The end of Windows 10 is looming large and an upcoming shutdown of this software is a stark reminder of what’s to come. Microsoft has just issued an alert that a version of Windows 10 will lose support from next month meaning users must upgrade to keep their PCs protected and free from bugs or known viruses.

The closure, which kicks in from June 11, will affect anyone using Windows 10 version 21H2 with the last update for this software being released in the next few weeks.

Luckily for consumers, this end-of-life will only affect Enterprise, Education and IoT Enterprise editions of Windows 10 but it still shows that Microsoft is serious about weaning people off older versions of its software and switching them over to Windows 11.

“On June 11, 2024, Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise editions of Windows 10, version 21H2 will reach end of servicing,” Microsoft confirmed.

“The upcoming June 2024 security update, to be released on June 11, 2024, will be the last update available for this version. After this date, devices running this version will no longer receive monthly security and preview updates containing protections from the latest security threats. As always, we recommend that you upgrade eligible devices to Windows 11.”

The official end of life for Windows 10 is October 2025 which means millions have less than 18 months to make some big decisions. The first option will be to move over to Windows 11 with that newer OS continuing to get support for years to come. However, that’s not easy for everyone as some older laptops and desktop PCs simply are compatible it which means purchasing a brand-new device.

The other option will be to pay for Extended Security Updates. These will be released by Microsoft until 2028 – the firm has said ESUs will cost businesses around £50 per year but consumer pricing has yet to be confirmed.

Of course, you can just keep using Windows 10 after October 2025 but without security updates, your PC will be at risk from bugs and malware which will no longer get fixed.

It’s a concerning time that will affect millions. Surprise new data from the team at Statcounter, show that Windows 10 usage actually grew slightly in April whilst Windows 11 numbers dropped.

The figures reveal that last month, Windows 10 had a 69.89 percent share of the market – up from 69.07 percent.

Windows 11 meanwhile had a 26.19 percent share – that’s down from 28.16 percent in February 2024.