Microsoft will upgrade Windows 10 21H2 users whether they like it or not
Also, Windows 12 might be on the way, so buckle up
Those still using Windows 10 version 21H2 have about a month until support ends, which means there will be no more security updates or other measures after that.
Their options essentially are to upgrade to Windows 10 22H2 or make the move to Windows 11, which would make Microsoft happy.
Servicing and support for the Windows 10 21H1 Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro Workstation editions ends June 13, with the June 2023 security update – due out that same day – being the last one for those editions.
"After this date, devices running these versions will no longer receive monthly security and preview updates containing protections from the latest security threats," Redmond writes in a reminder.
And no worries if you forget to upgrade the OS. Microsoft says it will automatically update those using Microsoft 10 21H1 to a supported version of Windows. You're welcome.
The automatic update is for "consumer devices and non-managed business devices that are at, or within several months of, reaching end of servicing," Microsoft adds. "This keeps your device supported and receiving monthly updates that are critical to security and ecosystem health."
The timeline for the forced changeover is unclear, though the company says users can choose a time for the upgrade that is convenient to them.
- Two Microsoft Windows bugs under attack, one in Secure Boot with a manual fix
- Windows 11 wrecks speech recognition for some apps
- No more feature updates for Windows 10 – current version is final
- Microsoft is busy rewriting core Windows code in memory-safe Rust
Microsoft reckons users should upgrade to at least the latest version of Windows 10 but no doubt would like to convince as many as possible to make the leap to Windows 11. According to StatCounter, Windows 10 is still used by more people than any other version of the operating system, by a large margin.
Over the last 12 months, use of Windows 10 has remained relatively steady, reaching about 71 percent last month. It was just over 73 percent in March 2022. Meanwhile, Windows 11 use has jumped from almost 9 percent in March to 23 percent in April.
At least use of Windows 7 and 8.1 continue to fall.
Windows 10 22H2 is the last version of Windows 10 and support for it will continue until October 2025.
No OS iteration lasts forever. Even as Windows 10 continues to wind down and Microsoft makes the push for Windows 11, the speculation – Microsoft hasn't confirmed anything – is that Windows 12 could make its debut next year, three years after Windows 11 came onto the market. ®