What do we want? Windows 10 support! When do we want it? Until 2030!

Protesters slam forced obsolescence outside Microsoft's office

Updated Campaigners staged a protest outside Microsoft's Brussels office yesterday over the company's decision to end support for Windows 10.

Support ends today, October 14, for many versions of the operating system, and millions of devices are unable to upgrade to Windows 11 due to Microsoft's hardware requirements. If customers cannot upgrade, they may decide to sign up for Extended Security Updates (ESUs) to keep their devices protected.

One of the groups behind the protest, the Right to Repair Europe coalition, said the protest was all about "exposing perfectly functional PCs rendered obsolete by the company's decision to end free and automatic Windows 10 updates."

The Register understands that the protest was relatively small and very civil.

Protesters outside Microsoft's Brussels office (pic: Right to Repair Europe)

In September, the coalition urged Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy, to end software-driven obsolescence by introducing rules that guarantee long-term security and software updates. This would mean 15 years of software updates for PCs.

Campaigners for free, automatic updates until at least 2030 dismissed Microsoft's olive branch of a free year of security updates for EEA customers as a "snooze button."

Cristina Ganapini, coordinator of Right to Repair Europe, said: "Microsoft's move to drop Windows 10 support could turn millions of functional computers into e-waste, not because they're faulty, but because software says so.

"This is 'fast tech' in action: a system profiting from forced obsolescence and locked repairs, draining wallets and poisoning the planet. Current EU rules are failing to stop it. We need mandatory repairability, long-term software support, and strong right-to-repair laws. Recycling isn't enough; the Circular Economy Act must prioritize reuse and repair, before fast tech costs us the Earth."

In a statement that will have Bose customers – still smarting from the impending end of the SoundTouch service – stroking their chins thoughtfully, the campaigners said: "The end of Windows 10 support is just one example of a systemic issue: software-driven obsolescence.

"Without regulation, companies can cut off updates for devices — from laptops to medical equipment, smart home appliances, and fitness devices —forcing consumers to replace functional products."

As the recent Bose announcement shows, Microsoft isn't the only offender. However, with hundreds of millions of Windows 10 devices – many of which have spent the past few months nagging users to upgrade before support ends – it's the most high-profile.

"This decision will make around 400 million computers unsecure globally overnight, potentially generating over 700 million kg of electrical waste, adding to the 62 billion kg of e-waste produced globally each year.

"Ironically, the decision will become effective as of 14 October: International E-Waste Day."

The Register asked Microsoft to comment. ®

Updated to add at 1534 UTC, October 14

A Microsoft spokesperson got in touch to say:

Microsoft has a longstanding commitment to sustainability, and we are focused on our goals of becoming carbon negative, water positive, and zero waste by 2030. This includes designing our devices for optimal repair, reuse, and recovery. At the same time, we see cyberattacks increasing in both volume and complexity across Europe, with more than one in five EU businesses experiencing security incidents in 2024. Outdated software creates opportunities for cybercriminals, raising the risk of intrusion, ransomware, and data loss. Updating operating system and hardware requirements is essential to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated security threats. Windows 11 is the most secure version of Windows ever with a reported 62 percent drop in security incidents, including a 3.0x reduction in firmware attacks in Windows 11 PCs as compared to Windows 10 devices.