With the strict TPM 2.0 and other hardware requirements for Windows 11, people think that Microsoft will leave a substantial part of their userbase stuck on Windows 10. And seeing millions of PCs still running Windows 7 does lend support to this idea.
But here is the thing: although Microsoft has had a tough time convincing people to jump on Windows 10 in the past, the company will not leave most users behind when Windows 11 drops.
Here’s why you should not worry about getting stuck on Windows 10 and unable to move to Windows 11.
Microsoft Will Support Windows 10 Until 2025
When Microsoft announced Windows 11, most people assumed that the days of Windows 10 were numbered. While, technically, Windows 10 will become outdated once Windows 11 releases, it will not become obsolete.
Microsoft has a standing history of supporting older versions of Windows years after the release of the new ones. For instance, Windows 7 support ended in January 2020, almost five years after the release of Windows 10. In other words, Windows 7 users had five years to upgrade to the new OS.
Microsoft is doing the same this time around too. Windows 10 will continue to receive patches and security updates until 2025. By that time, most users will have probably updated to the new OS, either manually or after buying a new PC.
The Windows 11 Upgrade Path is Easy to Follow
One of the good things about Microsoft’s strategy with its Windows 11 rollout is the easy-to-follow upgrade path. If you meet the hardware requirements and have a valid copy of Windows 10, you can get Windows 11 for free.
There's a good chance that Microsoft will leave the door open for this offer for a long time to come. After all, Windows 7 users can still get Windows 10 for free, so it's highly likely that you can upgrade to Windows 11 for free for years to come.
Windows 11's Hardware Requirements Are Flexible
If history is anything to go by, the hardware requirements for Windows 11 will evolve with time. As a result, even before the official release of the OS, we will likely see Microsoft publishing new hardware requirements as they adapt Windows 11 to older systems.
For instance, the current Windows 11 CPU requirements are an Intel 8th gen or better or an AMD Zen 2 or better processor. But these requirements can change to an Intel 7th gen and an AMD Zen 1 moving forward. Plus, you can bypass the TPM requirement altogether if you choose.
Windows 365 Will Help Corporations Move on to Windows 11
Corporations are Microsoft’s biggest clients, as they are the chief source of revenue for Microsoft. Because of that, corporations' opinions about upgrading to Windows 11 are a big deal to the company.
That said, for a giant corporation, moving to a new OS requires extensive updates to the IT infrastructure. This infrastructure upgrade is both time and money-consuming.
Therefore, corporations don’t upgrade to the newer version of Windows when it becomes available. They hold off. We’ve seen this with the launch of Windows 7, 8, and 10.
Fortunately, Microsoft has a solution for corporations and individuals who don’t want to invest in an extensive PC upgrade. Microsoft calls it Windows 365.
Windows 365 is a subscription service by which you can build a custom Windows 11 PC in the cloud. The PC you build will be available over the internet and function as a normal Windows 11 computer. So, you can stream your Windows 365 PC on any PC regardless of the technical specifications.
In other words, corporations who want to move on to Windows 11 don’t have to upgrade their machines if they choose. Instead, they can just choose to use Windows 365.
Microsoft Is Not Going to Leave Users Behind With Windows 11
Unlike the previous versions of Windows, Microsoft is introducing a bunch of options to take every user it can to the next version of the OS. Options such as Windows 365 are there to make the hardware requirements minimal. So, don’t worry. When the time comes, you’ll be able to jump on the shiny new Windows for free.
In fact, users will quickly realize that Windows 10 isn't being abandoned at all, as Windows 11 is just Windows 10 with a fresh lick of paint. However, Microsoft has proven in the past that it doesn't need to reinvent the wheel every time it releases a new version of Windows.
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