I wish to update my laptop computer to Windows 11. Microsoft will not let me

This year my laptop computer turns 6– a reasonably young age in the grand plan of things. Sure, it’s gotten slower and the battery life has actually taken a hit, however considering that I do not utilize it for innovative video modifying or video gaming, it’s no issue. For lighter work like web browsing and emailing, it does the job simply great.

There’s actually just one issue: my laptop computer is too old for a Windows 11 upgrade. On October 14th, 2025, Windows 10 will reach completion of its life durationwhich suggests no brand-new functions or security updates. The previous is not a huge issue. The latter would be a catastrophe.

I’m not alone in this scenario. Over 50 percent of users are still running Windows 10, and this figure is slowly dropping. The number of will have upgraded in 6 months’ time is anybody’s guess, however whatever the portion, something is clear. A big percentage of the world’s 1.6 billion Windows PCs will still be running Windows 10 on October 14th, 2025.

What makes this tough is that Windows 11 is so technically requiring that it’s not possible to upgrade all totally practical computer systems. Unfortunately, my six-year-old laptop computer is among them.

If Microsoft stops upgrading Windows 10, it would become a breeding place for cybercriminals. A computer system without security updates is not just an issue for the user, however it can likewise spread out malware to others.

This choice likewise produces significant ecological issues. If a couple of hundred million totally practical computer systems are gotten rid of and users purchase brand-new ones, emissions will increase. Production brand-new computer systems needs big quantities of energy and the extraction of unusual metals.

Microsoft has actually specified that security updates to Windows 10 will still be readily available for another year, however for a cost. Previously, companies might register for prolonged assistance for old Windows variations and now we customers can do the exact same. This is, naturally, appealing for Microsoft in the short-term, however it’s not a sustainable service. In such a circumstance, a big percentage of users would continue to run Windows 10 without paying, therefore jeopardizing security for all of us.

I personally hope that Microsoft recognizes that they ought to reevaluate this choice. The only affordable thing to do is to send complimentary security updates to Windows 10 as long as the system is commonly utilized. It’s neither financially nor environmentally sustainable to offer computer systems with a six-year life expectancy.

We require to move far from the concept of computer systems, mobiles, tablets, and other innovations as non reusable items. This is a shift from the throwaway society that all of us require to make. If Microsoft is severe about being a sustainable business, they need to instantly eliminate the death sentence on my six-year-old laptop computer and other working Windows 10 computer systems.