I was about to upgrade to Windows 11, but I’ve decided to stick with Windows 10 – here’s why
It’s time for confession. I procrastinated on the upgrade to Windows 11 on my main PC, even if I was fully intended to go to the new operating system, far from Windows 10, this year. (In fact, the original plan was to change at the start of this year).
So yes – I let things slip, at least with regard to my main PC, anyway. In my defense, I upgraded my secondary machine – a microsoft surface pro laptop – to Windows 11. Technically, I then made the jump to Windows 11 – in a partial way – and I found the latest embodiment of the Microsoft desktop system very well on this 2 -in -1. There is no complaint there (well, especially, and I will come back to it shortly).
And while I was fully planning to migrate to Windows 11 on my work computer (I call it thus, but I also play on this PC) as mentioned, there are good reasons why I have put this plan on the ice – for the moment.
Yes, I have not changed my mind on the upgrade of Windows 11, but I only adjusted the time involved, because Microsoft reminds us of all the people of Windows 10 that we have only two months of support (and vital security updates) on the left (as the Bleeping computer noticed). This is the last step of a punch campaign to make people move – Microsoft even sent emails directly to Windows 10 users, urging upgrades to Windows 11 in the past.
So, what are my reasons to decide not to make the preception with the new operating system? Well, there are a few, so let’s dive and explore.
Free extension
The first reason – and my main thing, really – is that a few months ago, Microsoft changed Punier and announced that there would be a free way to obtain extended updates for Windows 10.
In case you have failed to fully, the ESU program (ESU) with extended security was initially revealed for consumers with a price of $ 30 (or equivalent in your currency). Then, at the end of June, Microsoft caused a freebie option – well, in terms of cash cost anyway: the new choice was to obtain prolonged support for a year if you synchronize the parameters of your PC on OneDrive.
As I said before, I don’t think it’s too important for most people. It’s not like you should synchronize and store your personal data with Microsoft’s cloud storage, just your settings. In my case, I do it anyway, so I literally have no cost for me to get an additional year of support. Thus, when this Tour on ESU was announced, it immediately removed all the heat from my (delayed) quest to upgrade my main machine at Windows 11.
And since then, I only thought why there is no more precipitation now. Although I do not want to pay real money to stay on Windows 10, now I no longer need – and with an actually free support, I have until October 2026 to go to Windows 11. And frankly, there are not really urgent reasons to upgrade anyway …
Performance wrinkles
What has also become clearer for me as this year has progressed (with my upgrade heels that drag) is that Windows 11 is somewhat wobbly in certain elements of its performance. When using the operating system on my laptop, I experienced slowness with File Explorer, which is quite disappointing. This is probably the result that there is a plot Changes with work under the Windows 11 hood, and Microsoft has even admitted that the performance situation could be better – and it works to improve it.
In all honesty, overall, my experience with Windows 11 on my laptop – and my wife’s PC, which also has the new operating system – is that it is actually quite catchy overall. Indeed, I would say that it is more responsive than Windows 10, but not enough for me to rush for this upgrade button.
Of course, performance levels on my other PCs do not guarantee that Windows 11 will be just as catchy on my Windows 10 RI. This is the thing about upgrades: they can be unpredictable and the results can vary on different equipment. And there are people who shoot a considerable shot on Microsoft so that Windows 11 is slower in general (not just the file explorer) – so that leaves a little room for doubt.
Bogues and stability
Then we arrive on the bugs. The fact that Windows 11 24h2 was very glitch (and generally bizarre) in many ways does not encourage confidence, and for me, it was also a major break for reflection (in the past, as well as now). Example: I just wrote an article on a new bug reported in Windows 11, which seems to break the SSDs, and although it remains to be confirmed, and we should certainly not jump to the conclusions that the last August update caused it, that seems to be the case.
Whether true or not, we will see in time, but the fact is that it is always something for those who execute Windows 11 to worry. (Think twice before embarking on large facilities, as I discussed earlier.)
Which made me think: if I stay on Windows 10, because I already leaned myself towards anyway, I will only receive simple security fixes in the next year and a little. Just correct vulnerabilities and not tinker with the operating system – which means less likely to break things.
The result is that Windows 10 is likely to work much more stable than Windows 11, which will attend a constant flow of new features, because this year is transformed in the next, and 2026 rollers.
Opposite risk
I am opposed to the risk in general – and in particular with computers – it is therefore logical to stay with Windows 10, and not to twist to install Windows 11, at the moment. It will not cost me anything to do it, I know how the performance of Windows 10 – and it works very well for me, it is not slow, even if it is not as catchy as my wife’s office PC on Windows 11 – and I know that it will be more reliable in terms of what will happen with updates.
Don’t get me wrong, however: I will Upgrade to Windows 11 next year. Indeed, I could take the jump right away if a new tempting feature arrives for Windows 11 (not that there is still something in particular on the horizon). But for now, I’m going to play safely with Windows 10, because it just seems the best action plan in balance.
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