If you’re currently using any version of Windows other than Windows 11, then your system is either already unsupported (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8.1), or soon to become unsupported (Windows 10). And Microsoft’s best advice for anyone in that situation is “move to Windows 11 by buying a new PC”.
Microsoft Offers Some Advice for Anyone Without Windows 11
As first spotted by Neowin, Microsoft recently updated a support document answering the question, “What does it mean if Windows isn’t supported?” This is mainly aimed at anyone still using Windows XP, Vista, 7, or 8.1, as official support for all of these operating systems has already ended. However, with the end of support for Windows 10 also looming (on October 14, 2025) everyone who hasn’t upgraded to Windows 11 should give it a read.
As the first choice, Microsoft recommends that anyone using an unsupported version of Windows should “move to Windows 11 by buying a new PC”. This is the recommended option because “Hardware and software have improved a lot, and today’s computers are faster, more powerful, and more secure.” There’s also a helpful link to a list of Windows 11 computers by Microsoft and others.
Under that is the option to install Windows 11 on your current PC, and, as a short-term fix, install Windows 10 until it reaches end-of-support in October 2025. The problem being that many of us using Windows 10 have tried upgrading to Windows 11, only to find it failed the PC Health Check, and so wasn’t eligible.
While there have been workarounds developed to bypass the Windows 11 eligibility check, they require tinkering with the registry, and could lead to other issues. Plus, ultimately, Microsoft is likely to stop providing updates to unsupported PCs running Windows 11 anyway.
Telling People to Just Buy a New PC Is Incredibly Disappointing
I personally find it incredibly disappointing to be told to just buy a new PC, as if it’s something I can do without thinking about the costs involved.
Sure, Microsoft needs to issue advice to Windows users, and it has backed itself into a corner here by ending support for Windows 10 while weighing Windows 11 down with some strict system requirements. But the cold-hearted advice to just buy a new PC when the company could just extend support for Windows 10 is annoying.
Personally, I have mostly switched from Windows to ChromeOS over the last few years. However, for some activities, a powerful PC running Windows is better. So I guess I’ll be forced to buy a Windows 11 PC at some point in the not-too-distant future.
