Microsoft is facing a lawsuit for its decision to end support for Windows 10 in October 2025, affecting millions of users still running the older operating system.
The plaintiff, Lawrence Klein, owns two laptops that cannot upgrade to Windows 11, and he argues that Microsoft is forcing users to buy new devices or pay for expensive extended updates.
Windows 10 still holds about 43% of the Windows market, with an estimated 240 million PCs unable to run Windows 11 due to hardware restrictions.
Klein’s lawsuit demands that Microsoft continue supporting Windows 10 until its market share drops below 10%, warning that ending support abruptly will expose users to increased cybersecurity risks as updates stop.
He accuses Microsoft of pushing users toward buying AI-ready computers pre-installed with Windows 11’s Copilot feature, benefiting Microsoft’s market dominance while sidelining millions of existing users.
Forced upgrades and security risks
The lawsuit highlights how Microsoft’s end-of-support forces users to upgrade to new hardware with Windows 11 or pay for extended security updates, which start at $30 per year and can rise over time.
Klein claims this is a de facto coercion, especially since many computers cannot handle Windows 11’s requirements. He describes the move as “forcing” consumers into costly upgrades, even if their current devices work fine for their needs.
According to Klein, the decision disregards security for millions who rely on Windows 10, leaving them vulnerable without basic patches and support.
This concern is not trivial, as unsupported software often becomes a prime target for hackers.
Microsoft does offer paid extended support for one additional year, but this does little for users unwilling or unable to pay, or those preferring to keep their current setups.
Microsoft’s response and user options
Microsoft has confirmed the planned end of Windows 10 support but has promoted options like purchasing extended security updates or switching to Windows 11.
The company also encourages users to earn Microsoft Rewards points through activities like Bing searches to redeem a free upgrade, though this requires substantial effort before the deadline.
The decision creates a pressing dilemma for businesses and individual users: migrate to a newer platform, pay for additional support, or shift to alternative operating systems like Linux.
The impact extends to environmental concerns, too, as experts predict that millions of PCs being rendered obsolete may contribute to electronic waste on a massive scale.
Lawrence Klein’s legal action is a rare challenge, seeking a court order to keep Windows 10 supported until usage falls sufficiently. Whether the court will side with the plaintiff or uphold Microsoft’s timeline remains uncertain, but the case highlights the tensions between corporate strategy and user needs in the fast-evolving technology world.