Microsoft urged to U-turn on controversial Windows 10 support plan; This Windows 11 setting is killing your SSD lifespan; Windows 11 25H2 installer is out, but don’t install it yet…and more!
Every day, we scan the tech world for interesting news, sometimes from outside the tech world. Every Thursday, we feature news articles that grabbed our attention over the past week. We hope you find this week’s ‘Thursday Newsbytes’ informative and interesting!
Please note that the tips, tricks, programs, and apps appearing in the articles below are not necessarily recommended by Cloudeight. Try at your own risk.
Microsoft, don’t be stubborn about this
In case you didn’t know already, Microsoft is ending Windows 10 support in October with no more software or security updates, effectively impacting millions of users who have systems incompatible with Windows 11 – and there’s been a fresh call for Microsoft to make a U-turn on its decision.
As reported by The Verge, the non-profit US body Consumer Reports is urging Microsoft to reverse its decision to end Windows 10 support and extend the current October 14 deadline for free security updates, saying Windows 10 support ending will “strand millions of consumers” in a letter to Microsoft’s CEO.
The calls in the full Consumer Reports letter will be backed by many, as there are still plenty of PC users with hardware that is incompatible with Windows 11. Data also suggests that 46.2 percent of users globally are still using Windows 10…
This Windows 11 setting is killing your SSD lifespan
Your PC’s SSD is responsible for storing everything from your operating system to your most important files. But did you know that a default Windows 11 setting could slowly wear it down? That setting is the paging file, also known as virtual memory in Windows 11. It’s crucial for keeping your system stable when RAM runs low, but it comes with a hidden cost.
When left on its default settings, the paging file puts extra stress on your SSD, and over time, reduces its lifespan. The good news is that with a few simple tweaks, you can reduce this strain and help your SSD stay healthy for years to come.
Most people think of a computer’s memory as just the RAM installed inside it. But Windows also has a feature called the paging file, which essentially uses a portion of your SSD as backup memory. When your computer runs out of RAM, it moves data to this virtual memory, so your apps can continue running without crashing.
Windows 11 automatically manages the storage used for the paging file…
Don’t be inclined to risk anything, it’s still in preview
Windows 11 25H2 is now available as a disk image file, so you can download and use that to install the latest flavor of Microsoft’s operating system – but you shouldn’t, at least not yet.
This is because the file (known as an ISO, or disk image) is still a preview version, as it’s only available via the Windows Insiders download site.
Windows Central noticed that the Windows 11 25H2 installer has now been released by Microsoft, but if you grab it, what you’re actually getting is the preview build 26200 of 25H2 from the Release Preview channel (the final stage of testing). Further note you need to be signed up as a Windows tester to access this file.
So, to be clear: this is not the finished copy of the 25H2 update. However, it’s true that this version is very nearly done and dusted at this point. Indeed, there may be hardly any changes between now and the official release.
Still, even given that, I wouldn’t recommend that the average user should bother trying to grab an installer that’s still in preview, however late it is in the testing game…
As Windows 10 reaches end of life, Windows 11 is LOSING market share
Next month sees Windows 10 finally reaching the end of (mainstream) support. Microsoft has been pushing people towards Windows 11 for what feels like forever, and it worked – for a while.
The latest market figures show that this is changing. The statistics for August 2025 from statcounter Global Stats show a marked drop in Windows 11’s share of the desktop market.
Rewinding a little bit through time, June 2025 was a significant month because it marked the point at which Windows 11 finally caught up (well, very nearly) with Windows 10. Windows 11 managed to reach a market share of 47.98 percent of Windows desktops, compared to 48.76 percent for Windows 10.
July 2025 saw Windows 11’s steady increase in popularity continuing, with a big jump for the latest version of Windows up to a 53.51 percent share of the market. Windows 10 trailed behind at 42.88 percent.
But now the tide is turning. While Windows 11 remains more popular than Windows 10, there has been a very sudden drop in market share. As of August 2025, Windows 11 has a 49.08 percent share of the desktop Windows version market. This compares to 45.53 percent for Windows 10…
Microsoft 365 users are getting a handy productivity tool at no additional cost
If you’re a Microsoft 365 fan, you either love Copilot or you hate it. Unfortunately for the latter camp, Microsoft would really, really prefer that you did love it. In fact, it wants you to use its AI assistant so badly that it’s introducing a new feature that gives you the power of Copilot at your fingertips at no extra cost. However, if you are a subscriber to Copilot, don’t fret; there’s still something here for you.
Microsoft introduces Copilot Chat to all 365 users
In a post on the Microsoft Tech Community, the company breaks down what 365 users can expect from Copilot Chat. The most important thing to note is that Copilot Chat is available for all users, including people who aren’t subscribed to Microsoft 365 Copilot; however, as we’ll discover later, those who do pay monthly will get a little extra.
So, what does Copilot Chat do? Well, as Microsoft puts it, it seems to be a real productivity powerhouse…
Thanks for reading this week’s Thursday Newbytes. We hope these articles were informative, interesting, fun, and helpful.
