In an unexpected twist, a Microsoft support engineer resorted to running an unofficial 'crack' on a customer's Windows PC after a genuine copy of the operating system failed to activate normally. It ...

Even Zune-clutching Windows loyalists have to admit that Mac owners have it pretty great—at least, they do now. Apple hasn’t charged for macOS, nor macOS updates, for years. Of course, you need to buy ...

Windows 10 still has problems but Windows 7 is about to hit the scrap heap (and Windows 8 is a pointless sideways move). As such, millions of users must soon jump to Windows 10 for the safety of their ...

It’s no secret that Microsoft is ending official support for Windows 10 in October. The tech giant has been chomping at the bit to get users to upgrade to Windows 11, and even allows Windows 10 users ...

Officially, Microsoft will stop providing new security updates for Windows 10 PCs after October 14, 2025, a little over a decade after its initial release. It's a stick that Microsoft is using to push ...

Update, Jan. 27, 2025: This story, originally published Jan. 26, has been updated to expand upon the security dangers ahead for Windows 10 users who don’t take the free upgrade to Windows 11 on offer ...

Time may be running out for your Windows 10 computer. After Oct. 14, Microsoft will stop providing free security updates for the operating system. First, you need to find out where you stand. The ...

Microsoft's ESU program provides security updates for Windows 10. You normally just head to Windows Update to register for the program. If the option doesn't appear, there are ways to trigger it. You ...

Managing Editor Alison DeNisco Rayome joined CNET in 2019, and is a member of the Home team. She is a co-lead of the CNET Tips and We Do the Math series, and manages the Home Tips series, testing out ...

Four years after the launch of Windows 11, Microsoft is finally ending support for Windows 10, but what does that mean? Peter is a writer and editor for the CNET How-To team. He has been covering ...

The bells are ringing for Windows 10, and many users who have waited are now choosing to update to Windows 11. If you’re one of them, congratulations on continued security updates and new features, ...

Firstly, the good news: If you have Windows 10 installed on your PC, you can upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 (the latest version of Windows 11) free of charge. This makes sense, as support for Windows 10 ...