Brussels, 1 October 2025 – Today, Right to Repair Europe has addressed an open letter to the European Commission, calling for urgent action against software-driven obsolescence. Without clear rules requiring long-term software updates, millions of devices across Europe are being pushed into premature deaths, generating mountains of unnecessary e-waste and imposing extra costs on citizens and businesses alike.
On 14 October, ironically, International E-Waste Day, Microsoft has planned to end automatic free support for Windows 10, which runs on nearly half of all Windows computers. This could generate over 700 million kilograms of e-waste. The Windows 10 case is just one example of a widespread practice: killing devices via software. Companies can do this because there are no regulations to stop them. And the problem goes far beyond computers, medical equipment, smartwatches, smart home devices, thermostats, lights, cookers, gaming consoles are all at risk.
Current EU legislative measures are insufficient and difficult to enforce, leaving consumers unprotected and devices prematurely obsolete. The Right to Repair Europe coalition calls on the European Commission to introduce EU Ecodesign requirements for laptops, guaranteeing at least 15 years of software updates. We also urge the Commission to set strong horizontal requirements on minimum durability and repairability, with software and security support to match the potential lifespan – not just for computers, but for all products with a plug or battery. No more devices designed to break or become obsolete before their time.
Read our open letter to the EU Commission here
This letter is part of a bigger, global mobilisation against the end of free automatic Windows 10 updates. The pressure is already being felt: following months of campaigning, Microsoft confirmed that users in the European Economic Area (EEA) will receive one additional year of free Windows 10 updates, if they log in with a Microsoft account. While this marks an important step forward, this concession is hidden, limited and insufficient. Millions of PCs cannot upgrade to Windows 11, meaning a single extra year simply delays the inevitable.
Users worldwide (and not just in EEA countries) are demanding free automatic updates with no strings attached. U.S. PIRG delivered a letter signed by 590 businesses, elected officials and organizations, among which 382 repair businesses and nonprofits from around the world and 49 environmental and consumer advocacy organizations. Right to Repair Europe, Halte à l’Obsolescence Programmée, U.S. PIRG, Repair.org, iFixit, Consumer Reports and Euroconsumers co-signed the letter.
[Featured photo by John Cameron on Unsplash]