Windows 10 retiring Oct 2026

[➕👇 ꓤꓱꓷꓠꓵ🎵Tone]

Google Offers Free PC Upgrade For 500 Million Windows Users

Contributed by Zak Doffman. 7 Apr 2026.

[ED: While the ChromeOS Flex “upgrade” is free, the USB kit is not.]

 

“You can transform your aging, unsupported laptop into a fast, secure, and sustainable machine for free,” Google says. The offer is to “upgrade” your PC to ChromeOS Flex. “Refresh the devices that you already own at no cost with a modern, cloud-based operating system that’s secure and easy to manage.”

 

Google says Microsoft’s decision to end-of-life Windows 10 last October “left many people with a difficult decision: spend hundreds on a new device, or continue using an insecure, outdated one.” Windows 11’s infamously slow take-up meant more Windows users on a retired OS than ever before.

 

Microsoft continues to offer a free extended support update (ESU) program for any Windows 10 user, albeit that only runs to October this year. After that you’re out of support, unless you work for an organization with an enterprise plan in place.

 

Read more:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2026/04/07/google-offers-free-pc-upgrade-for-500-million-windows-users/

 

Edited Tuesday at 11:08 PM by ➕👇 ꓤꓱꓷꓠꓵ🎵Tone

[Myew]

Windows 10 already retired last year, but people who sign in with a Microsoft account can access the one year of extended support. I honestly can't consider Chrome OS Flex an upgrade when it downgrades functionality. Chrome OS Flex has been available for several years now, I've tested it out, and did so quite recently when refurbishing a computer for a sister just to recompare it against Linux Mint. Since it doesn't offer Android or Google Play apps like a dedicated Chromebook, it's not much more than a Chrome browser with obfuscated Linux app support. You can do all of the things claimed without Google and locally with general Linux, so why would you want it to be cloud based? Also it can be more of a pain to get working WiFi adapters/drivers on desktops with Chrome OS vs Windows if you're not wired, but that's a Linux issue in general. I've had a Chromebook Duet in the past and loved that as a tablet 2-in-1. For replacing Windows however, you're likely still better off with any modern flavor of Linux. For most people, I recommend Mint due to familiarity, simplicity, and long term user support. Linux distros are even easier to install than Chrome OS because you don't need to sign in with a Google account. Same issue as Microsoft forcing people to sign in with Microsoft accounts, they just want your data and are taking advantage of the situation and claiming it is a benefit to the user when it's really not. 'If a service is free, you are the product'. Granted, it is important to keep your operating system up to date for security vulnerabilities. But the Linux Kernel itself is not so much a service as it is a free and open source tool that anyone can use. Most Linux distros make it easier to avoid Google along with any other corporate interest's advertisements and tracking, easier to find and install the software you need or want like Zoom, easier to run WINE for WT Library or Waydroid for JW Library, etc.

Edited 4 hours ago by Myew

[Mike047]

Some good points about Windows. We have changed from 10 to 11, but the platform is not as user friendly, it seems to me. I am thinking of changing over to iMac and just keeping everything in sync with my iPad and iPhone.

[Qapla]

Windows 11 is supposed to be making at least 18 changes to make it friendlier and return some of the features of 10 that they took away.

 

As for Windows 10, you can concert to LTSC. Windows 10 LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) provides extreme stability and removes bloatware (Cortana, Store, ads), offering a lightweight, high-performance experience ideal for gaming or older hardware. However, you lose modern features, the Microsoft Store, and native app installers, while facing potential compatibility issues with newer, specialized software.

 

But support and security updates run until January 13, 2032