Last year, Microsoft triggered an ‘End of Life’ status for Windows 10, which sparked an inevitable controversy and backlash from many users, with some describing the tech giant’s decision as programmed obsolescence.
It’s no secret that Microsoft has been trying to get users to upgrade to Windows 11 since it launched its latest operating system in October 2021, including using full-screen multipage pop-up ads. However, some holdouts have been reluctant to upgrade from Windows 10, often due to stringent hardware requirements coupled with flawed design elements.
Windows 10 automatically started installing the Windows 11 update while I was taking a shower. from r/pcmasterrace
Either way, ‘djseifer’ on Reddit is now running Windows 11 and is clearly unhappy with the sudden change, particularly criticizing the centrally designed Start menu and lambasting Microsoft’s design choices:
“I’d been getting messages to upgrade to Windows 11 for the past month or two now, and each time, I decline. It’s gotten to the point that I get random, frequent pop_ups asking to update, and “install update” options pop up right next to the shutdown/restart uptions [sic]”
“Well, I made the mistake of going to take a shower with my PC on. Half an hour later, I come back tothis. Windows had automatically started installing the update. Now I’m sitting here staring at the Start button and all the open programs center-justified on the taskbar and wondering what idiot thought that was a good idea.”
🗨️ Can Microsoft upgrade your PC by force?
While Microsoft has used multiple avenues, including ads, to get users to upgrade to Windows 11, it shouldn’t have been able to force an OS upgrade to this user’s PC without clear notifications and multiple requests. In this case, they might have unknowingly agreed to the change.
If not, one concrete way to remain on Windows 10 on a Windows 11-compatible device is to disable automatic Windows updates so you can have more control over your PC. Naturally, rejecting security patches introduces potential vulnerabilities, so it would require careful consideration.
You can also enable/disable TPM on your Windows 10 PC, which can theoretically make it impossible to be upgraded to Windows 11, since Microsoft calls TPM 2.0 a “non-negotiable” upgrade requirement. Specifically, the tech giant called it “a necessity for a secure and future-proof Windows 11,” making it difficult for users with unsupported hardware to upgrade.
While it’s still possible to continue using Windows 10 on your device even after Microsoft first pulled support for the OS on October 14, 2025, you’ll be more susceptible to malicious attacks by bad actors when the extended support eventually ends.
Of course, it’s still perfectly fine to continue using the OS if you’ve enrolled in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, as it will continue receiving security updates for now. However, some call it a last-minute snooze button to a bleeding system, which only postpones the inevitable by 12 months.
Do you think Microsoft played a role in automatic Windows 11 upgrade as the frustated user suggests? Share your thoughts in the comments
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