- Only half will update the operating system or device, a quarter refuse to switch from Windows 10
- UK customers can get one year’s free ESU, but it won’t be automatic
- Consumers can also get help reducing e-waste by upgrading
With Windows 10 ending next week, new research has revealed exactly how many people are planning to upgrade, and it’s not looking good for Microsoft.
Which? What’s the study is that about a quarter of people still using Windows 10 will continue using the previous generation operating system even after support is removed.
With 21 million people still using a Windows 10 device, this means that 5.4 million Windows 10 devices could still be in use after the October 14, 2025 deadline, putting users at risk of attack.
Windows 10 is not going anywhere
With 26% planning to continue using Windows 10, just over half will update their existing device’s operating system (39%) or update their entire device to support Windows 11 (14%). Six percent even said they would convert to another operating system as a result of the planned deprecation.
Which? Notes Microsoft is offering a free year of Windows 10 Security Updates (ESU) to customers in the UK and Europe, although the company recently came under fire for not offering the extension in other markets globally (especially the US).
Still, the ESU of the year off will not happen automatically. Instead, users should choose to backup their Windows settings to OneDrive.
Which? Tech editor Lisa Barber summarized: “If you don’t act, you could become more vulnerable to hackers and scams.”
The report also emphasized that UK retailers must help consumers safely and responsibly dispose of old devices when upgrading, under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive, although this can reduce e-waste through recycling schemes, it does not always translate into trade-in savings and financial incentives.
With the exception of a small glitch in August, Windows 10’s market share has steadily declined since the launch of Windows 11, but it wasn’t until July 2025 that the newest operating system overtook its predecessor (via Statcounter).
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