The clock is ticking for Windows 10. Microsoft’s official support for the operating system ends on October 14, 2025, and unless you meet specific conditions—like having a Microsoft account or paying a $30 support fee—you’ll be cut off from further security updates. Even with the extended option, you’re only buying a little more time.
But it’s not just Microsoft making preparations. Google has quietly begun its own behind-the-scenes check-ins through Chrome, which now passively evaluates whether your Windows 10 PC is eligible for Windows 11. According to Windows Latest, this functionality was introduced without fanfare and is not designed to limit your access to the browser. Rather, it’s used to gather anonymous usage data.
What’s the point? Google wants to get a better sense of how many Chrome users are running the browser on hardware that can’t upgrade to Windows 11. This data will likely influence how long Google continues to support Chrome on Windows 10 after Microsoft ends updates. It’s an early move to inform internal policy—particularly for determining how long users on outdated systems will continue receiving browser updates and security patches.
It’s a quiet but meaningful step, and one that highlights a larger truth: the end of Windows 10 support is going to have ripple effects across the entire software ecosystem. If you’re still on Windows 10, especially on older hardware, now’s the time to weigh your options. Whether it’s a system upgrade or a shift to a different OS, the countdown has officially begun.