroConsumers group alerted Microsoft (PDF) that its requirement for users to activate Windows backup with a associated Microsoft account, spend a lot of Microsoft reward points or pay $ 30 to access these additional security updates in violation of the reduction of products or services based on the conditions of the other company.
In response, Microsoft says that it “updates the registration process” for residents of the European Economic Area (most of Western Europe, especially the United Kingdom). Windows 10 users in the EEE will not need to turn on Windows backup, pay the costs or exchange reward points to obtain security updates until October 14, 2026. Microsoft has confirmed a general change in policy to comply with local laws at Windows Central.
The rest of us will have to start stretching, because these hoops will not jump through themselves. But Microsoft has already returned back to its ultimatum from October 2025 on several occasions, perhaps suspect of half of all Windows users who have not yet upgraded to 11.
The market is in a very different place from where it was when Windows 8 has lost support, with many people who count entirely on smartphones for their digital life (and many others do not look for an expensive new laptop). I wonder if Microsoft will get cold feet again in a year.
