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Come on, Microsoft….extend free Windows 10 Support to help protect our environment and stop e-waste impact

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Photo Credit: Daniel Levi at TechStartups


Windows currently powers over 1.4 billion monthly active devices.  


They say that this is made up of: 

  • 55% have upgraded to Windows 11 (730 million PCs) 

  • 45% on Windows 10 (620 million PCs) 


Estimates suggest at least 240 million Windows 10 PCs wont be able to meet Windows 11’s upgrade requirements and may risk becoming e-waste.  


This leaves about approximately 380 million Windows 10 PCs that can still make the jump and upgrade. 


At MyImprint, as part of our lower impact strategy, we use 2nd hand laptops and so are part of the 620 million PC’s still on Windows 10, needing to decide what we are going to do come October. You may be in this position too. 

 

 A late - but welcome - reprieve 

It seems that Microsoft have made this really difficult to understand so read below and break it down: 

  1. Microsoft has created a consumer “Extended Security Update” you can purchase that adds one more year of security updates for Windows 10 Starting from October 2025. 

  2. Enrolment and pricing options: 

  3. $30US per year, or 

  4. 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or  

  5. linking a Microsoft account with Settings backup to OneDrive (not available for commercial, and a number of other caveats).  


More info on the Microsoft  Extended Security Update link is here 

 

It’s a helpful reduction in potential waste - but only for a year.  

Microsoft could show leadership by committing to a longer service period, that doesn’t require a special enrolment to ESU so that functional hardware isn’t pushed toward landfill.  


In New Zealand, Consumer NZ is calling on Microsoft to extend support, warning that the cutoff has the potential to be “one of the most wasteful events in modern technological history” and that “removing support is irresponsible, environmentally damaging and anti-consumer.” 


Practical ways to extend the life of an ineligible PC 

  • Take the extra year, securely: Install the August update and enrol in Windows 10 ESU from Settings → Windows Update. This buys you security patches through to October 2026 while you plan next steps. 

  • Double-check upgrade eligibility: Some “blocked” PCs pass once firmware/BIOS settings (TPM 2.0, Secure Boot) are enabled. Use Microsoft’s PC Health Check guide to verify and see why a device fails. 

  • If your CPU is supported, enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot: Many PCs are blocked only because these firmware settings are off. Follow Microsoft’s guides to enable TPM 2.0 and configure Secure Boot; if your processor is not on the supported list, these steps won’t change eligibility. 

  • Consider a light, alternative Operating System, but beware as this will require some extra learning to become familiar with a new OS and new apps: 

  • ChromeOS Flex can revive older laptops/desktops with fast boot, secure updates, and a web-app focus - test from USB before installing. 

  • A friendly Linux distro (e.g., Linux Mint or Ubuntu LTS) keeps older hardware fully supported with long security lifecycles. 

  • Third-party patching: Services like 0patch promise micro-patches for Windows 10 for up to five additional years beyond Microsoft’s deadline. (Do your due diligence here as this is a paid, non-Microsoft option.) 


Summary 

Based on current data, about  

  • 730 M PCs have already upgraded to Windows 11;  

  • 380 M Windows 10 devices appear upgrade-capable; and  

  • 240 M look permanently stranded by hardware rules.  

Microsoft’s one-year ESU is a step toward reducing waste, but with hundreds of millions of viable machines at stake, the company with the world’s largest desktop footprint should extend support longer and show leadership with reuse and maintenance rather than doing the bare minimum. 


Come on, Microsoft, its simple stuff Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. 

 

Helpful links 

Assess your device: 



Extended Service Updates:



Upgrade to Windows 11: 

Alternative Operating Systems: 




Consumer New Zealand Perspective: 

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