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October “left many people with a difficult decision: spend hundreds on a new device, or continue using an insecure, outdated one.”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 April 7 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 April 9 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 convert 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

Edited April 10 by Qapla

[BigMAC]

On 4/9/2026 at 10:06 PM, Qapla said:

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 convert 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

Ltsc, I looked it up and and is very expensive and not possible to get for normal end users legally. I do not get it, why does MS have LTSC för Windows 10 and att the same time ditching it for normal users. Sounds a bit in greedy to me.

 

We are already using to much of the Earth s resources and now we have to scrap perfectly functioning hardware so that they can sell more computers.

 

I think I will solve this by buying a refurbished computer with win 11. Or get a computer with Chrome OS. This is for my not so tech savvy dad. He knows win 10 and he has Android Phone. So Linux is out of the question.

Edited Sunday at 12:29 PM by BigMAC
bad grammar

[Myew]

I tried to write a too long in depth reply yesterday, but gave up when half of it got deleted and unrecoverable after inserting a link... I'll try again.

While I wish that LTSC were available to consumers/enthusiasts outside of gray market key resellers, to put it simply, Microsoft wouldn't make any money off of supporting that, so of course they won't do that. The businesses paying exorbitantly for it are paying for stability on fleets of PCs that all have to be set up without anything installed by IT and want them to last for at least a decade without interference.

Regardless, Microsoft has only been making a tiny bit of their profit off of Windows licenses for quite some time now. They make very little money off of PC hardware sales either. There are some legitimate reasons why they added the requirement of modern CPUs and TPM chips for Windows 11. Basically, they have a lot less support complaints from users who don't understand hardware requirements for a good experience or know how to use the internet safely. It has prevented a lot of malware/security issues that they no longer have to deal with. If you want to learn more, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPyRI1J0vGU I don't necessarily like it, but businesses only care about money, not the environment or people or support. They no longer call them "Personal Computers", after all...

Refurbished PCs are still a great and economical option, something like a business oriented Lenovo Thinkpad laptop is a common solid choice. Windows 11 would be the simplest current option, and it's not too bad once you strip out the garbage ads and bloat. Tools like WinUtil help speed up cleanup and installs. https://christitus.com/windows-tool/

I still recommend Linux Mint on a laptop over Chrome OS/Chrome OS Flex though, especially if you need to do remote support. I like Parsec on Windows and Rustdesk on Linux, but Chrome OS/Android offer basically none or very convoluted remote desktop options. Linux Mint can very easily be set up to mirror a Windows XP/7/10 layout that anyone with prior Windows experience would be familiar with. Mint is fine for Zoom and okay for WT Library with WINE, though not the easiest for installing Waydroid to emulate Android for JW Library. A more modern distro works better there.

If you are going to use Chrome OS, definitely get a Chromebook Plus laptop with good Android/Linux software support, even if it's one of last year's models on clearance. They have the best Android/Linux app support and hardware. Don't install Chrome OS Flex yourself on a desktop/laptop or you'll only be able to use Zoom in a browser and no JW Library.

[jwhess]

I have (or had) 6 Windows devices that ran windows 10.  Four of them flunked the upgrade path (CPU too old).  I used Rufus and installed Windows 11 on all of them and all of them worked just fine.  I sold two of the units and now have just 4 working here.  They seem to update automatically (except the oldest one).  My main desktop uses a Core I-9 CPU and the others are Core I-8 units except the oldest that is just hooked to the family TV.  That one is a Core I-7 (I think).

 

So I don't see a need at the moment to rush out and buy anything (even a used Win 11 unit).  Try Rufus and see how your device responds.

[Qapla]

Now that tax season is over, I will update my windows 10 to 11 at some point

[Myew]

For the past year or two, when I've tried bypassing the Win 11 installation requirements via Rufus or MicroWin for old desktops, the installation has failed on me. So I stopped bothering and switched to using Linux for them. That might have something to do with the newer Windows 11 24H2/25H2 .isos. But if you can get it to work, doing an in place upgrade isn't a bad choice. Older CPUs don't have the hardware requirements to do some of the modern memory security features and have an up to 30% performance loss because of that if that's turned on, but if you've got a decent processor it should still be fine for basic use. I did hear Rufus just had an update to allow for silent autonomous install of Windows 11 with a local account, so that's nice. Do note however that it will use the first disk and likely full wipe it, so make sure you backup personal files and only have one hard drive installed. https://www.howtogeek.com/latest-rufus-update-debloats-and-installs-windows-11-silently/

[jwhess]

1 hour ago, Myew said:

For the past year or two, when I've tried bypassing the Win 11 installation requirements via Rufus or MicroWin for old desktops, the installation has failed on me. So I stopped bothering and switched to using Linux for them. That might have something to do with the newer Windows 11 24H2/25H2 .isos. But if you can get it to work, doing an in place upgrade isn't a bad choice. Older CPUs don't have the hardware requirements to do some of the modern memory security features and have an up to 30% performance loss because of that if that's turned on, but if you've got a decent processor it should still be fine for basic use. I did hear Rufus just had an update to allow for silent autonomous install of Windows 11 with a local account, so that's nice. Do note however that it will use the first disk and likely full wipe it, so make sure you backup personal files and only have one hard drive installed. https://www.howtogeek.com/latest-rufus-update-debloats-and-installs-windows-11-silently/

I had no trouble with Rufus, but my installations were 6 months ago.  All of my devices had at least 2 hard drives (all but one were SSDs).