400 Million Windows Users Brace for Transformative Microsoft Update

Microsoft is facing an unexpected new challenge as it tries to persuade 800 million Windows 10 users to switch to Windows 11. With sales of bright new AI PCs falling short of expectations and its popular aging OS nearing end-of-support in October, this appears to be a crucial holiday buying season.

The most recent Windows statistics from November indicate a significant halt to the recent acceleration of Windows 11 upgrades, as Zak Doffman wrote on Monday on Forbes. The bad news is a sudden change in course following eight months of a smooth transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11. The issue is far worse in the important US market, even though that shift only makes up about 1% of the user base, or between 10 and 15 million users.

Over the course of the month, Windows 10’s global market share increased from 61% to 62%, while Windows 11’s fell from over 35.5% to less than 35%, according to Statcounter. However, after six months of consistent increases, Windows 11 fell precipitously from over 40% to less than 37%, while Windows 10 increased from 58% to 61% in the US.

While the global figures are somewhat within the range of error, the US figures appear to be more precise. Microsoft confirmed a 12-month extended support option for Windows 10 users starting in October of next year, which led to this adjustment. Although it will cost $30 per PC, it might be worthwhile for those obstinate Windows 10 sceptics.

We are not sure what has caused the particular conversions, but it is possible that Windows 10 users are reversing an upgrade since they now know they can continue to use Windows 10 with support (i.e., security updates) until October 2026. Furthermore, despite Microsoft’s persistent efforts to persuade customers to switch, the frequent advertisements and reminders are not having the desired effect.

The 400 million or more Windows 10 users who lack the necessary hardware to update is an intriguing spin on these figures. Although there are ways to update on a PC that are incompatible, Microsoft has recently emphasized that doing so may prevent future updates and possibly void any remaining hardware warranties.

Additionally, there is the Copilot factor. Do users of Windows 10 who require a hardware update believe that the more cost-effective the migration will be, the lounger they leave behind? And the drawbacks are minimal because AI features are still somewhat limited. Instead of new AI features, we already know that the majority of hardware updates are still for entry-level smartphones.

Even if this transformation is occurring more quickly than anticipated, Forbes reporter Zak Doffman has previously indicated that the trend-line following the ESU announcement will be important to observe. Data on PC sales during the holiday season and in December will provide a clear indication of what 2025 is likely to bring. After then, the ESU take-up will be added to the mix.

Microsoft has made it clear time and time again that Windows 11 is a far more secure operating system than Windows 10. Because of this shift, 10–15 million users are now assuming risks against which they would not have otherwise been protected. The news is not good.

The bad news for Windows 10 customers is that Microsoft effectively put a stop to any hardware reversals about Windows 11 upgrades in a blog post that was published on Tuesday. It stated that “it’s important to revisit a key minimum system requirement for Windows 11 as the end of support for Windows 10 draws near.”

Naturally, this is all about TPM 2.0: For those of you who have switched to Windows 11, let’s talk about the function of TPM and its benefits. Additionally, you will discover how to verify your TPM status and get ready for Windows 11.

The blog goes on to say, “You are aware that Windows 10 is getting close to its end of support.” Compared to its predecessor, TPM 1.2, TPM 2.0’s improved encryption algorithms in Windows 11 provide more important and versatile key management for modern IT infrastructures. By integrating with technologies like Windows Hello for Business and Secure Boot, TPM 2.0 improves security by making sure that only verified software is run and safeguarding private information. It’s true that your business may need to make a change in order to execute it. However, it is a significant step in the right direction toward better addressing the complex security issues of today.

Microsoft has made it plain that there would be no going back or back doors. “TPM 2.0 is essential for preserving a safe and future-proof IT system with Windows 11—it is not just a suggestion. Along with Windows Hello for Business, Secure Boot, and Credential Guard, it is also a crucial component of the broader Zero Trust approach.

Users are required to upgrade by October 2026 at the latest, and those 400 million PCs that don’t make the cut are essentially going to landfills. Additionally, Microsoft only permits some upgrades on incompatible hardware when consumers consent that their warranties and support will probably expire.

However, further bad news has surfaced just a day after Microsoft’s blog post affirmed that the path to Windows 11 upgrades—hardware included—is, in fact, a one-way street. Recall is the headline product offered as part of the plethora of new AI features that are coming to the market, if that is part of the drive to encourage Windows 10 holdouts to cease holding out. It appears to be broken as well. Once more.

TechRadar reports that Microsoft is still messing up Windows 11 Recall by not fixing a strange glitch that prevents the feature from working. Microsoft has just explained the issue, but not offered a solution for those who were impacted. Some Windows 11 testers were attempting to use the Recall function, which just went live for Windows Insiders, and encountered a perplexing glitch where it didn’t operate at all.

This isn’t a good look, even while Recall is still not widely available and is getting past its early teething problems and obvious security challenges.

According to TechRadar, “Recall was hit by some bugs right away after it was finally deployed in the Dev channel for Windows 11 last week.” In fact, some testers expressed dissatisfaction with its refusal to preserve any screenshots at all, which are the standard screenshots that Recall collects in order to support its AI-powered search feature.

Microsoft has identified the reason why some eager Windows Insiders were unable to get the Recall preview to store any screenshots, according to The Register. All of this is due to a bothersome non-security preview. Although there will be a monthly security release in December, KB5046740, which surfaced on November 21, is the last non-security preview release for 2024. Users encountered the issue after installing this preview update, seeing the recall notice, and joining the Windows Insider Dev channel in order to obtain the code, but after that, nothing happened.

Regardless of the backdrop, this type of release fault is a software risk, but everything pertaining to recalls requires extra care and attention. Microsoft wants to have a smooth transition into and beyond 2025. It wants hundreds of millions of Windows 10 users to update their hardware this year for reasons other than the possibility of their support being terminated, possibly even before they contribute $30 to the cause.

According to The Register, “it makes sense that users who are prepared to install a Microsoft preview update would also be eager to join the Dev Channel.” “They might want to look at the company’s most recent effort to persuade the world that Recall is a good reason to invest in a Copilot+ PC rather than a poorly considered privacy nightmare.” And that’s a really good way to put it.

Another rationale is that people could be better off spending $30 and delaying an expensive AI PC update until 2026, when ideally things will be more straightforward.

This report first appeared in Forbes