The global Windows PC landscape finds itself at a critical crossroads as the end of Windows 10 support fast approaches, raising urgent questions about upgrade readiness, security risks, and the pace of technological adoption across different sectors and regions. Drawing on recent findings from ControlUp, independent data from Statcounter, and Microsoft’s own end-of-support guidance, we can identify clear trends shaping Windows’ ongoing evolution—and the lingering challenges millions of users now face.
According to a comprehensive market readiness study conducted by ControlUp and corroborated by usage data from Statcounter, the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 has been both uneven and revealing. As of mid-year, approximately 60% of enterprise PCs have successfully migrated to Windows 11, leaving 40% still reliant on Windows 10—an operating system scheduled to reach its end of life on October 14. These figures, while notable for Microsoft’s flagship OS, also hint at widespread inertia and prevailing upgrade barriers.
In the consumer space, the gap narrows further. ControlUp’s data suggests that nearly 50% of consumer PCs have not made the leap to Windows 11, even as Windows 11 has finally edged past Windows 10 to become the most used version on the market, a milestone Statcounter publicly recognized in its latest browser and OS market reports. Importantly, ControlUp estimates that 87% of PCs still running Windows 10—across both enterprise and consumer segments—are actually eligible for the upgrade, with hardware and firmware fully compatible and the process, at least in theory, simple and straightforward.
In sectors like healthcare, the problem is especially acute. ControlUp’s data reveals that roughly 60% of healthcare devices remain on Windows 10 or even older versions, followed closely by the finance sector at 55% and government at 39%. These numbers underscore the slow cadence of IT refresh cycles in regulated or resource-constrained industries, where mission-critical applications, compliance regimes, and legacy hardware tie organizations to older platforms long after their mainstream support has ended.
The consumer offer is more limited but potentially more accessible: $30 per device, or free for those signing in with a Microsoft Account. However, crucially, consumers only receive one year of extended updates, after which security support will cease entirely unless they upgrade or migrate away from Windows 10. This hard cutoff is a clear signal from Microsoft that it will no longer carry legacy consumer devices indefinitely—a policy shift likely to force the hand of millions of late adopters.
Moreover, another layer of risk looms in the form of collapsing application and driver support. Microsoft has already confirmed that new features for Office products will not be rolled out to Windows 10 after this year, and similar announcements are expected from third-party software and hardware vendors. This phenomenon echoes the gradual but irreversible decline that befell Windows 7 and XP before it: as time goes on, more apps, cloud services, and peripheral devices will quietly drop support for Windows 10, eroding functionality and forcing upgrade decisions on the most reluctant users.
However, this approach also leaves a significant swath of both legacy hardware and low-income consumers behind, forcing them to choose between running potentially insecure software or incurring the cost and logistical headache of device replacement. For budget-stretched organizations—especially in education, non-profit, or developing market segments—this hurdle risks accelerating e-waste, entrenching digital inequality, and extending the life of unsupported systems out of necessity rather than choice.
For financial institutions, the presence of proprietary legacy systems and stringent audit trails often slows the pace of adoption. Government agencies, shouldering large, diverse device fleets, must contend with procurement cycles, budget constraints, and often politics, factors that can stall rollout plans irrespective of IT leadership’s intent.
This means that, come the Windows 10 support deadline, many of these organizations will find themselves weighing the cost (and risk) of enrolling in ESU programs for hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands of devices—a recurring expense that could swiftly balloon as prices double each year of participation.
For North America, the lag in migration suggests either more fragmented IT infrastructure, slower refresh cycles (especially in hard-hit public sectors like education), or a more significant installed base of hardware that can’t meet Windows 11’s requirements. There may also be cultural or operational factors at play, with some organizations taking a more risk-tolerant approach or betting on ESUs to buy time rather than rushing major rollouts.
Notably, Microsoft’s decision to make ESUs free for Microsoft Account users for a year shows a desire to avoid the reputational damage of a massive, abrupt security cliff—yet it also reflects a hardening stance toward legacy support in the consumer market.
History shows that a substantial proportion of users are likely to ignore the risk, as seen with Windows 7 and even XP, both of which maintained measurable market shares years after their official retirement. This presents ongoing challenges for cybersecurity policy makers, regulators, and Microsoft’s own efforts to secure its ecosystem against global threats.
While Windows 11 has achieved rapid adoption by historical standards, a significant proportion of the world’s PCs remain on the edge of obsolescence, held back by hardware, budget, or organizational inertia. The coming months will test the readiness, flexibility, and resolve of enterprise and consumer users alike. Those who move swiftly will benefit from stronger security, better support, and new features; those who stall may soon find themselves stranded in a shrinking pool of unsupported, unprotected systems.
For IT leaders, the message is clear: act now, plan for the future, and make careful use of the limited safety nets Microsoft is offering. And for everyday users, the imperative is equally urgent: ensure your next click doesn’t open the door to tomorrow’s digital threats.
Source: Windows Central Half of Windows PCs are still yet to upgrade to Windows 11 — and are running out of time, says study
The State of Windows Upgrade Adoption: Key Findings from Recent Studies
According to a comprehensive market readiness study conducted by ControlUp and corroborated by usage data from Statcounter, the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 has been both uneven and revealing. As of mid-year, approximately 60% of enterprise PCs have successfully migrated to Windows 11, leaving 40% still reliant on Windows 10—an operating system scheduled to reach its end of life on October 14. These figures, while notable for Microsoft’s flagship OS, also hint at widespread inertia and prevailing upgrade barriers.In the consumer space, the gap narrows further. ControlUp’s data suggests that nearly 50% of consumer PCs have not made the leap to Windows 11, even as Windows 11 has finally edged past Windows 10 to become the most used version on the market, a milestone Statcounter publicly recognized in its latest browser and OS market reports. Importantly, ControlUp estimates that 87% of PCs still running Windows 10—across both enterprise and consumer segments—are actually eligible for the upgrade, with hardware and firmware fully compatible and the process, at least in theory, simple and straightforward.
Upgrade Barriers: Compatibility, Cost, and Organizational Complexity
However, the study doesn’t shy away from the more troubling numbers: around 25% of consumer PCs and 24% of business PCs on Windows 10 are considered ineligible for Windows 11 without a hardware upgrade or total device replacement. This hardware compatibility gap has been one of the most controversial aspects of Windows 11’s system requirements, with Microsoft enforcing strict minimum specs around TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, CPU generations, and more—requirements that have left millions of older but functional PCs unable to make the jump through official channels.In sectors like healthcare, the problem is especially acute. ControlUp’s data reveals that roughly 60% of healthcare devices remain on Windows 10 or even older versions, followed closely by the finance sector at 55% and government at 39%. These numbers underscore the slow cadence of IT refresh cycles in regulated or resource-constrained industries, where mission-critical applications, compliance regimes, and legacy hardware tie organizations to older platforms long after their mainstream support has ended.
Regional Windows 11 Adoption: Europe Leads, North America Lags
Perhaps most intriguingly, the ControlUp study illuminates regional disparities in upgrade behavior. In North America—long considered Microsoft’s home turf—57% of PCs remain on Windows 10, whereas in Europe, that figure drops to 30%. While the study doesn’t fully unpack the drivers for this difference, several factors are likely at play: differing regulatory pressures, public procurement cycles, the prevalence of device leasing and managed IT, and possibly more aggressive upgrade initiatives by European enterprises and governments.The Security Cliff: Microsoft’s Extended Security Update Program
With millions of PCs facing Windows 10’s imminent end of support, Microsoft has unveiled a multi-tiered Extended Security Update (ESU) program aimed at buying time for organizations and individuals unable to upgrade immediately. Commercial customers can enroll in ESU for up to three years, paying $61 per device for the first year after October 2025—with the price doubling each subsequent year. This pattern both mirrors and escalates the structure seen in the previous Windows 7 ESU program, a deliberate incentive for IT departments to accelerate migration plans.The consumer offer is more limited but potentially more accessible: $30 per device, or free for those signing in with a Microsoft Account. However, crucially, consumers only receive one year of extended updates, after which security support will cease entirely unless they upgrade or migrate away from Windows 10. This hard cutoff is a clear signal from Microsoft that it will no longer carry legacy consumer devices indefinitely—a policy shift likely to force the hand of millions of late adopters.
Risks of Staying Behind: Security, Application Support, and Hidden Costs
The consequences of staying on an unsupported operating system are well documented by cybersecurity experts and industry analysts alike. Once Windows 10’s support window closes, vulnerabilities discovered by malicious actors are unlikely to be patched promptly—if at all—for the majority of users, exposing organizations and home users to heightened risk. Microsoft itself has repeatedly emphasized this danger in its end-of-support announcements.Moreover, another layer of risk looms in the form of collapsing application and driver support. Microsoft has already confirmed that new features for Office products will not be rolled out to Windows 10 after this year, and similar announcements are expected from third-party software and hardware vendors. This phenomenon echoes the gradual but irreversible decline that befell Windows 7 and XP before it: as time goes on, more apps, cloud services, and peripheral devices will quietly drop support for Windows 10, eroding functionality and forcing upgrade decisions on the most reluctant users.
Critical Analysis: Are Windows 11’s Requirements a Double-Edged Sword?
While the data highlights the remarkable progress Windows 11 has achieved in the enterprise—outpacing previous versions on some metrics—the strict hardware requirements continue to draw fire from users, analysts, and IT decision-makers. By enforcing TPM 2.0, newer CPU generations, and modern security features, Microsoft has succeeded in raising the baseline security posture of the Windows ecosystem. In measured terms, these requirements likely reduce the risk and impact of supply-chain attacks, ransomware outbreaks, and firmware exploits which have plagued older platforms.However, this approach also leaves a significant swath of both legacy hardware and low-income consumers behind, forcing them to choose between running potentially insecure software or incurring the cost and logistical headache of device replacement. For budget-stretched organizations—especially in education, non-profit, or developing market segments—this hurdle risks accelerating e-waste, entrenching digital inequality, and extending the life of unsupported systems out of necessity rather than choice.
Sector-Specific Insights: Healthcare, Finance, and Government Face Steeper Climb
The lag in healthcare, financial, and government sectors warrants particular scrutiny. In healthcare especially, where medical devices may have embedded or customized software tightly coupled to particular OS versions, upgrades are never simply a matter of “click to install.” Even where Windows 11 compatibility exists on paper, real-world migrations often require certified validation, regulatory signoff, and extensive risk assessment—a process that can take months or years for critical environments.For financial institutions, the presence of proprietary legacy systems and stringent audit trails often slows the pace of adoption. Government agencies, shouldering large, diverse device fleets, must contend with procurement cycles, budget constraints, and often politics, factors that can stall rollout plans irrespective of IT leadership’s intent.
This means that, come the Windows 10 support deadline, many of these organizations will find themselves weighing the cost (and risk) of enrolling in ESU programs for hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands of devices—a recurring expense that could swiftly balloon as prices double each year of participation.
Regional Disparities: Lessons from Europe’s Faster Transition
Europe’s lead in Windows 11 adoption offers several instructive observations for IT managers and policymakers. EU member states often enforce stricter data privacy rules, driving organizations to modernize endpoints more aggressively to maintain compliance. At the same time, many countries benefit from centralized IT procurement programs, coordinated sector-specific upgrade mandates, and, at times, larger pools of funding earmarked for digital transformation.For North America, the lag in migration suggests either more fragmented IT infrastructure, slower refresh cycles (especially in hard-hit public sectors like education), or a more significant installed base of hardware that can’t meet Windows 11’s requirements. There may also be cultural or operational factors at play, with some organizations taking a more risk-tolerant approach or betting on ESUs to buy time rather than rushing major rollouts.
The Consumer Dilemma: One Year or Bust
With Microsoft offering only a single year of paid extended security updates to consumers, most home users will find themselves facing hard choices faster than their business counterparts. Those with incompatible PCs may gravitate towards alternative operating systems such as Linux, consider Chromebooks, or simply risk running unsupported Windows 10 devices. For some, this could accelerate the rise of the secondary market for refurbished Windows 11-compatible hardware, or drive demand for cloud-based services that reduce dependence on local system security.Notably, Microsoft’s decision to make ESUs free for Microsoft Account users for a year shows a desire to avoid the reputational damage of a massive, abrupt security cliff—yet it also reflects a hardening stance toward legacy support in the consumer market.
Looking Ahead: The True Pace of Windows Migration
Even with nearly 60% of enterprise PCs migrated and Windows 11 surpassing Windows 10 as the leading Windows OS globally, migration is far from complete. Millions of devices—commercial and consumer alike—will still be running Windows 10 after the October deadline. The actual number that chooses to pay for extended security updates, as opposed to running unsupported, remains uncertain.History shows that a substantial proportion of users are likely to ignore the risk, as seen with Windows 7 and even XP, both of which maintained measurable market shares years after their official retirement. This presents ongoing challenges for cybersecurity policy makers, regulators, and Microsoft’s own efforts to secure its ecosystem against global threats.
Practical Guidance for Windows 10 Holdouts
For organizations and users weighing their next steps, a staggered approach makes sense:- Audit Devices Now: Inventory all Windows 10 machines, identifying those eligible for upgrade and those facing hardware replacement.
- Prioritize Critical Assets: Focus first on endpoints with direct access to sensitive data or key business systems; defer low-impact endpoints only with careful risk assessment.
- Leverage ESU Strategically: For essential legacy workloads, ESUs can provide breathing room, but the escalating costs mean they should be a short-term stopgap, not a substitute for modernization.
- Educate Stakeholders: Make clear the security, compliance, and operational consequences of missing the upgrade deadline. Leverage case studies from sectors that have successfully migrated.
- Explore Alternatives: For devices that cannot be upgraded, consider alternative OS strategies, virtualized applications, or the adoption of modern, cloud-powered solutions where feasible.
Conclusion: A Defining Moment for Windows and Its Users
The sunsetting of Windows 10 marks more than just another software lifecycle milestone. It represents a defining moment for Microsoft, its vast base of users, and the broader IT industry. The transition is emblematic of a larger shift toward secure-by-design computing environments, even as the cost in dollars—and in digital inclusion—remains a subject of fierce debate.While Windows 11 has achieved rapid adoption by historical standards, a significant proportion of the world’s PCs remain on the edge of obsolescence, held back by hardware, budget, or organizational inertia. The coming months will test the readiness, flexibility, and resolve of enterprise and consumer users alike. Those who move swiftly will benefit from stronger security, better support, and new features; those who stall may soon find themselves stranded in a shrinking pool of unsupported, unprotected systems.
For IT leaders, the message is clear: act now, plan for the future, and make careful use of the limited safety nets Microsoft is offering. And for everyday users, the imperative is equally urgent: ensure your next click doesn’t open the door to tomorrow’s digital threats.
Source: Windows Central Half of Windows PCs are still yet to upgrade to Windows 11 — and are running out of time, says study
