A couple of days ago I restarted my Windows 10 system only to be immediately confronted with a full-screen message from Microsoft informing me that “It’s time to upgrade your PC before end of support“.
(note: the screenshot below has been resized/adjusted to meet web standards)
The “Keep Windows 10” link, which when clicked will dismiss the notification, is actually displayed at the bottom left-hand corner of the screen, in a position that makes it as inconspicuous as possible. However, clicking that link was not the end end of it, another smaller window then opened displaying virtually the same message. This was all before the OS actually loaded.
- You also might like: How To Safely Use Windows 10 Past End-Of-Support
Microsoft’s Blatant Invasion Of Privacy?
There are methods to prevent these types of notifications, including editing the Registry. However, that is not the point of this article. I am generally fairly accepting of Microsoft’s intrusions but this one really got me mad.
I see it as nothing less than a gross invasion of privacy. How dare Microsoft intrude into my personal PC space to issue this type of notification, unsolicited and without permission or warning?
If nothing else, it proves once and for all that Microsoft has the ability to manipulate, interfere with, and control our Windows operating systems. And, apparently, the company is not concerned about abusing that privilege.
Now, I realize Microsoft is keen on getting everyone on board with Windows 11, and maybe I’m overreacting, but I view this as possibly the worst instance of Microsoft’s dictatorial attitude to date.
Have you seen this notification? Let us know your thoughts via the comments.
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Well , I am yet to see this , then again I have most all telemetry , ads and anything Microsoft blocked on my system
“I have most all telemetry , ads and anything Microsoft blocked on my system”
Me too Ed but that didn’t prevent this one from coming through. If a message had popped up after the OS had loaded, a reminder that Windows 10 is nearing end-of-life, that would have been a different matter. But this full-screen notification appearing first and foremost after a restart was most disconcerting.
Hello Jim. I have not received any intrusions from MS. These blockers must inject some form of code within the registry to block such interference. Since MS was able to popup prior to you booting, I assume this must be the case. I booted up one pc, that has limited blocking and it booted properly. Two others I rebooted which have more blocking options (Privacy Inspector from Ashampoo) and they were unaffected. Sorry, but if I was paranoid (can be at times) I might suspect you were trageted, Mindblower!
Guys,
1) This notification from MS would not be delivered simultaneously en masse but more likely staggered. With the effect that different people will see it at different times
2) This intrusion has absolutely nothing to do with blockers, privacy settings, or telemetry. MS has unfettered access to every operating system, including yours
3) The message did not popup prior to booting the OS, it popped up prior to loading/displaying the OS. Entirely different animals
You said, “There are methods to prevent these types of notifications, including editing the Registry.” but did not provide these methods. In fact “methods to prevent” shows up in blue and I thought it was a link, but it was not.
As I said in the article Harry, explaining how to block these types of intrusions was not the point of the article.
There are three ways users can block this particular notification:
1) Via the Registry
2) Via Scheduled Tasks
3) Via PowerShell
Explaining all three would take an entire article of its own.
I think if you’ve blocked everything it’s not great but I wonder if Microsoft also want to cover themselves e.g. if someone didn’t get this and then got infected due to a bug fixed on windows 11 but not on windows 10, the person could argue they weren’t informed about support ending
Fair point Peter. However, Windows 10 end-of-support is still 8 months away, it’s not as if it’s imminent.
By the way; the methods for blocking these types of notifications are specific for each notification. So, unless the user is already aware of a notification, it cannot be blocked.
I started getting that, or a similar notice on some of my W10 boxes, and didn’t notice an option that appealed to me, Escape woulnd’t make it go away, and there was no close box, so I just hit ctl+sft+esc and clicked End task for Reusable UX Interaction Manager. That’s my goto when MS does something i don’t want to interact with.
Yes, every one of my machines is receiving some sort of notification or the other:
On my Widows 10 machine that meets Windows 11 requirements, I’m receiving notifications to upgrade to Windows 11.
On My Windows 10 machine that does not meet requirements for Windows 11 I’m receiving notifications to help me find a new PC.
On both my Windows 11 machines, currently running 23H2, I’m receiving notifications to upgrade to 24H2.
Windows verwijderd en Linux geïnstalleerd..Nooit meer windows voor mij..
[Removed Windows and installed Linux..No more Windows for me..]
I haven’t seen it yet on my laptop but I am not surprised by it. What I have noticed for a few years now is that M$ increasingly force their will on their customers who might otherwise demur on certain things, or aren’t moving fast enough to suit them.
I don’t like companies trying to cram stuff down my throat whether I want it or not. Which is why Windows 10 will likely be my last M$ OS.