Can’t Upgrade? Microsoft Windows 10 Discontinuation Lawsuit Says You Shouldn’t Have To

lalitha veeramachineni

November 24, 2025

microsoft windows 10 discontinuation lawsuit

You must have gotten the news that Windows 10 will be discontinued, and now you’d have to upgrade to Windows 11, which is full of all the new AI features, but have you given it a thought that not everyone would be happy with this? Like, there are a lot of people who won’t be so thrilled with the extra cost coming their way just because of this. And if you don’t get it yet, just keep on reading the details of this Microsoft Windows 10 Discontinuation Lawsuit, and you’ll know. 

Why Is Microsoft Being Sued?

Wanna know the exact moment when everything changed for them and this lawsuit got started? Well, so far, you might know that in August 2025, someone named Lawrence Klein from California decided to sue Microsoft. And what was so big of a reason or cause for this? See, he has a couple of laptops that are incapable of running Windows 11. As Windows 10 is no longer supported, he is in a situation where his machines keep reminding him to “upgrade,” and, by upgrade, it means purchasing new ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌hardware.

And that’s exactly what he’s not okay with.

He went on to say that Microsoft is making a move to compel users to upgrade their systems by means of a forced upgrade cycle. He argues that the company is not discontinuing Windows 10 support as a result of the product being outdated, but rather because Windows 11 is very much dependent on AI features, such as Copilot, that older laptops are not capable of ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌handling, and it is just going to be an extra cost for him and literally millions of people just like him.

What’s The AI Part All About?

It is true that, simply​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ speaking, Windows 11 is not just a pretty face upgrade. It comes with AI features that can assist you in writing emails, organizing files, and generally helping you out with your work. Quite handy, however, there is a limitation. Not a single doubt in the fact that these so-called AI features need a very recent type of chip called an NPU, which is not present in most of the older ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌laptops.

So​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ in Klein’s opinion, Microsoft is not offering a choice to the users, which makes sense if you think about it for a sec. A device that is not compatible with the new AI features, it is assumed that you will buy a new one to be able to use ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌it.

Did Microsoft Leave Any Alternatives?

If​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ you want to keep on getting Windows 10 security updates after October 2025, Microsoft has come up with a program called the Extended Security Updates program (ESU). So, you are allowed to pay $30 per device per year to be able to get the security updates until October ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌2026. Still though, that’s some extra charge. 

Additionally,​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ it can be done a few other ways, such as by redeeming Microsoft Rewards points or through OneDrive for one year of security updates. However, Klein says that it is still insufficient. In his opinion, Microsoft ought to release those updates at no cost whatsoever, particularly considering that the majority of purchasers were not informed in a straightforward manner how long their laptops would be ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌supported, you know?

What’s Microsoft Saying?

Sure, as​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ of now, Microsoft has refrained from making any direct comments about the lawsuit. However, they are still insisting on the same story that Windows 11 is a quicker, safer, and more user-friendly operating system than Windows 10. Other than just that, a lot of experts are saying that Windows 11 lowers the chances of security breaches by over ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌50%.

Surely, that​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ may work well in theory, but it doesn’t give much assistance to a person who cannot perform an upgrade.

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