Microsoft’s update decision: alarming news for millions of Windows users

A busy few weeks for Microsoft users continue, especially for the 850 million Windows 10 holdoutswho cannot, do not want to or at least have not yet made the switch to Windows 11. We finally have confirmation of extended support for home users – to add to business options, even if it costs $30 and is for a year only. But there is also an alarming indication that an upgrade to Windows 11 could be taken out of your hands.

When confirming the deployment of patch KB5001716 on Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs, Microsoft warns that “when this update is installed, Windows may attempt to download and install feature updates on your device if your currently installed version of Windows is approaching or has reached support. Feature updates provide new functionality and help keep your device secure.”

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It’s entirely possible that today’s auto-installed feature update will become tomorrow’s auto-installed upgrade – in the interest of security. At least not yet, but Microsoft warns in its advisory posting this update: “Windows may periodically display a notification informing you of issues that could prevent Windows Update from keeping your device up to date and protected from the current threats.”

According to New“(Microsoft) quietly installed this update on both Windows 11 and 10 systems after the October 2024 Patch Tuesday.”

One specific note in the advisory aimed at Windows 10 users gets to the heart of the upgrade lethargy: hardware requirements: “You may see a notification informing you that your device is currently running a version of Windows that has reached the end of its support lifecycle ,” says Microsoft, “or that your device does not meet the minimum hardware requirements for the currently installed version of Windows.”

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The prospect of the Windows 11 upgrade decision being taken out of the hands of users who have compatible hardware may become more real as we approach the single year of extended support and the delayed abyss. “Given the first point that Microsoft notes, TechRadar says: “the (Windows 11) update may (eventually) be forced on your PC as well, as we see happen when a particular version of Windows 10 or 11 becomes unavailable and no longer supported for further upgrades.”

Clearly bad news for users who want to stick with Windows 10 beyond 2025 and 2026, or who opted for third-party support extensions that are coming out now and will gain momentum in the coming year. As I’ve warned before, whatever you do, make sure your PC becomes unsupported. Patch Tuesday of this week with two more zero days shows the very real dangers therein.