Windows 10 is 10 years old today — let’s look back at 10 controversial and defining moments in its history

Back on July 29, 2015, I watched with anticipation as Microsoft unveiled Windows 10 to the world. It was a breath of fresh air after the stumble that was Windows 8, seamlessly blending the modern live tile interface with the comfortingly familiar Start menu design. For keyboard and mouse users like myself, it felt like they had their eyes back on the desktop experience, bringing focus and finesse to our favorite tool for computing.

Windows 10 marked a significant milestone as it was the operating system developed collaboratively with the public. This collaboration was facilitated by the Windows Insider Program, which allowed for frequent technical and consumer previews almost every week. This unique approach enabled users to test and contribute to the development process, making Windows 10 unlike any previous version of Windows in terms of its collaborative creation.

This new edition of Windows will undergo two annual updates, introducing fresh features and platform transformations. It will also be available at no cost for those transitioning from previous Windows versions, and it’s designed to operate seamlessly across various devices, including smartphones and extended reality (XR) devices.

In 2014, development for Windows 10 commenced under the code name “Threshold,” a nod to a planet from the Halo video game. Over its lifespan, it received 14 significant updates, with the final major OS update released in 2022. Contrary to initial expectations, Windows 10 was not the final version of this operating system.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane as we commemorate ten years of Windows 10. We’ll revisit some pivotal and debatable milestones that shaped our journey to the present day.

Windows 10 was free, but only for one (or seven) years

Initially when Windows 10 was unveiled, Microsoft disclosed an unprecedented move – the latest iteration of Windows would be available for free as an upgrade for existing users.

Microsoft has proposed a one-year period during which users of Windows 7 and Windows 8 could avail this offer. If you don’t upgrade to Windows 10 within this year, then you’d need to pay for the upgrade later on. However, it is important to note that Microsoft initially suggested this as a requirement, but the actual situation might be different.

Under the tight timeline, Windows 10 experienced an astonishingly swift adoption during its inaugural year. It managed to reach 100 million devices in mere two months, and this figure kept climbing steadily throughout its debut on the market. This rapid growth was partly fueled by the GWX app, which we’ll delve into further.

It transpired that the supposed one-year free upgrade window for Windows 7 and Windows 8 wasn’t accurate. Instead, the free upgrade offer extended to these users all the way up to 2023 – a full seven years beyond what was initially indicated as the expiration date!

Despite the fact that it could have been feasible to operate a Windows 10 PC using a Windows 7 or Windows 8 product key in the year 2023, Microsoft clearly stated that the opportunity for a free upgrade ended as far back as July 2016.

The ‘Get Windows 10’ (GWX) fiasco

One debatable action taken in the initial phase of Windows 10 was Microsoft’s aggressive approach towards upgrading users from Windows 7 to Windows 10. In the year 2015, Microsoft introduced an application called “Get Windows 10” through Windows Update for users of both Windows 7 and Windows 8, internally known as GWX.

This application is designed to reside in your system tray and persistently remind you about upgrading to Windows 10. Some users have alleged that the Get Windows 10 app has been performing unwanted upgrades, with claims that computers were upgraded without user consent, even while the users were asleep.

The Get Windows 10 application sparked significant controversy among users who preferred to continue using Windows 7. Microsoft eventually acknowledged their excessive pushiness in promoting the Windows 10 upgrade, ultimately withdrawing the Get Windows 10 app from all Windows 7 computers.

A modern telemetry nightmare

The debut of Windows 10 marked a significant escalation in privacy and security debates concerning constantly-connected systems. Upon its release, it faced intense criticism due to its expanded data collection services via telemetry, many of which couldn’t be disabled.

To this day, that truth persists: Over time, the amount of data Windows collects from its users has grown significantly, and initially, users of Windows 7 and Windows 8 expressed discomfort because the operating system was frequently contacting home.

Microsoft aimed to alleviate these worries by introducing a tool known as the Diagnostic Data Viewer, enabling users to clearly view and understand the telemetry data being collected and transmitted to Microsoft. Furthermore, they introduced various tiers of telemetry collection, empowering users to decide how much data is sent to Microsoft.

It’s important to note that although there was no direct way to completely disable the gathering of telemetry data, users could minimize it to the essentials. However, even today, Windows continues to accumulate substantial amounts of user data in the form of telemetry. Unfortunately, many users seem to have lost interest or forgotten about this feature entirely.

Did you know that Microsoft eventually implemented data collection systems similar to those in Windows 10 on Windows 7 as well? This might be news to many, but if you chose to stick with Windows 7 due to concerns about telemetry data collection, it wasn’t a permanent solution.

The birth of Windows as a Service

Instead of having yearly updates like Windows 8, Windows 10 introduced a more frequent approach, called ‘Windows as a Service’. This strategy aims to consistently bring significant new features and platform improvements every six months.

At that point in time, it was uncommon for Windows to launch two annual updates of its platform. While Windows wasn’t particularly renowned for smooth in-place upgrades, the rollout of new feature updates twice a year (once in spring and once in fall) during the initial years of Windows 10 faced several challenges.

The initial feature upgrade for Windows 10 was rolled out a few months after its launch in July 2015, arriving as version 1511 or the Windows 10 November 2015 Update. This update brought several user-friendly enhancements, one of which was the debut of a dark mode on the Windows desktop for the first time.

The service model of Windows as a Service faced numerous criticisms throughout Windows 10’s lifespan. Particularly memorable was the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, which was rolled out prematurely without adequate testing, leading to the deletion of user files following the update installation. Unfortunately, these deleted files could not be restored.

Due to a problem, Microsoft briefly halted the update and reconsidered their plan for the Windows as a Service model. This led them to decrease the frequency of significant platform overhauls while continuing to provide minor update versions. From 2019 onwards, Windows 10 would only receive one major platform upgrade, with two subsequent updates based on it.

Windows OneCore and form factor diversification

One noteworthy endeavor by Microsoft with Windows 10 was named OneCore. This represented a genuine strive towards creating a universal Windows base that could adapt to any and all device types and shapes. Essentially, they aimed to make Windows versatile enough to operate on any device Microsoft chose.

During that period, OneCore facilitated the operation of Windows 10 across diverse devices such as smartphones, tablets, Xbox, HoloLens, and Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets. This was a commendable attempt that proved successful from a technical standpoint, giving birth to platforms like Windows 10 Mobile, Windows Holographic, and Windows Universal Platform (UWP), which ran on Windows versions built around OneCore.

Regrettably, these initiatives won’t bear fruit since Microsoft ceased supporting most OneCore versions except for the primary desktop operating system and its offshoots. Consequently, Windows is now predominantly suitable for desktop and laptop computers, while smartphones, wearables, and IoT devices are largely excluded from consideration today.

Broken Dark Mode

The problems with Windows 10’s modern dark mode initially appeared in the first release of the OS back in 2015. When Windows 10 was initially launched, it showcased a shell interface that had a distinctly dark theme. However, other parts of the OS, such as context menus and applications, did not share this theme. It wasn’t until version 1511 that Microsoft introduced a switch to toggle between light and dark themes.

In the initial stages of my study, I discovered that the toggle setting only influenced the app’s aesthetic, resulting in a contrast between the light mode I preferred and the persistent dark tones of the Start menu, Taskbar, and Action Center. It wasn’t until 2018 that the operating system was updated to include a system-wide theme toggle option, resolving this inconsistency.

However, despite these improvements, not every problem associated with the dark mode theme was resolved. Some parts of the operating system, such as copy dialogs and file properties, don’t offer a light mode option, and certain areas appear faulty or disfigured when the dark mode is activated.

Regrettably, the dark mode issue persists even with the release of Windows 11. To this very moment, the dark mode functionality on Windows remains inadequate, a problem that originated with Windows 10.

Windows 10 fails on phones

Microsoft’s endeavor with Windows 10 Mobile was to adapt the desktop operating system for smartphones. Essentially, it advanced from Windows Phone, incorporating OneCore and UWP, which are key components of modern Windows-based mobile devices. It debuted in 2015, four months after the release of Windows 10 in November 2015. However, its reception was modest due to underwhelming launch hardware and a buggy initial operating system version.

Windows 10 Mobile didn’t immediately succeed in the smartphone market; it wasn’t until the Version 1607 release in 2016 that it became reliable enough for general use. This mobile operating system shared a common app platform and core system with Windows 10, but unlike its desktop counterpart, it couldn’t run traditional desktop applications.

The device presented a feature known as Continuum, which enabled users to operate their smartphone just like a full-fledged Windows PC when connected to an external monitor. This feature predates Samsung DeX and Android Desktop Mode, placing it well ahead of the technological curve at that time.

Regrettably, due to a gradual acceptance of Universal Windows Platform (UWP) and the rocky start of Windows 10 Mobile, the platform struggled to make significant headway during its initial two years on the market. Eventually, Microsoft decided to discontinue Windows 10 Mobile in 2017, which effectively dealt a fatal blow to UWP as well.

The Universal Windows Platform

The Universal Windows Platform (UWP) was Microsoft’s innovative app development platform, designed for flexibility across different device sizes. This platform allowed developers to create adaptable applications that could run on devices ranging from Windows 10 Mobile to Xbox, HoloLens, and regular PCs. These apps operated within a secure sandboxed environment. However, at its inception, UWP was disappointingly sparse, lacking crucial APIs and features essential for developers to create the desired Windows applications.

The process of adopting UWP was gradual and prolonged, with major software developers hesitant to jump on board for quite some time. Even when they did, the majority opted not to, preferring to continue supporting their existing Windows applications or electing to create web apps instead. The primary motivation for app developers to consider UWP was primarily due to Windows 10 Mobile.

Although the discontinuation of Windows 10 Mobile in 2017 left Universal Windows Platform (UWP) less relevant for many app developers, this lack of interest slowed down the platform’s growth even more. As a result, Microsoft decided to phase out support for UWP in 2021 and introduced WinUI as its replacement, which is based on the older but more widely-used Win32 system.

Today, Universal Windows Platform (UWP) persists in Windows 11, allowing developers the option to construct applications around it. However, it is important to note that UWP does not have any active features or new APIs currently being developed. Additionally, when compared to WinUI, there seems to be no significant advantage in using UWP.

Fluent Design System (was disappointing)

2017 saw Microsoft unveiling the Fluent Design System, which aimed to revamp the Windows user experience and broader Microsoft design philosophy with a new, vibrant aesthetic. This refresh was driven by the desire for a UI design that surpassed the limitations of conventional 2D interfaces, often compared to Apple’s recently presented Liquid Glass design language. Sharing many similarities, Fluent Design System incorporated features like 3D effects, motion, and smooth animations.

In that period, Microsoft unveiled significantly expanded Windows interfaces as part of a comprehensive overhaul of the Windows desktop. The apps were designed to incorporate 3D pop-ups for objects, while the overall desktop interface was envisioned to receive a revamp using the Fluent Design System.

Initially, the rollout of the Fluent Design System didn’t turn out as Microsoft had advertised. Instead, we saw only minor changes, primarily in the form of refined icons, with occasional use of blur, lighting, and motion effects throughout the operating system.

Users found Fluent Design to fall short of expectations, as they anticipated a comprehensive revamp of the Windows desktop, which Microsoft had hinted at. Regrettably, to this point, Microsoft has yet to fully implement many of the design elements presented during the initial introduction of the Fluent Design System.

As a tech enthusiast, I’d venture to say that the user interface of Windows 11 embodies the essence of Fluent Design, yet it falls short of the vision Microsoft initially presented when unveiling this fresh design philosophy.

My People was an embarrassment

Microsoft’s endeavor, titled “My People,” represented an intriguing effort to develop an iMessage rival integrated within Windows 10. This feature aimed to enable users to pin contacts directly on the Taskbar, facilitating swift access to their contact details, location, or enabling the sending of messages or files with minimal effort.

The new feature was introduced, initially compatible with applications such as Windows Mail and Skype. At that point, Microsoft aimed to make Skype function as a tool for synchronizing your text messages. Contacts pinned in this setting would send you reminders, which appeared as three-dimensional animations above the Taskbar. By clicking on a contact, you could open a personalized pop-up window that allowed for easy interaction with the person without needing to switch apps.

My People platform welcomed external software creators as well, allowing applications such as Instagram and Twitter to be incorporated within the My People pop-ups. Regrettably, few third-party developers chose to update their apps to work with My People, eventually resulting in the demise of this feature a mere couple of years post-launch.

In Windows 10, the feature previously known as “My People” was initially activated by default across all devices. However, as of now, it is turned off by default, meaning it’s not active unless manually enabled.

Windows 10: Defining Windows Today

The prolonged presence of Windows 10 in the market is nothing less than remarkable, yet this extended lifespan indicates that the OS accomplished much more than simply defining itself by ten key actions. One significant change it brought about was the demise of Microsoft’s internal web browsing engine, as Edge UWP was replaced with a Chromium-based version. Moreover, Your Phone, which made its debut on Windows 10, marked a pivotal moment for Microsoft as they began to view Android as an extension of the Windows PC rather than a rival platform.

Windows 10 played a significant role in shaping the Windows platform as we know it today. It wasn’t without its flaws, and some might argue that Windows 10 limited Microsoft’s potential to expand Windows beyond desktops and laptops. However, we think it contributed more positively than negatively to the overall development of the operating system.

In essence, while Microsoft initially declared that Windows 10 would be the final iteration of the Windows series, it has since been replaced by the latest version – Windows 11. Looking back, this decision might not have been the best one, but at least we have a fresh update to explore now.

This year, the active support for Windows 10 is set to conclude, marking its retirement. Farewell, Windows 10.

2025-07-29 13:42