Windows 10: an ethical opportunity for free software

On October 14, 2025, Microsoft will officially end support for Windows 10. For months, the company has been bringing its users – especially organizations – to migrate to Windows 11. To facilitate this transition, Microsoft has launched a tool for companies, Windows Backup for Organizations, which allows backups and easily restores the configuration of devices.

But this tool is not accessible to everyone: you need to be registered in a public testing program, have integration with Microsoft Enter and have administration rights through Intune.

More than 50% of Windows users still use Windows 10. Many of their computers are not compatible with Windows 11, which will force them to buy new devices. This could lead to the rejection of more than 500,000 still functional computers, an ecological, social and economic disaster.

Free software as a sustainable alternative is a sustainable, ethical and economically accessible solution. Operating systems such as GNU/Linux allow you to extend the useful life of computers, maintain support and strengthen digital autonomy. They reduce electronic waste and oppose programmed obsolescence.

The European Open Minds project is part of this logic: it proposes resources, training and support for those who want to migrate to the free. A specific programme is being developed to support this responsible approach.

A political and pedagogical option to opt for free systems is to make a political and educational choice. It is to reappropriate their digital tools, share knowledge and promote fairer and more sustainable practices. The end of Windows 10 support is the opportunity to open a new path towards a more democratic technology.