Is Microsoft hypocritical? Consumer Reports asks CEO Satya Nadella to make Windows 10 support extension free for 400 million PCs

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It seems a little too late for Microsoft to be thinking about extending support for Windows 10 beyond October 14, 2025, especially since people have been raising concerns about unsupported computers for months. As far back as 2023, the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) asked Microsoft to reconsider, warning that ending support could lead to a massive surge in discarded computers.

Despite some criticism, Microsoft did offer a solution for Windows 10 users who can’t upgrade to Windows 11: the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which will provide continued security support after the official end of life for the operating system.

Consumer Reports recently urged Microsoft to continue supporting Windows 10, warning that ending support will leave millions of customers unable to upgrade. In a letter to CEO Satya Nadella, they explained that many computers don’t meet the strict requirements for Windows 11. The Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) estimates about 400 million PCs are affected.

Microsoft’s ESU program isn’t enough

The report says most people using Windows 10 will face difficult choices. They can pay for an extra year of support through Microsoft’s program (which costs up to $30), buy new computers (like those with Copilot+), or keep using Windows 10 without support, which is risky because it could leave them vulnerable to viruses and other attacks.

Consumer Reports acknowledges that Microsoft announced in 2021 it would eventually stop supporting Windows 10 with the release of Windows 11. Microsoft explained this was because older computers didn’t meet the requirements for Windows 11, specifically needing features like a Trusted Platform Module 2.0 and a 64-bit processor.

Consumer Reports found that stores kept selling computers that couldn’t actually run Windows 11 throughout 2022 and 2023. Even more notably, their report showed that about 46.2% of computers globally – around 646.8 million – were still using Windows 10 as of August 2025.

Microsoft’s decision to require new hardware for Windows 11, with relatively short notice, is a departure from what customers expect and from Microsoft’s past practices. Traditionally, Windows has been designed to work with older computers, allowing users to upgrade to new versions for a long time – often a decade or more. For example, a computer purchased with Windows 7 in 2010 could be upgraded to Windows 8 and then Windows 10, and many of those same computers still run Windows 10 today, even in 2025.

Consumer Reports

Microsoft is encouraging Windows 10 users to upgrade to Windows 11, emphasizing its security features. They claim Windows 11 has led to a significant improvement in security, with a 62% decrease in security incidents and a three-fold reduction in attacks targeting firmware.

Consumer Reports acknowledges Microsoft’s attempt to improve security, but points out the irony of marketing Windows 11 as a cybersecurity boost while simultaneously planning to stop supporting Windows 10, leaving many computers exposed to threats.

So, the report basically says there aren’t any good ways to keep using Windows 10 long-term. Apparently, you *can* pay around $30 to get another year of security updates and avoid getting hit by hackers, but that’s it – it’s just a temporary fix.

Microsoft now offers a free way to join its Extended Security Update (ESU) program. However, you’ll need to earn 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points by using Microsoft products like Bing and Xbox. This could be a strategy to encourage more people to use these services and gain an edge over competitors.

Consumer Reports is urging Microsoft to continue providing free security updates for Windows 10 users while encouraging upgrades to Windows 11. They’re also asking Microsoft to establish a comprehensive program for recycling older computers that people replace when moving to the newer operating system.

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2025-09-18 14:10