Windows 10’s retirement date has been announced: October 14, 2025. Microsoft will stop offering security updates and support after this date. This development is currently interested in millions of users using Windows 10. Moreover, Microsoft’s checklist for this transition process contains a much more radical advice than you think.
The list announced by the company is not just a proposal for a software update. It is described in detail how to reset your device, how to recycle and how to replace it with a new one. You are asked to back up your data and return the device to the factory settings. Then it is said, “Either forgive it, or go to the recycling path”.
Microsoft implies that Windows 10 devices are now completing their task
Microsoft’s choice of this language clearly shows that it is more accurate to buy a new one instead of upgrading the device. This discourse points out that there is a significant change not only on the software side but also on the hardware side. Especially the high hardware requirements of Windows 11 reveal that many old devices are no longer compatible. In addition to all these, the artificial intelligence features that come with the new operating system are pushing the limits of existing devices.
Since the release of Windows 11, hardware expectations have increased constantly. The system architecture that focuses on artificial intelligence leaves old generation processors behind. The new generation laptops labeled Copilot+ aim to offer more AI performance. This indicates that the existing Windows 10 devices will soon become dysfunctional.
Microsoft’s checklist, rather than a technical guide, says to the user, “It’s time to give up this device,” he says to the user. Users can sell, recycle, or get a new device with Microsoft’s swap programs. This approach suggests that the company considers the hardware renewal more priority than the software update. Moreover, the system requirements are given almost by passing the list.
Even some basic features of Windows 11 are either not working at all on older devices or they are very limited. This explains more clearly why Microsoft called for such a sharp transition. For the vast majority of Windows 10 users, it is no longer enough to upgrade the software. Instead, the hardware change is now inevitable.
Although these suggestions can be technically understandable, it brings some difficulties on the user side. It may not be possible for everyone to switch to new devices, especially economically. However, electronic waste and sustainability issues cannot be ignored. All these factors make Microsoft’s suggestions more complex.
The transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 means not only software, but also a transformation at the hardware level. This requires many users to reshape their digital habits. While technological progress continues, not only update, but also hardware renewal to keep up with this progress becomes inevitable. Microsoft’s checklist officially opens the door of this new era.