Microsoft advises against risky Windows 11 upgrade path
Microsoft has issued an unexpected warning for Windows 10 users. According to Forbes, the Redmond-based giant cautions against upgrading to Windows 11, which may cause users to lose access to future security updates.
Microsoft advises against upgrading from Windows 10 to the new version. The issue arises at a particularly sensitive time—coinciding with the last 2024 Patch Tuesday update, which contains patches for 71 security vulnerabilities, including one zero-day exploit.
Microsoft warns users
A week ago, Microsoft seemed to definitively close the possibility of upgrading to Windows 11 on computers that do not meet the TPM 2.0 requirement. However, reports suggesting a change in this policy surfaced almost immediately. In an updated support document, the company appeared to open the door to installing the system on incompatible machines.
As Forbes notes, Microsoft quickly corrected this information, emphasizing that the minimum system requirements for Windows 11 remain unchanged. In their statement, the company recommends users who have installed Windows 11 on incompatible devices revert to Windows 10 immediately.
Potential consequences
The issue is significant because support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025. Users bypassing Windows 11 hardware requirements risk losing access to critical security updates. Microsoft warns that devices not meeting the system requirements "are not guaranteed to receive updates, including security updates."
Particularly concerning is that the number of Windows 10 users seems to be increasing rather than decreasing. Experts worry that millions of users might not know how to handle this situation and could choose a risky upgrade path, exposing themselves to security vulnerabilities.
"If you proceed with installing Windows 11, your PC will no longer be supported and won't be entitled to receive updates. Damages to your PC due to lack of compatibility aren't covered under the manufacturer warranty," warns Microsoft.
