Live tiles are gone from the Start menu, for example. Windows 10 has some features that Microsoft dropped in Windows 11, however. The modern Snipping Tool lets you record videos of your desktop, not just take screenshots. There’s a new Widgets menu accessible from the taskbar. For example, you can run Android apps on Windows. Windows 11 has gained some features over Windows 10. So, rather than perpetually piling more features onto Windows 10, Microsoft decided to make those big changes in a new operating system instead, the old-fashioned way. Obviously, that didn’t pan out we now have Windows 11, and I expect Microsoft will announce Windows 12 at some point, too. The idea was that Windows 10 would be continually updated and Microsoft wouldn’t launch another big new version upgrade. Microsoft proclaimed Windows 10 was “ the last version of Windows” when it launched in 2015. But there are PCs I definitely wouldn’t upgrade to Windows 11 - and there are PCs I wouldn’t want to downgrade to Windows 10, either. Some people will prefer it, while others will prefer Windows 11. Until then, Windows 10 will work just fine, and Windows 10 is still a great choice.

There’s no rush to upgrade: Microsoft will continue supporting Windows 10 with security updates until October 2025. In particular, Windows 11’s new taskbar remains a work in progress, and I know people who are sticking with Windows 10 for that reason alone. While I use Windows 11 on my main PC - I’m typing this on it right now! - there are some things about Windows 11 that still need work. It’s modern, it’s slick, and it has some features Windows 10 simply doesn’t offer. Windows 11 is also a solid Windows operating system. That’s what a lot of us always wanted! On the other hand, if you do want new features arriving frequently, you’ll need Windows 11. Maybe even more importantly, Microsoft is done adding big new features to Windows 10, so it’s a solid, stable version of Windows that isn’t getting frequent major updates anymore.

It’s gotten a lot of improvements since its initial release. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.Windows 10 isn’t dead yet: It has years of life left in it. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping.

Windows 11 should i upgrade