Windows 10

Windows 10 is a major release of <a href="/facts/Microsoft/nGIDDXdx">Microsoft</a>'s <a href="/facts/Windows_NT/EtccWvxQ">Windows NT</a> operating system. The successor to <a href="/facts/Windows_8.1/HRWIv7Mn">Windows 8.1</a>, it was <a href="/facts/Software_release_cycle/z4Q4RElA">released to manufacturing</a> on July 15, 2015, and later to retail on July 29, 2015. Windows 10 was made available for download via <a href="/facts/MSDN/q2EJdDx2">MSDN</a> and <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Technet/XdFdowL4">TechNet</a>, as a free upgrade for retail copies of <a href="/facts/Windows_8/eRtw96T3">Windows 8</a> and Windows 8.1 users via the <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Store/tnnWFhAF">Microsoft Store</a>, and to <a href="/facts/Windows_7/tldLdbnX">Windows 7</a> users via <a href="/facts/Windows_Update/haRj8fsq">Windows Update</a>. Unlike previous Windows NT releases, Windows 10 receives new <a href="/facts/Software_build/uTz1koQy">builds</a> on an ongoing basis, which are available at no additional cost to users; devices in enterprise environments can alternatively use <a href="/facts/Long-term_support/0b0L8MKh">long-term support</a> milestones that only receive critical updates, such as security <a href="/facts/Patch_(computing)/sIHVBPls">patches</a>. It was succeeded by <a href="/facts/Windows_11/J2ywV8r4">Windows 11</a>, which was released on October 5, 2021. 
In contrast to the <a href="/facts/Tablet_computer/6pGX2I7b">tablet</a>-oriented approach of Windows 8, Microsoft provided the <a href="/facts/Desktop_environment/VXBpMWnG">desktop-oriented interface</a> in line with previous versions of Windows in Windows 10. Other features added include <a href="/facts/Xbox_Live/mRsUYTYf">Xbox Live</a> integration, <a href="/facts/Cortana_(virtual_assistant)/du1CmE4u">Cortana</a> virtual assistant, <a href="/facts/Virtual_desktop/kGy9heRI">virtual desktops</a> and the improved <a href="/facts/Settings_(Windows)/tYqsfN0k">Settings</a> component. Windows 10 also replaced <a href="/facts/Internet_Explorer/uL8a4Y5l">Internet Explorer</a> with <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Edge_(series_of_web_browsers)/saavTq0q">Microsoft Edge</a>. As with previous versions, Windows 10 has been developed primarily for <a href="/facts/X86/Kypq5fgu">x86</a> processors; in 2018, a version of Windows 10 for <a href="/facts/ARM_architecture_family/SALsYA79">ARM</a> processors was released.
Windows 10 received generally positive reviews upon its original release, with praise given to the return of the desktop interface, improved bundled software compared to Windows 8.1, and other capabilities. However, media outlets had been critical to behavioral changes of the system like mandatory <a href="/facts/Windows_Update/haRj8fsq">update</a> installation, <a href="/facts/Digital_privacy/Ha2QstqN">privacy</a> concerns over data collection and <a href="/facts/Adware/wbS8pyAQ">adware</a>-like tactics used to promote the operating system on its release. Microsoft initially aimed to have Windows 10 installed on over one billion devices within three years of its release; that goal was ultimately reached almost five years after release on March 16, 2020, and it had surpassed <a href="/facts/Windows_7/tldLdbnX">Windows 7</a> as the most popular version of Windows worldwide by January 2018, which remains the case in 2024. As of April 2025, Windows 10 is the most used version of Windows, accounting for 52.94% of the worldwide market share, while its successor Windows 11, holds 43.72%. Windows 10 is the most-used traditional PC operating system, with a 46% share of users.
Windows 10 is the last version of Microsoft Windows that supports <a href="/facts/32-bit_computing/TDMVce8s">32-bit processors</a> (<a href="/facts/IA-32/7yTv1aHH">IA-32</a> and <a href="/facts/ARM_architecture/SALsYA79">ARMv7-based</a>) and the last major version to support 64-bit processors that don't meet the <a href="/facts/X86-64/cyWvUFlP">x86-x64-v2</a> (i.e., having <a href="/facts/POPCNT/dJIW7qg4">POPCNT</a> and <a href="/facts/SSE4.2/Tnxrl7Ph">SSE4.2</a>) or <a href="/facts/ARMv8.1/bauXRos7">ARMv8.1</a> specifications, across all minor versions. It's also the last version to officially: lack a <a href="/facts/Central_processing_unit/Jxp1bqMV">CPU</a> model check before installation (with a <a href="/facts/Whitelist/d00CnYNc">whitelist</a>), support <a href="/facts/BIOS/2RY3dzQe">BIOS firmware</a>, and support systems with <a href="/facts/Trusted_Platform_Module/3XHCGYkX">TPM</a> 1.2 or no TPM at all. Support for Windows 10 editions which are not in the <a href="/facts/Windows_10_editions/4CgucUSQ">Long-Term Servicing Channel</a> (LTSC) is set to end on October 14, 2025.

Windows 10 open-in-new

Windows 10