Microsoft is discontinuing support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, after which the operating system will no longer receive any updates or security patches. All software eventually reaches end of life, but this one is particularly noteworthy because an enormous number of computers — potentially in the hundreds of millions — are still running Windows 10 with less than two months to go.
Users may be reluctant to switch because of dissatisfaction with certain aspects of Windows 11’s design or functionality, or the useful but highly-controversial AI recall feature that creates a copy of everything that happens on screen, or because what was supposed to be a free and easy upgrade might end up costing them fees or requiring a complicated upgrade process after all. And for some people, perhaps they’re just happy with Windows 10 and don’t see a reason to change.
But that’s not all: many of these devices, including some that aren’t even that old, aren’t capable of running Windows 11 even if the user wanted to due to new minimum hardware requirements. In fact, a 2023 report estimated that as many as 240 million computers could be affected. Technically Microsoft says it is possible to install Windows 11 on some of these devices, but also says they won’t offer support to users who do so and strongly warns that the computer might malfunction.
Summarizing the Problem
This effectively requires affected users to either buy entirely new computers or forego the update to Windows 11, meaning no more bug fixes or security updates. Consumers can purchase an extended security support license from Microsoft for 1 year, or can get the year for free if they’re they’re willing to sync their device to a Microsoft account (something Microsoft is pushing users towards in Windows 11, anyway). Enterprise customers don’t seem to have a free option, but can potentially get paid extended security support for 1 – 3 years depending on which version of Windows 10 they use. But these extended support licenses only cover security updates and not any other features, big fixes, or support, and all of these users will eventually wind up in the same boat again some months down the road.
There are valid reasons why Microsoft is doing this. The vast majority of their revenue now comes from cloud, server, and other B2B-focused services; Windows only accounts for 10% (barely more than the gaming division), and Microsoft can’t be expected to support Windows 10 forever. Also, the new hardware standards require compatibility with Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0, which significantly increases the security of many modern devices.
But even though the change may be understandable, the fact remains that in this constrained economy, most users will probably not be too pleased to find out that in less than 2 months, they may have to choose between an expensive hardware upgrade, getting or paying for an extension that only buys them a little more time with limited benefit, or leaving their computers vulnerable to hacking and malware. Many smaller corporate IT teams are likewise going to experience substantial problems, whether budgetary or operational. Many users will probably make the dubious decision to stay on an unsupported Windows 10 indefinitely and hope for the best.
Time to Switch to Linux?
For a lot of consumers and enterprise users (especially those with smaller IT budgets), it’s a great time to try switching their operating system to Linux.
Many people still have never heard of Linux or at least don’t understand it, but it plays a massive role in global IT due to its prevalence in servers, IoT devices, supercomputers, networking equipment, smart phones (especially Android), and more. In fact, even Microsoft is a major sponsor and holds a corporate board seat on the Linux Foundation — the entity that oversees development of the Linux kernel (the core software or ‘brain’ that constitutes Linux) — alongside Intel, Meta, IBM, Samsung, and other major players. In many ways, Linux holds global computing together.
Despite that, Linux has never been a widespread force in the desktop user market (‘desktop’ includes laptops; basically anything that you’d think of as a normal computer). But lately that’s been changing; in the last few years, desktop Linux use has increased over 62 basis points annualized in the absolute with a CAGR of around 27%. While its desktop market share is still small compared to other operating systems, take note that Linux has been around for over 30 years and just in the last 5 has started to see significant gains in this area.
User-friendly quality of life improvements are a big factor. I’ve been using Linux as my main operating system for over a decade. There was certainly a learning curve in 2015 and I’ve significantly increased my technical skills over the years by working with Linux, but even a decade ago it wasn’t that hard for me — as a reasonably technical person, but who was certainly not a programmer — to make the switch. In 2025, it’s practically a cakewalk. Most stuff just works right out of the box, and software is abundantly available and easy to install.
You can also easily find Linux alternatives to most common software, and the operating system will typically come pre-installed with things like a browser, office productivity suite, e-mail client, media player, calendar, and other common utilities. Many software vendors also now make Linux versions of their programs, and even if they don’t, Linux can run a variety of Windows software through compatibility applications like Bottles (free) and Crossover (paid with extra support). If you need to use complex niche software, these programs may not work for you, but in many cases they will. And even if they don’t and there’s no Linux version of the software, many vendors now offer a cloud version accessible through your browser; even most of Microsoft 365 is available on the web. Linux has also made huge advances in gaming thanks to Proton; it’s arguably even easier to play games on Linux now than on a Mac.
If you still need Windows for certain software, you can run it in a virtual machine (which is like an artificial computer within your computer), though that may not be very practical if your underlying problem is old hardware. In short, the vast majority of people and businesses will be able to switch to Linux without making huge changes in their tech stack.
Different Types of Desktop Linux
Unlike Windows or MacOS, there are many different varieties of desktop Linux called ‘distributions,’ which often adapt from one another and share code, but which are independently built and maintained. These range from major corporate-backed or sponsored distributions like Debian, Canonical’s Ubuntu, or Red Hat (IBM)’s Fedora, to very small volunteer-led distributions maintained by a handful of people. For stability and reliability purposes, you probably want to choose a distribution that has a known track record.
Linux Mint, an independent derivative of Ubuntu that has been around for nearly 20 years, is my primary operating system. It works very similar to Windows, prioritizes a convenient user experience, and is easy to learn. Yes, there are differences and things you’ll have to get used to, but for the most part the average user will barely notice. If you want a more Mac-like experience, try Pop!_OS by System76, an influential company in the desktop Linux world; just know that Apple hardware usually won’t run alternative operating systems and you’ll probably void your warranty if you try. However, most PCs are able to run some variant of Linux.
Advantages of Linux for Both Business and Consumer Use
- Save Money and Time: Most Linux-based operating systems, as well as most software designed to run natively on Linux, are completely free and require no registration; you can simply download and use them.
- Increase Security. Linux tends to be substantially more secure than other operating systems. Most software comes from trusted repositories, and your standard user account doesn’t operate with administrator permissions unless you temporarily enable them; that means software installation and other critical changes aren’t made without your permission. Though nothing is foolproof and you still need to exercise caution, it’s much more difficult for malware to be installed or for your system to be hacked. Most users don’t even need antivirus.
- Increase Privacy. Most Linux software is open source, meaning the code is publicly-available so users, programmers, and security analysts can check for bugs, vulnerabilities, or untrustworthy code. In most cases, what you see is what you get with Linux software.
- Get More Life Span Out of Old Hardware. There are many Linux distributions that can run on even very old hardware, allowing you to keep your equipment going longer and reduce e-waste. Linux Mint Xfce is a good lightweight choice for old hardware, with a variety of other options available.
- Take Back Control: There’s a long-term trend of moving away from user ownership and control of computers towards an increasing-reliance on renting functionality with SaaS. Linux helps put you back in the driver’s seat of your own computer, the way it used to be.
Wrapping Up
Desktop Linux isn’t right for every use case, but it’s a fit for most people and small to mid-sized organizations looking to save money, increase security or privacy, extend the useful life of old hardware, or have more control over their systems. With Canonical’s Ubuntu Pro and Red Hat Enterprise Linux, it’s even a fit for larger IT-heavy organizations that need professional support.
Yes, some things will be different and you’ll have a learning curve, but there are plenty of resources that make switching easy, and the advantages are more than worth it.