For millions of Windows users worldwide, the latest moves by Google and Microsoft signal a decisive turning point in the ongoing shift from Windows 10 to Windows 11. As much as Microsoft insists on the holistic security and performance upgrades of its newer operating system, real-world momentum has lagged, with nearly half of the vast Windows user base still clinging to Windows 10. However, the software ecosystem is beginning to turn on the slow adopters — most notably, through Google Chrome, the world’s most widely used browser.
Google Chrome Checks If Your PC Is Ready for Windows 11
It was recently discovered that Google has started adding a compatibility check within Chrome to determine if the user’s PC is eligible for an upgrade to Windows 11. According to reports first surfaced by Windows Latest and confirmed in a widely cited Forbes analysis, Google’s browser is quietly scanning underlying system parameters — such as supported CPUs, TPM version, and Secure Boot availability — to determine upgrade readiness.This data gathering isn’t a benign curiosity. Google’s confirmation that “Chrome is now checking if a PC ‘is capable of being upgraded to Win11’” is more than informational: it’s influencing the browser’s future support guarantees. In plain terms, Google may soon decide to end Chrome support for Windows 10 PCs that meet the requirements for Windows 11 but haven’t yet upgraded, accelerating the pressure on users to make the leap.
Given Chrome’s market dominance — with nearly five times the user share on Windows compared to Microsoft Edge according to recent StatCounter numbers— this move could have a cascading effect that ripples across app compatibility, corporate IT policies, and everyday user experiences.
The Numbers: Who’s Still on Windows 10, and Why Does It Matter?
Microsoft has long signaled its intent to sunset Windows 10, but the transition has been sluggish. As of early summer, Windows 11’s market share finally eclipsed that of Windows 10 for the first time. Estimates compiled by Forbes indicate around 400 million Windows 10 PCs are eligible for an upgrade to Windows 11, while roughly 240 million are not, largely due to strict hardware requirements like TPM 2.0 and newer processor mandates.These statistics matter for several reasons:
- Security Risk: Older operating systems are less likely to receive patches and updates for critical vulnerabilities, potentially exposing hundreds of millions of devices.
- Software Fragmentation: Developers face tough choices on which platforms to support, with fragmentation driving up costs and complicating product roadmaps.
- User Experience: Legacy systems often fail to support modern features, resulting in inconsistent user experiences and discouraging innovation.
Microsoft’s Tactics: Nudges, Warnings, and Forced Updates
For those hoping that extending Windows 10’s end of support from October 2025 to October 2026 means a quiet final year with their current setups, recent actions from Microsoft suggest otherwise. The tech giant has adopted a multi-pronged approach to push users toward Windows 11:The Silent Deployment: KB5001716 Update
Windows 10 users have noticed the stealthy installation of the KB5001716 update. As noted in reporting from Neowin and subsequently highlighted by Forbes, Microsoft pushes this update with little fanfare as a “preparatory” component. What does it do? Once installed, it periodically notifies users of issues that may prevent them from being kept “up-to-date and protected against current threats” via Windows Update. These notifications can include:- Alerts that the device is running an unsupported version of Windows
- Warnings about not meeting minimum hardware requirements for the latest Windows versions
- Prompts to upgrade or consider new hardware
Extended Support — But With Stipulations
Reacting to mounting corporate and consumer pressure, Microsoft announced a one-year extension for Windows 10 security updates, now running until October 2026. However, this extension is not entirely charitable: only paying customers or those who enroll in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program can expect full coverage beyond the initial cutoff.Critically, this extension isn’t targeted at those with ineligible PCs; instead, it’s broad, covering even those who could technically upgrade but simply choose not to. According to industry analysts, this risks slowing the migration and potentially prolonging the “cliff edge” period for security and support.
The Chrome Factor: Why Google’s Move Is a Game-Changer
Google Chrome’s dominant status on Windows cannot be overstated. With a user base dwarfing competing browsers, and deep integration into both consumer and business workflows, Chrome’s support timeline often dictates practical upgrade requirements, sometimes even more forcefully than Microsoft’s own advisories.By embedding checks to determine if a device can upgrade to Windows 11, Google now holds a powerful tool for shaping upgrade momentum. While Google has stopped short of announcing explicit cut-off dates, this functionality lays the groundwork for determining which users receive ongoing Chrome updates — and which do not.
It’s not without precedent: Google previously ended Chrome support for Windows 7 in January 2023, after multiple extensions. Should Chrome drop Windows 10 support for eligible PCs, users will face a clear and immediate incentive to upgrade, lest they risk exposure to unpatched browser vulnerabilities and lose access to modern web features.
Critical Analysis: Navigating Between Progress and Coercion
While the push toward Windows 11 carries clear security and performance benefits — newer hardware requirements align with stronger baselines and capabilities like virtualization-based security — the story isn’t entirely positive.Strengths
- Security Advancement: A unified move to Windows 11 reduces the attack surface for malware, standardizes safeguards like Secure Boot and TPM, and eases the patching burden for OS and software vendors.
- Innovation Enablement: Features like AI Copilot, improved multitasking, and refined gaming support require modern hardware. By insisting on recent CPUs and platform capabilities, Microsoft paves the way for new experiences.
Potential Risks and Downsides
- Planned Obsolescence Concerns: Millions of perfectly operational PCs — including those only a few years old — are excluded from the Windows 11 upgrade path due to processor cutoffs and other requirements. Critics argue this amounts to forced obsolescence, with substantial environmental and financial costs.
- Enterprise Disruption: Large organizations with heterogeneous hardware fleets may face expensive refresh cycles or prolonged dual-support strategies, increasing IT burden and exposing them to fragmented policy enforcement.
- User Backlash: The aggressive cadence of reminders and updates has already prompted frustration among end-users who perceive Microsoft's and Google's tactics as heavy-handed.
- Digital Divide: Globally, not all users or regions can afford the newest hardware on demand, raising equity concerns as software access is increasingly tied to upgrade compliance.
Verification and Industry Response
Industry reporting on Google’s new Chrome capability has been consistent, with primary confirmation from Windows Latest, mainstream tech outlets such as Forbes, and corroborated through hands-on testing visible in recent builds of Chrome Developer and Canary channels.Meanwhile, Microsoft’s policies regarding the Windows 10 KB5001716 update and the specifics of the ESU program have been documented in company support pages, official press releases, and technical forums. Community feedback — sampled across public threads and IT blogs — generally aligns: the unrelenting reminders and evolving support landscape are prompting both anxiety and resignation among those still on Windows 10.
The User Perspective: What Should You Do Next?
If you are a Windows 10 user today, the takeaway is clear: the ecosystem is rapidly shifting. Here’s what you need to consider:- Check Your Hardware: Use built-in tools like PC Health Check or Chrome’s hidden compatibility check to determine your Windows 11 eligibility. Most PCs built since late 2018 are candidates, barring custom or atypical configurations.
- Upgrade When Possible: If your device qualifies, upgrading is advisable — both for continued security and software compatibility.
- Plan for End-of-Life: If your PC is ineligible, you can remain on Windows 10 until support ends, but should budget for a new device within the next 12–18 months.
- Extended Support Options: Enterprises and critical users with legacy dependencies should weigh the cost of ESU participation versus hardware upgrade timelines.
- Beware of Unsupported Browsers: Running an outdated browser is a serious security risk; Chrome’s shift underlines the importance of staying current.
The Broader Implications: An Accelerated Pace of Change
The Windows platform has always been defined by its ecosystem — not just Microsoft’s releases, but the countless vendors, developers, and users whose choices create network effects and standard practices. This latest coordinated nudge from Google and Microsoft highlights a new reality where multi-billion-user platforms shape upgrade timelines as much as OS vendors.From a consumer-rights and regulatory standpoint, these moves will likely invite scrutiny regarding competition, choice, and environmental sustainability, especially as e-waste concerns grow globally. For now, the industry calculus seems clear: unified progress on Windows 11 is worth the transitional pain, even if it means accelerated hardware cycles for some.
Conclusion: Prepare for an Unavoidable Upgrade
The message from both Microsoft and Google is unambiguous: the time to switch to Windows 11 is now, or at least soon. Google Chrome’s new upgrade readiness checks represent more than a technical feature; they are a bellwether for future software support and a clarion call that the sunset of Windows 10 will not be discreet or easily ignored.Windows 10 users should expect a steady drumbeat of notifications, compatibility warnings, and ultimately, the loss of access to key tools if they resist upgrading beyond the reasonable window provided. The best path forward is proactive: assess eligibility, plan the upgrade, and avoid being caught unawares at the next major support cutoff. In the Windows world, waiting passively for the end of support truly is no longer an option.
Source: Forbes Google Starts Checking If Your PC Can Switch To Windows 11
