Microsoft officially ended mainstream support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, triggering protests from environmental groups concerned about electronic waste and forced hardware upgrades to Windows 11.

Key Points

• Microsoft concluded mainstream support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, pushing users toward the Windows 11 operating system.
• Six French organizations, including Stop Planned Obsolescence and Zero Waste France, held a "Windows 10 funeral" to protest the decision.
• Critics argue the move promotes planned obsolescence, potentially rendering millions of functional computers unusable and increasing global electronic waste.
• The Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) warned that the transition could cause the largest spike in junked computers in history.
• Microsoft offers an Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, though activists criticize it as a temporary, insufficient solution for long-term device viability.
• Advocacy groups and the French government are increasingly exploring open-source alternatives like Linux to reduce reliance on proprietary software ecosystems.

Why it Matters

The end of Windows 10 support forces a massive hardware refresh cycle that raises significant environmental and economic concerns regarding digital equity and electronic waste. This transition highlights a growing tension between corporate software lifecycles and the sustainability of consumer hardware, prompting some users and governments to seek open-source alternatives.