It’s a confusing time for Windows 10 users, with conflicting advice coming out every week. The deadline in October is getting closer. After that, you’ll need to upgrade your system if possible, buy a new PC if not, or pay $30 for an extra year. There’s a real need for a workaround, but Microsoft has just issued a new warning that’s bad news for users.

This past week has been tough for finding workarounds. First, Microsoft changed its official support page to remove a Registry tweak. This tweak helped users bypass hardware restrictions that would prevent millions of Windows 10 users from upgrading, even though most don’t want to upgrade.

Then, just as people were still processing that, Microsoft seemed to remove another workaround — the Flyby11 software — a risky, unwanted app that blocked installs for many users. As always with the Windows 10 upgrade mess, there’s been speculation about Microsoft’s intentions and whether the hardware restrictions have changed.

No need to wonder anymore. A Microsoft spokesperson contacted me to say that the company has now cleared things up with another update. The message is clear: “Windows 11 minimum system requirements stay the same,” and they’ve warned that people who used workarounds should fix it. “If you installed Windows 11 on a device that doesn’t meet the system requirements, Microsoft advises you to go back to Windows 10 right away.” So, if you followed the old instructions about Registry tweaks before they were removed, you’re out of luck.

This update was made on Tuesday, and it directly addresses the confusion from when the Registry tweak was removed. Microsoft explained, “This support article was first published on September 30, 2021, when Windows 11 was first released. The goal of this page, then and now, is to explain how to install Windows 11 on devices that meet its system requirements.”

For those who can upgrade, the free offer to do so is still available and will probably stay until October. For those who can’t upgrade, the official advice is to either upgrade your PC (since this is the year to refresh to Windows 11) or pay $30 and delay the issue until October 2026.

Published: 6th February 2025

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