Microsoft's Free Upgrade Offer For 500 Million Windows Users
You need to take this offer now
There are now almost exactly six months until the end of Windows 10. Microsoft's most popular OS essentially retires on October 14, with critical security updates ending for all but those with extended, paid-for extensions. Microsoft has issued it's most alarming warning yet as the consequences and has confirmed its free upgrade offer.
'Don't wait until the last minute,' the Windows-maker has just warned the 750 million users sticking with Windows 10 for now at least. Microsoft has been clear with If your PC hardware is eligible for the free Windows 11 upgrade, then do that now. If it's not eligible, do not try to upgrade your PC — instead look at recycling or landfill.
The pace of upgrades to Windows 11 has been accelerating in recent months, and that trend has continued into April. But the latest data shows more than half (53%) of users continue to persist with Windows 10. Rudimentary math suggests that's 750 million Windows 10 users, of which around 240 million do not have the hardware to upgrade. The other 500 million need to take that free Windows 11 upgrade offer.
It's entirely possible that we will see a burst of Windows 11 upgrades in the weeks leading up to October 14, with users running Windows 10 until the last possible minute. Then we'll know how many are keeping going, ignoring the security risks, and how many have opted for the $30 (or more expensive enterprise) support extensions.
The nightmare is those that stubbornly do nothing, running an unsupported OS. And the latest Windows zero-day confirmed in this week's Patch Tuesday should give you all the motivation you need not to be in that group. Predictably, CVE-2025-29824 has now made CISA's rogues' gallery of known exploited vulnerabilities, with a mandated (for federal employees at least) update deadline of April 29.
Windows 10 Vs Windows 11 to April 2025
This is a 'use-after-free vulnerability that allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally' and which Microsoft warns is being exploited in multiple countries around the world, including the U.S. Confusingly, Microsoft's advisory accompanying Patch Tuesday's updates seemed to suggest Windows 10 users were missing out on this critical fix. But that's only for those with outdated versions of the OS.
As Windows Latest told me, 'Microsoft put out a confusing advisory that implied that the patch for CVE-2025-29824 isn't available for Windows 10. The advisory dashboard clearly states that 'The security update for Windows 10 for x64-based Systems and Windows 10 for 32-bit Systems are not immediately available… That only applies to Windows 10 LTSB 2015, and all supported and newer versions of Windows 10, including Pro Edition have been patched.'
But it's not all good news. Windows Latest has discovered that Microsoft's latest Windows 10 update 'begins testing the removal of one basic feature from the operating system: clock with seconds in the Calendar… I don't think we'll go back to how things were originally because Windows 10 isn't the focus at Microsoft anymore, and it probably won't consider the feedback."
More worryingly, Windows Latest also warns that 'it looks like KB5002700 is completely botched up because it not only breaks Outlook Calendar but also crashes Word and Excel when you try to create a new document or spreadsheet.' This only applies to Office 2016, but 'people on Windows 10 typically use it.'
It might seem like nothing, but it's maybe a taste of things to come.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tom's Guide
an hour ago
- Tom's Guide
5 essential settings to change on your gaming PC to prevent overheating
Summer is upon us, and for gamers living anywhere hot it means one thing: keeping your PC cool so it doesn't impact performance, or worse, completely melt. PCs are getting stronger across the board, with RTX 50-series gaming PCs and some of the best laptops equipped with the latest Intel and Snapdragon chips working hard to things cool under the hood thanks to more efficient power management. That doesn't stop a PC from catching on fire, though (true story!) For those that live in a sweltering environment and have limited ways to keep their computer from overheating, especially during heavy workloads or those graphically intense PC games, there are ways to keep temperatures low by changing some settings. Keep these essential tips in mind to stop your PC from overheating. But first, how do PCs overheat in the first place? Whether it be your desktop, laptop or gaming handheld, here are some factors that can take part in the rise in temperature. We've outlined plenty of ways to give your old PC a refresh and tips to stop your gaming PC from catching fire, but you can also keep temperatures cool by changing a few essential settings in Windows. Many gaming PCs come with their own software that can easily change the power mode from a setting like "high performance" to "balanced" or "power saver," like in Asus' ROG Armoury Crate or Acer's NitroSense. While it can impact the performance of the games you play, titles (or productivity apps) that don't require many resources won't need a PC to be in its prime. Better yet, you can simply change power plans by heading into Windows settings. Open the Control Panel (search for it in the Taskbar), navigate to Hardware and Sound and click on Power Options. From here, you can switch power plans. "Balanced" will further reduce power consumption, and therefore heat, but for the best cooling, you'll want to click "Power saver." There are some apps that slyly run in the background without you ever noticing, and this can put a lot of pressure on your PC if you add more active apps to the equation. That's why you'll want to get rid of the ones you definitely don't need running. Open the Settings app ("Windows key + i" or from the start menu), click Apps in the left-hand sidebar and open Installed apps. You'll now see all the apps on your PC. Select an app you want to stop running in the background, and click the the "three dots" icon and click "Advanced options." Under "Background app permissions," click on the dropdown menu and select "Never." Did you know that many Windows apps use visual effects? They can be subtle, but unnecessary if you don't even notice them, and they can take a toll on your PC's graphics card. Don't need them? Turn them off. Search for "Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows" in the taskbar. Click on the option and a Control panel window will appear. In the "Visual Effects" tab, click the "Adjust for best performance" option. This will turn off all effects, but you can pick and choose which options you want to keep on if you still like a little style when navigating around your Windows 11 PC. After this, click "Apply." If your GPU outperforms your CPU and can manage handling its own tasks, you'll want to turn on "Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling." This will effectively let your graphics card manage its own VRAM (video memory), taking a load off the PC's CPU — making your computers internals run a tad cooler. To do this, open Settings and then select System > Display > Graphics. Once there, click on "Advanced graphics settings." Then, switch the toggle next to "Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling" to on, then restart your PC. I know, everyone wants their gaming PC to pump out the highest frame rates possible, but this can also take a lot out of a GPU, and for some titles, you'll get a buttery smooth as it can get without any visible change at lower frame rates. You can configure the max frame rate in many optimized PC games, but you can also do it in Nvidia and AMD's settings. For an Nvidia-equipped desktop or laptop, open the Nvidia Control Panel. Go to Manage "3D settings" in the left-hand sidebar, and under Global Settings, select "Max Frame Rate." Now, you can set the maximum frame rate of all the games you play. The same applies for an AMD-powered PC. Open the AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition app, click on the Gaming tab, then "Global Graphics." Enable "Radeon Chill," the select your prefered minimum and maximum FPS range. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Elon Musk's SpaceX plans raise major red flags for regulators
Elon Musk is facing problems from more than just his flagship company. As Tesla stock continues to trend downward amid declining sales and consumer backlash, its future appears increasingly uncertain. With the electric vehicle (EV) leader struggling so much, it can be easy to overlook the fact that Musk's other companies are also dealing with problems. One of his other enterprises is off to an extremely discouraging start this year, after multiple public failures, likely severely diminishing confidence in its products. 💵💰💰💵 The company in question is SpaceX, Musk's space exploration and technology startup, which became the world's most valuable privately held company in December 2024. Unfortunately, since then, it has attempted multiple rocket launches that haven't gone well, making things even more complicated for Musk. Now the company is gearing up to continue operations in the coming months, raising concerns among regulators. Anyone who follows SpaceX's recent progress knows that the company isn't off to a good start in 2025. The company has launched multiple Starship rockets this year, a central component of Musk's plan to help colonize Mars, both of which have ended in a literal comes at a time when SpaceX had previously seemed poised to usher in a new era of space tourism, something Musk had been highly focused on for years. With his new proximity to President Donald Trump, it seemed likelier than ever that his rocket company could reach new heights. However, after multiple explosions in just a few months, SpaceX may have a difficult time convincing regulators that its problems are over. The company is preparing to attempt another launch, which will send its Starship 9 rocket over the Caribbean, specifically over several British territories. According to reports, the previous SpaceX launches resulted in debris falling on these exact islands, a group that includes the British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, and Anguilla. This has prompted concern among UK regulators that the people of these islands could be in danger if the SpaceX launch proceeds as planned. 'The worries from the UK government, detailed in a letter to a top American diplomat on Wednesday, follow the Federal Aviation Administration's decision last week to grant SpaceX's request for a fivefold increase in the number of Starship launches allowed this year, from five to 25,' reports ProPublica. More Elon Musk News: Elon Musk gets devastating news as the 'anti-Tesla' catches on Leaked Tesla policy should infuriate Tesla loyalists Elon Musk's robotaxi ambitions hit with major roadblock The outlet describes this space vessel as the world's most powerful rocket, noting that increasing its launches seems to be a priority for Musk. SpaceX has made the same claim, stating that it is 'capable of carrying up to 150 metric tonnes fully reusable and 250 metric tonnes expendable' into space. For the people of these islands, the prospect of another SpaceX launch could be a scary thought, and for good reason. Following the Starship 7 explosion in January, pieces of the rocket were found along beaches and roads in Turks and Caicos, and one resident reported that the debris damaged their TheStreet's Veronika Bondarenko reported, when the Starship 8 exploded three months later, flights in Orlando, Florida, were unable to take off due to what airport authorities described as 'space launch debris in the area.' People on the Florida coast and across the Bahamas claimed to be able to see red streaks in the sky from the failed launch. With that in mind, British regulators have asked the U.S. Department of State to consider having the launch trajectory or site changed to prevent further risks to British territories. They have also requested that more information regarding SpaceX's planned safety measures be provided before the launch of Starship 9, expected to happen next week. This makes it quite clear that they do not trust Musk or his company. SpaceX recently gained federal approval to launch more rockets in South Texas, but that doesn't mean regulatory agencies are confident that more missions won't mean more disasters Musk's SpaceX plans raise major red flags for regulators first appeared on TheStreet on May 21, 2025
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Google reportedly plans to cut ties with Scale AI
Meta's big investment in Scale AI may be giving some of the startup's customers pause. Reuters reports that Google had planned to pay Scale $200 million this year but is now having conversations with its competitors and planning to cut ties with the startup. Microsoft is also reportedly looking to pull back, and OpenAI supposedly made a similar decision months ago, although its CFO said the company will continue working with Scale as one of many vendors. Scale's customers include self-driving car companies and the U.S. government, but Reuters says its biggest clients are generative AI companies seeking access to workers with specialized knowledge who can annotate data for training models. A Scale spokesperson declined to comment on the company's relationship with Google, but he told TechCrunch that Scale's business remains strong, and that it will continue to operate as an independent company that safeguards its customers' data. Earlier reports suggest that Meta invested $14.3 billion in Scale for a 49% stake in the company, with Scale CEO Alexandr Wang joining Meta to lead the company's efforts to develop 'superintelligence.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
