It’s no secret that Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 back in October. The decade-old software launched in 2015 is no longer receiving any sort of security updates, meaning it is technically now less safe to be using it.

Microsoft offers Windows 11 as a free update for anyone with a Windows 10 PC, but some older machines may not be powerful enough to run the new version, which is partly why Microsoft is also offering a year of extra security updates via its Extended Security Updates programme.

But some PC users just want to stay on Windows 10. According to the latest data from Statcounter, 53.8 percent of Windows users globally are on Windows 11, but a huge 42.6 percent are still running Windows 10. Some prefer the look and feel, some are worried about Windows 11 running on their computers, and others don’t like being forced to update their software.

According to a report from Windows Latest though, Microsoft may be making a change that makes it that bit more difficult to stay on Windows 10. The report claims that if you are on Windows 10 but are not enrolled in Microsoft’s ESU programme, you can no longer pause software updates.

The option in the Windows Update settings menu to ‘Pause updates for 7 days’ is shown as greyed out. When available, this stops your PC from automatically installing the latest available software updates.

Writer Abhijith M B claims if you were to accidentally start the unwanted upgrade to Windows 11, this option no longer being available means you would not be able to pause the update or attempt to cancel it.

“For context, the option to pause updates will become unusable only if you have paused updates several times before, or if your organization prevents you from pausing updates using “Group Policy”,” they said. “I haven’t paused any updates as such, and I use a Windows 10 VM, so there is no reason for my PC to remove the option to pause updates.

“However, I haven’t enrolled in the Windows 10 ESU program, and this could be Microsoft’s way of punishing me for that. Clicking on the Advanced options shows that my PC has reached the “pause limit”, which is odd.”

Though unconfirmed, it’s another sign Microsoft is very keen to push Windows 10 users into upgrading to Windows 11, even if they don’t want to.

It’s always advisable to upgrade to the latest software no matter the device you are using. That’s because the latest updates patch bugs and flaws in the system that would otherwise leave your phone vulnerable to hackers, at least technically.

But some software updates are controversial. Many people do not like the new look of iOS 26 on the iPhone, which introduces the ‘Liquid Glass’ design language that is different from older versions. There’s no way to go back to those old versions, meaning some people are opting to stay on iOS 18, the last version.

It’s a similar situation with Windows 11. Some do not want to upgrade, but Microsoft is trying its best to make sure users do. To be fair to Microsoft, it’s unusual to support an operating system for ten whole years, which is what the firm did with Windows 10. But as this latest report shows, the company may be getting more aggressive with its tactics to push PC owners to Windows 11, whether they want to upgrade or not.