Microsoft takes Windows 10 off the shelves

Paris, France. © iStock.

An era comes to an end. In late January, Microsoft will stop selling licenses for Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro on its website. While Windows 10 will receive official support, with security updates promised until at least October 2025, Microsoft strongly urges anyone buying or building a new PC to use the new Windows 11 instead. Despite its venerable age of seven years, Windows 10 remains the most popular version of Windows, with a global market share of 67.95% in December 2022, compared to 16.97% for Windows 11, according to StatCounter.

Although Microsoft is ending direct-to-consumer sales of Windows 10 through its online store, there are still plenty of other ways to download the operating system or buy it on DVD. Physical copies will be available for some time at stores like Best Buy and Staples/Bureau en Gros, or from third-party resellers on the Internet. With a key, you will be able to activate Windows 10 as long as it is supported by Microsoft.

⇨ The Verge, Tom Warren, “Microsoft to stop selling Windows 10 downloads on January 31st.”

⇨ Tom’s Hardware, Brandon Hill, “Microsoft will end sale of Windows 10 licenses to consumers this month.”

2023-01-23