Windows 10, heralded at its 2015 launch as “the last version of Windows,” stands today at a pivotal milestone: a decade since release and now, the twilight of its mainstream support. Much has changed in the tech landscape since those exuberant rollout days—a time when much of the industry and countless users were determinedly moving on from the troubled Windows 8.x experiment. Now, as Microsoft prepares to wind down free support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, its legacy—and what will be missed most about this landmark operating system—take center stage for millions of devoted users and IT professionals around the world.
Few icons in modern computing have elicited as much passion as the Windows Start menu. Windows 10’s approach achieved what seemed impossible at the time: merging the best of the much-loved Windows 7 interface with some of the visually dynamic (if controversial) Live Tiles introduced in Windows 8. This blend offered a functional, customizable hub that allowed quick access to apps, documents, and the web in a way that suited nearly any workflow. Users could pin their favorite apps, resize the menu—one of its most intuitive features—and even fill the screen for a distraction-free launching experience.
In contrast, Windows 11’s Start menu, while visually refreshed and arguably sleeker, is less versatile. Its static, search-heavy approach and restricted customization have irked users who relished the familiar and tweakable interface of Windows 10. The decision to limit these customization options stands out as a shift away from power-user friendliness, with Microsoft instead opting for a simplified, mobile-inspired aesthetic that has not won over everyone.
The result is more than just nostalgia: for many users, the loss of the dynamic and personal Start menu feels like a step backward in usability and efficiency.
Windows 11’s taskbar, by comparison, is strangely inflexible. Users are locked into a bottom-only placement and have lost access to many granular options, such as comprehensive system tray choices and easy resizing. This regression was noted not just in user forums but in reviews from trusted outlets like The Verge and Ars Technica, who highlighted user frustration at having longstanding features stripped away. These limitations continue to be one of the most cited criticisms of Windows 11 by both home and business users.
Windows 11’s redesign of File Explorer brought a modern visual update, but also a raft of inconsistencies and complaints. Many users and reviewers on platforms like Windows Central and Reddit noticed increased interface clutter, more cumbersome navigation, and the odd omission of straightforward legacy features. This bloat has undermined some of the efficiency gains that should have accompanied a modernized look.
With Windows 10, users had a file management tool that, while not flashy, never strayed far from the “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” philosophy—a principle that future versions would do well to heed.
By contrast, Windows 11’s minimum requirements—especially the need for relatively recent CPUs and TPM 2.0—rendered millions of otherwise capable machines instantly orphaned. This decision drew sharp criticism from IT administrators and analysts, who pointed out that forced obsolescence contradicted the sustainability goals championed by Microsoft and other tech giants. Despite Microsoft’s justification (mainly improved security and manageability), it is clear that Windows 10’s wide hardware compatibility was a key reason for its enduring popularity and slow rate of retirement in the enterprise world. Even as support comes to an end, many organizations continue to rely on the OS, leveraging the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program to maintain security while transitioning at their own pace.
Windows 11, however, is spearheading Microsoft’s AI revolution. From Copilot—a pervasive AI assistant—embedded in key system contexts, to AI-powered search and productivity features, the new ethos is unmistakably cloud-centric and algorithmically driven. Many Windows 10 loyalists value the absence of constant AI mediation in their workflow. They appreciate an environment where updates are less likely to bring major, unasked-for feature shifts and where system resources are not constantly contested by background AI workloads.
While some see AI as the inevitable path forward, others lament the fading of what they feel was the last truly user-focused version of Windows. On Windows 10, uninstalling new AI features such as Copilot remains relatively straightforward, while Windows 11 more deeply intertwines these services with the OS.
Windows 11 has made this pathway harder to find. Home users are now strongly encouraged, if not coerced, to create or sign in with a Microsoft account during setup. Circumventing this requirement often demands disconnecting from the internet or deploying esoteric workarounds. This change, criticized by privacy advocates and many veteran Windows users, signals a broader shift in how Microsoft aligns with the cloud, telemetry, and service integration. It’s a direction that offers convenience for some, but at the cost of the full autonomy many appreciated in Windows 10.
The stricter hardware requirements in Windows 11 enable sophisticated security architectures such as virtualization-based security (VBS) and Credential Guard, which benefit from TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. Microsoft’s bet is that a more secure, standardized baseline will ultimately be better for everyone. Market data supports, in part, the company’s rationale: as of mid-2025, Windows 11 is rapidly closing the market share gap with Windows 10, according to independent trackers like StatCounter and AdDuplex. However, with hundreds of millions of devices still actively running Windows 10, the story of forced obsolescence and frustrated upgraders will not disappear quietly.
Another notable evolution is the baked-in reliance on cloud and AI. As Microsoft’s productivity platforms pivot toward “intelligent” features and surface AI-driven recommendations everywhere from Outlook to OneDrive, Windows 11 must serve as the lynchpin. This direction, while future-facing, inevitably curtails certain degrees of local privacy and user randomness. For some, it is a security and convenience win; for others, it compromises the sovereignty of their computing experience.
By the numbers, Windows 10’s relevance endures. As of this writing, it still commands the largest single share of the Windows market, hovering around 48.89 percent versus Windows 11’s 47.83 percent based on StatCounter’s June 2025 data. This is remarkable for a ten-year-old operating system, underscoring both its reliability and the reluctance of many to migrate.
This dominance is likely a function of both inertia and genuine preference. The features that made Windows 10 beloved—its Start menu creativity, taskbar flexibility, hardware inclusiveness, and understated approach to “smart” features—are not easily exchanged for newer, flashier replacements.
Cybersecurity experts warn that unsupported systems quickly become prime targets for attacks leveraging newly discovered exploits. This is not theoretical: the fates of Windows XP and Windows 7 after their end-of-life deadlines demonstrated that bad actors are quick to weaponize unpatched vulnerabilities on still-popular platforms. Enterprises can buy time (and perhaps peace of mind) via Microsoft’s ESU program, but for regular consumers and small businesses, continuing use poses a real and increasing risk.
There is also the question of software compatibility. As major third-party software vendors—such as Adobe, Google, and game studios—pivot away from Windows 10, fewer updates, and eventually fewer new apps, will be available for the platform. Over time, security and compatibility concerns can make daily usage increasingly impractical.
If Windows 11 is Microsoft’s vision of the future—glossy, AI-driven, and cloud-bound—then Windows 10 is a testament to the virtues of approachable design, customization, and trust. Its passing will be noted as more than just the end of a product cycle; it is an inflection point in how users and corporations alike engage with their computers.
As October 2025 approaches, the key questions remain: What features will Windows users miss most, and will Microsoft heed those lessons as it forges ahead?
For now, Windows 10 continues to earn its history—one desktop, one Start menu, and one satisfied user at a time. The best way forward may not be to cling to the past, but to carry its best parts as a blueprint for what comes next.
Source: Windows Central Windows 10 turns 10, but is it time to say goodbye? 6 features I'll miss about the OS.
The Unmatched Balance of the Windows 10 Start Menu
Few icons in modern computing have elicited as much passion as the Windows Start menu. Windows 10’s approach achieved what seemed impossible at the time: merging the best of the much-loved Windows 7 interface with some of the visually dynamic (if controversial) Live Tiles introduced in Windows 8. This blend offered a functional, customizable hub that allowed quick access to apps, documents, and the web in a way that suited nearly any workflow. Users could pin their favorite apps, resize the menu—one of its most intuitive features—and even fill the screen for a distraction-free launching experience.In contrast, Windows 11’s Start menu, while visually refreshed and arguably sleeker, is less versatile. Its static, search-heavy approach and restricted customization have irked users who relished the familiar and tweakable interface of Windows 10. The decision to limit these customization options stands out as a shift away from power-user friendliness, with Microsoft instead opting for a simplified, mobile-inspired aesthetic that has not won over everyone.
The result is more than just nostalgia: for many users, the loss of the dynamic and personal Start menu feels like a step backward in usability and efficiency.
Taskbar Freedom: Flexibility Lost
From its beginnings, the Windows taskbar was envisioned as a universal launching pad for apps and system resources. Windows 10 continued this legacy brilliantly, granting users the ability to dock the taskbar on any edge of the screen—top, bottom, left, or right. Customization didn't end there: from selecting which system icons to display in the tray, to resizing and grouping open windows, Windows 10’s taskbar respected user preferences.Windows 11’s taskbar, by comparison, is strangely inflexible. Users are locked into a bottom-only placement and have lost access to many granular options, such as comprehensive system tray choices and easy resizing. This regression was noted not just in user forums but in reviews from trusted outlets like The Verge and Ars Technica, who highlighted user frustration at having longstanding features stripped away. These limitations continue to be one of the most cited criticisms of Windows 11 by both home and business users.
File Explorer: Stability and Familiarity Over Flash
A computer’s file manager is more than a utility—it is, for millions of users, the backbone of daily work. Windows 10’s File Explorer, though an evolution rather than a revolution, boasted speed, reliability, and a suite of universally needed features. It presented a sober interface that balanced function and familiarity—qualities especially appreciated by those who managed large or complex folder structures.Windows 11’s redesign of File Explorer brought a modern visual update, but also a raft of inconsistencies and complaints. Many users and reviewers on platforms like Windows Central and Reddit noticed increased interface clutter, more cumbersome navigation, and the odd omission of straightforward legacy features. This bloat has undermined some of the efficiency gains that should have accompanied a modernized look.
With Windows 10, users had a file management tool that, while not flashy, never strayed far from the “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” philosophy—a principle that future versions would do well to heed.
Broad Compatibility: A Gateway for Older Devices
The 2010s marked a remarkable growth in PC penetration, with Windows 10 powering everything from school laptops to legacy office towers. Crucially, Microsoft chose not to impose the strictest of hardware requirements with Windows 10: no mandate for Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0, no Secure Boot obligations, and leniency for older CPUs. This open-door approach maximized compatibility, allowing organizations to extend the life of proven hardware and avoid urgent upgrades.By contrast, Windows 11’s minimum requirements—especially the need for relatively recent CPUs and TPM 2.0—rendered millions of otherwise capable machines instantly orphaned. This decision drew sharp criticism from IT administrators and analysts, who pointed out that forced obsolescence contradicted the sustainability goals championed by Microsoft and other tech giants. Despite Microsoft’s justification (mainly improved security and manageability), it is clear that Windows 10’s wide hardware compatibility was a key reason for its enduring popularity and slow rate of retirement in the enterprise world. Even as support comes to an end, many organizations continue to rely on the OS, leveraging the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program to maintain security while transitioning at their own pace.
AI Minimalism and Digital Peace
Perhaps one of the most significant shifts in the Windows ecosystem over the past decade has been the turn towards AI and pervasive cloud integration. Windows 10, particularly in its earlier years, largely abstained from ubiquitous AI integration, focusing instead on performance and simplicity. While telemetry and some web-connected services existed, the operating system remained largely a canvas for the user, not an AI-powered assistant that anticipated needs or nudged behavior at every turn.Windows 11, however, is spearheading Microsoft’s AI revolution. From Copilot—a pervasive AI assistant—embedded in key system contexts, to AI-powered search and productivity features, the new ethos is unmistakably cloud-centric and algorithmically driven. Many Windows 10 loyalists value the absence of constant AI mediation in their workflow. They appreciate an environment where updates are less likely to bring major, unasked-for feature shifts and where system resources are not constantly contested by background AI workloads.
While some see AI as the inevitable path forward, others lament the fading of what they feel was the last truly user-focused version of Windows. On Windows 10, uninstalling new AI features such as Copilot remains relatively straightforward, while Windows 11 more deeply intertwines these services with the OS.
Setup Simplicity and Local Account Options
There is power in having choices—especially when setting up a new computer. Windows 10, particularly on its Home edition, made it easy to create a local account during installation: one click, minimal fuss, and users could avoid linking their device to a Microsoft account if they preferred. For many, this was about control and privacy, especially in sensitive or offline-focused environments.Windows 11 has made this pathway harder to find. Home users are now strongly encouraged, if not coerced, to create or sign in with a Microsoft account during setup. Circumventing this requirement often demands disconnecting from the internet or deploying esoteric workarounds. This change, criticized by privacy advocates and many veteran Windows users, signals a broader shift in how Microsoft aligns with the cloud, telemetry, and service integration. It’s a direction that offers convenience for some, but at the cost of the full autonomy many appreciated in Windows 10.
The Price of Progress: Analyzing Microsoft’s Strategic Calculus
The changes that define the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11—and from a more open, customizable, and minimal OS to one that is sleek, rigid, and AI-infused—are not accidents. Microsoft is grappling with several cross-currents: the need to secure devices in a world of rapidly advancing threats, to maintain competitive—even visionary—features, and to build an ecosystem that stretches far beyond the desktop.The stricter hardware requirements in Windows 11 enable sophisticated security architectures such as virtualization-based security (VBS) and Credential Guard, which benefit from TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. Microsoft’s bet is that a more secure, standardized baseline will ultimately be better for everyone. Market data supports, in part, the company’s rationale: as of mid-2025, Windows 11 is rapidly closing the market share gap with Windows 10, according to independent trackers like StatCounter and AdDuplex. However, with hundreds of millions of devices still actively running Windows 10, the story of forced obsolescence and frustrated upgraders will not disappear quietly.
Another notable evolution is the baked-in reliance on cloud and AI. As Microsoft’s productivity platforms pivot toward “intelligent” features and surface AI-driven recommendations everywhere from Outlook to OneDrive, Windows 11 must serve as the lynchpin. This direction, while future-facing, inevitably curtails certain degrees of local privacy and user randomness. For some, it is a security and convenience win; for others, it compromises the sovereignty of their computing experience.
Decade of Dominance: Why Windows 10 Resonates Still
To understand why so many will miss Windows 10, it is instructive to consider what made it special in the first place. At a time of transition, Windows 10 stabilized not just the desktop, but also Microsoft’s standing with consumers after the tumult of Windows 8.x. Its steady, predictable updates, openness to diverse hardware, and careful attention to traditional workflows offered a rare combination of innovation and stability.By the numbers, Windows 10’s relevance endures. As of this writing, it still commands the largest single share of the Windows market, hovering around 48.89 percent versus Windows 11’s 47.83 percent based on StatCounter’s June 2025 data. This is remarkable for a ten-year-old operating system, underscoring both its reliability and the reluctance of many to migrate.
This dominance is likely a function of both inertia and genuine preference. The features that made Windows 10 beloved—its Start menu creativity, taskbar flexibility, hardware inclusiveness, and understated approach to “smart” features—are not easily exchanged for newer, flashier replacements.
Risks of Sticking With Windows 10 After End of Life
For all its strengths, there are substantial risks to consider for those planning to continue with Windows 10 after October 2025. Once free updates end, residual vulnerabilities will not be patched outside of the paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program—effectively turning Windows 10 into a legacy system overnight for home users who forgo ESU.Cybersecurity experts warn that unsupported systems quickly become prime targets for attacks leveraging newly discovered exploits. This is not theoretical: the fates of Windows XP and Windows 7 after their end-of-life deadlines demonstrated that bad actors are quick to weaponize unpatched vulnerabilities on still-popular platforms. Enterprises can buy time (and perhaps peace of mind) via Microsoft’s ESU program, but for regular consumers and small businesses, continuing use poses a real and increasing risk.
There is also the question of software compatibility. As major third-party software vendors—such as Adobe, Google, and game studios—pivot away from Windows 10, fewer updates, and eventually fewer new apps, will be available for the platform. Over time, security and compatibility concerns can make daily usage increasingly impractical.
The Final Verdict: Farewell, But Not Forgotten
Windows 10’s legacy is not just that it fixed the mistakes of the past, but that it offered a refined, respectful balance between old and new. It championed user control, broad compatibility, and a “just enough” philosophy that prioritized everyday usability over relentless innovation for its own sake.If Windows 11 is Microsoft’s vision of the future—glossy, AI-driven, and cloud-bound—then Windows 10 is a testament to the virtues of approachable design, customization, and trust. Its passing will be noted as more than just the end of a product cycle; it is an inflection point in how users and corporations alike engage with their computers.
As October 2025 approaches, the key questions remain: What features will Windows users miss most, and will Microsoft heed those lessons as it forges ahead?
For now, Windows 10 continues to earn its history—one desktop, one Start menu, and one satisfied user at a time. The best way forward may not be to cling to the past, but to carry its best parts as a blueprint for what comes next.
Source: Windows Central Windows 10 turns 10, but is it time to say goodbye? 6 features I'll miss about the OS.
