Microsoft no longer wants you to download Windows 10 from its website

Microsoft no longer wants you to download Windows 10even from their official channels. As the end of support gets closer and closer, the tech giant has stepped up its campaign to reassure users that Windows 11 is the best alternative. This includes changing the technical support website, which offers instructions for downloading and installing the operating system.

The latest update has been integrated into the help page. warning to all users I’m trying to create installation media for Windows 10. This is the message notification about the end of security updates and recommends upgrading to Windows 11. The website has also removed references to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 as installers for those operating system versions are no longer offered.

“After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical support, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will continue to function, but we recommend that you upgrade to Windows 11,” Microsoft mentions in its help website.

Although technological did not completely remove the download link for Windows 10The warning takes up a significant amount of space and includes a huge blue button that redirects us to a page with end-of-life information. This website states that if your computer does not meet the minimum requirements to install Windows 11, you should throw it away and buy a new one.

Windows 10 continues to lead in market share

A help website with installation instructions usually appears first in search results, so it will be a destination for many who need information about how to create a USB for installing Windows 10. More advanced users will be able to ignore this and click on step 1 to download the installation tool. On the other hand, if you go directly to the software download site, you will be able to choose between Windows 11 and previous versions of the system.

Despite the campaign Microsoft knows it still has a long way to go to reach a significant percentage market share with Windows 11. The most recent statistics show that despite Win 11 reaching historic growth levels last month, install rates are still 25 percentage points behind Windows 10.

If October 2025 hits and market share hasn’t declined, Microsoft will implement Plan B, which is to offer security updates for another year. Redmonds will offer an extended support package in which we will receive patches against vulnerabilities in exchange for $30 or its equivalent in local currency

The transition to Windows 11 is a difficult mission for Microsoft. If you have to sacrifice new Windows 10 installations to achieve this goal, the company will do so without a second thought.