Microsoft has responded days after news that its critical Windows 11 upgrades have essentially stopped. October’s deadline for 750 million users to upgrade to Windows 11 or lose security updates is fast approaching. And that latest data is alarming.
As spotted by Windows Central, “Microsoft has threatened Windows 10 users to upgrade to be on the ‘right side of risk’.” And while “it’s accurate that Windows 11 will be more secure than an unsupported Windows 10, some feel the ad is too aggressive.”
The comes after major PC maker Asus also warned Windows 10 PCs are “magnets for security threats,” with the cybersecurity nightmare of hundreds of millions of PCs suddenly falling off support on October 14 now beginning to come true.
The comments below the YouTube video reflect the usual frustration with warnings to upgrade to Windows 11. “Using the end of support for your old operating system as a selling point for your new one is actually insane,” says one, while another reflects the bigger issue: “casually saying like everyone has enough money to buy a new laptop.”
Windows 11 upgrade process had seemed to be getting on track, with several months of steady progress seeming likely to continue. But that is not the case. A month ago, Windows 11 was within 10% of Windows 11 globally for the first time, albeit that still left more than half of all users on Windows 10. That has changed and is getting worse.
Statcounter’s data at the end of May shows Windows 11 market share has declined globally and in the U.S., the key market where it has the largest relative share. After four months of progress the other way, this reversal sees Windows 10 holding stubbornly above 50%, with Windows 11 around 10% behind.
Per those YouTube comments, the issue for at least 240 million of those 750 million Windows 10 users is that they need to upgrade their PCs as current ones are not eligible for the free upgrade. That’s not cheap and is a factor. That said, most Windows 10 users can upgrade but are choosing not to — at least not yet. And time is running out.
