Microsoft to End Windows 10 Support, Prompting Concerns of E-Waste and Forced Upgrades
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – Millions of computer users worldwide face potential hardware obsolescence as Microsoft prepares to end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. What was once touted as the “last version of Windows” is now being phased out, leading to criticism that the tech giant is pushing consumers to purchase new devices or subscribe to Microsoft 365.
The move raises important environmental concerns, as an estimated 200-400 million computers globally are ineligible for an upgrade to Windows 11, according to consumer organizations. In the Czech Republic alone,hundreds of thousands – potentially millions – of computers could become unusable and end up as electronic waste. Microsoft advises users with unsupported hardware to discard thier machines, effectively rendering them obsolete.
Microsoft maintains the shift is necessary to enhance Windows security. However, critics argue the strategy is primarily driven by profit. “It is obvious that Microsoft wants to move Windows’s safety to a higher level, but at the same time (perhaps) unintentionally committed a big waste of devices and thus unecological behavior,” the article states.
The end of support means computers running Windows 10 will no longer receive critical security updates, leaving them vulnerable to threats. While recycling systems and component ”upcycling” could mitigate the environmental impact, concerns remain that much of the discarded hardware will end up in landfills in developing countries.
Consumer advocacy groups are calling for an extension of Windows 10 support to avoid unnecessary e-waste and the financial burden of forced upgrades. The question remains: what will become of the millions of older computers, and what is the true cost of Microsoft’s push for the latest operating system?
