A resident of Southern California has taken Microsoft to court in an effort to stop the company from ending free support for Windows 10 this October.
The plaintiff, Lawrence Klein, says he owns two laptops running Windows 10 and believes the company’s plan to end updates and technical help on October 14 will put millions of users at higher risk of cyberattacks. He argues the move will push many customers toward buying new, more expensive PCs capable of running Windows 11, including devices designed for Microsoft’s AI features.
In a complaint filed in San Diego Superior Court, Klein is asking for a court order requiring Microsoft to continue support until the operating system’s share of Windows devices drops below 10%. Currently, Windows 10 is used on more than half of all Windows PCs worldwide.
Klein’s lawsuit also accuses Microsoft of unfair business practices, saying customers were not clearly told how long Windows 10 would be supported or what the end of support would mean. He notes that while the company is offering paid Extended Security Updates, the cost will rise over time and create a financial burden for users who can’t switch immediately.
The complaint also raises concerns about the environmental and economic impact of replacing older but working computers, pointing to the potential for large amounts of electronic waste.
As of now, Microsoft has not issued a public response to the case. It’s unclear whether the lawsuit could delay the planned end of Windows 10 support.