Microsoft says it will not lower Windows 11 system requirements

Microsoft has confirmed that the Home windows 11 system necessities usually are not altering. Home windows 10 customers on older PCs could not like this.

Microsoft refuses to budge from Home windows 11’s minimal necessities

A few weeks in the past, Martin wrote about the opportunity of Microsoft decreasing the system necessities for upgrading outdated PCs to Home windows 11, particularly these that don’t assist hardware-level security measures which are solely doable with Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0. Uncompromising safety or cussed?

An up to date assist article (noticed by Neowin) on Microsoft’s web site states that “Home windows 11 minimal system necessities stay unchanged”. Microsoft can also be advising customers who put in Home windows 11 on a tool not assembly Home windows 11 system necessities, to downgrade instantly. Wow, that’s fairly a daring assertion, and ineffective.

Home windows 10 was launched in 2015, it can flip 10 years outdated when it’s retired by the Redmond firm subsequent yr. That’s a very long time, nobody can deny that Microsoft has accomplished a very good job of supporting the working system for a decade. See, that is not the issue. The issue is tens of millions of computer systems world wide will likely be ineligible to obtain safety updates, when Home windows 10 reaches its finish of life assist in October 2025. All of us noticed what sort of impression a damaged software program might have when a defective replace by CrowdStrike’s safety software program took down tens of millions of PCs worldwide in June 2024. Now simply think about tens of millions of Home windows PCs which are uncovered to safety vulnerabilities, the impression may very well be a lot worse.

Home windows 10 stays widespread amongst customers

Let’s discuss numbers. In response to Statcounter’s world stats for Desktop Home windows variations, 61.82% of PC customers are on Home windows 10. Home windows 11 has simply 34.94% of the person share. Issues are barely totally different on the subject of gaming. Steam’s {Hardware} Survey reveals that 43.31% of gamers on its platform are utilizing Home windows 10, whereas 52.98% are on Home windows 11.

Nonetheless, each surveys spotlight the truth that practically one half of PC customers worldwide haven’t upgraded to Home windows 11. This may very well be as a result of various components like unsupported {hardware}, financial circumstances, Some customers could don’t want to improve to Home windows 11 for numerous causes, and you may’t actually blame them. I imply, if a PC is working fantastic on Home windows 10, there isn’t any motive to cease utilizing it. It is just like the Bernie Sanders meme, “I am as soon as once more asking your assist”. Come on, Microsoft! Play good.

What about browsers? Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Courageous Browser, and so on., will possible be supported for some time on Home windows 10. I suppose the identical would apply to many apps. There are approach too many problems that think about right here, you may’t simply discard a big chunk of customers simply because they’re on an older working system. Not everybody can afford to lose their person base.

It will not price a lot to supply safety updates for Home windows 10 customers, will it? Home windows 10 and 11 usually are not too dissimilar, all Microsoft most likely must do is to do is present the patches which are out there for Home windows 11, and ship them out to customers who’re caught on Home windows 10. After all, Microsoft discovered a special answer for this challenge, by launching Prolonged Assist Updates for Home windows 10. Customers might want to shell out $30 a yr to obtain safety updates.

Your different choices are to improve your PC or purchase a brand new one, or change to Linux. Alternatively, you should utilize some third-party apps like InControl to forestall your PC from updating to Home windows 11, you will discover extra particulars about it right here. I exploit the app to dam the Home windows 11 24H2 replace, at the least till the main bugs are sorted out.

Personally, I really feel {that a} trillion-dollar firm like Microsoft that lacks in neither sources nor the manpower might, and will take the accountability of offering safety updates for older PCs, as an alternative of selecting to go away customers stranded in uncertainty.

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