Microsoft has addressed growing concerns following reports that progress toward Windows 11 adoption has stalled, just months before Windows 10 reaches end-of-support on October 14, 2025. With some 750 million devices still using Windows 10, the tech giant is encouraging users to upgrade, cautioning that it may leave them “on the wrong side of risk.”
Still, a new set of reports indicates users are growing more resistant to making the switch, either because of hardware incompatibility or frustration with Microsoft’s communication. The clock is ticking, though, and security consequences are building.
As reported by Windows Central, Microsoft has taken a stronger stance, declaring that users need to switch to Windows 11 in order to be protected. The company recently launched an ad campaign touting the security benefits of Windows 11 and terming it as being on the “right side of risk.”
While it’s true that unsupported systems like Windows 10 face greater cyberattack risks, critics call Microsoft’s messaging excessive. One YouTube commenter remarked, ‘Using the end of support as the main reason to push Windows 11 is literally crazy. Some cited the cost implications, particularly to those with older, incompatible hardware.
Asus echoes security concerns
Adding to the pressure, one of the PC maker firm, ASUS, recently cautioned that Windows 10 computers may soon be “magnets for security threats.” The firm stressed that as it ends support, millions of devices will no longer get vital security updates, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by cybercrooks.
This alert signals a rising cybersecurity threat; an enormous number of internet-connected PCs with outdated software. Left unpatched, these machines would be exposed to large-scale assaults such as those seen in the WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017, which infected hundreds of thousands of devices worldwide.
Market share data reports a stagging decline
Only last month, adoption patterns favored Windows 11, whose global market share was within 10% of Windows 10 for the first time. But Statcounter’s figures for May 2025 show a disturbing turnaround: Windows 11 usage has fallen in both the world and the United States, where it once had its most solid position.
Windows 10 still has more than 50% market share, and Windows 11 trails by roughly 10 percentage points. This decline comes after four months of positive momentum and indicates a huge slowdown in the upgrade cycle.
The hardware barrier
One of the biggest obstacles to many users is still the system requirements for Windows 11. Statcounter and other analysts put the number of around 240 million of the remaining Windows 10 users at not being able to upgrade without purchasing new hardware. Microsoft’s strict requirements, like requiring TPM 2.0 and newer CPUs, are what have made many otherwise capable PCs not eligible for a free upgrade.
Although most Windows 10 users qualify for the upgrade, many avoid it due to performance concerns, compatibility issues, or a preference for the classic interface.
Clock ticking for Windows 10 users
Microsoft has just four months until October 14, 2025, and it’s ramping up efforts to drive Windows 11 adoption The firm holds firm that continuing to use Windows 10 after the deadline is not simply about running an outdated OS, but about putting devices at risk of real-world security threats.
But the compounding of hardware constraints, user resistance, and decreasing momentum means the journey ahead might be rockier than expected. Whether Microsoft can turn the tide and persuade users to upgrade in time is a vital question—with security, usability, and price on the line.