Google Offers Assistance to Outdated Windows PCs
(Reuters) – Google will allow companies to install an automatically updated version of its Chrome operating system on Windows devices, potentially keeping millions of computers from ending up in landfills after Microsoft ends support for Windows 10 next year, parent Alphabet said on Wednesday.
The company said that ChromeOS Flex will continue to receive regular security updates and features such as data encryption so that users can continue to use their Windows 10 systems.
Microsoft has announced that it will end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, and will no longer provide regular security updates, bug fixes, or technical support. It has asked customers to upgrade to Windows 11 or explore other options.
However, a report by Canalys Research suggests that ending support for Windows 10 could send around 240 million PCs to landfills, as demand for devices without security updates may be low.
Still, many Windows 10 PCs can remain operational for years after the operating system’s support ends.
ChromeOS is significantly less popular than other operating systems. As of January 2024, it had a 1.8 percent share of the global desktop operating system market, a far cry from Windows’ roughly 73 percent share, according to research firm Statcounter.
ChromeOS has struggled with wider compatibility due to its lack of compatibility with legacy Windows apps and productivity software used by businesses.
Google said ChromeOS allows users to stream legacy Windows and productivity apps, helping to deliver them to devices by running the apps in a data center.
