Windows 10 Marks 10 Years as Microsoft Sets October 2025 Support Cutoff

Microsoft is marking the 10th anniversary of Windows 10, which debuted on 29 July 2015 as the company’s first “Windows-as-a-service” release and quickly became one of its most widely used operating systems. The milestone highlights the software’s longevity following the mixed reception of Windows 8 and its promise of a unified user experience across PCs, tablets, and Xbox consoles. The celebrations arrive just months before mainstream support ends on 14 October 2025. After that date, only paying customers will receive security patches through a one-year Extended Security Updates program. Microsoft is urging the large base of Windows 10 users to move to Windows 11, whose stricter hardware requirements have slowed adoption. Industry analysts note that Windows 10’s popularity stems from broad hardware compatibility and familiarity, factors that helped it dominate desktop market share for much of the past decade. Its approaching retirement, however, underscores Microsoft’s shift toward newer releases that integrate artificial-intelligence features and tighter security standards.