Dropping support for WIndows 10 for Turbotax 2025

[Average]

Sounds great but how does that work? My Win 10 updates automatically.  If you've got a link to free Win 10 support, I'd consider us buddies for life!

[FortFun]

Average. My understanding is that the options will appear as either a popup notification or if you open Windows Update on you computer. Haven't seen it yet on mine , but understand Micro$oft will be rolling it out.

[diverjer]

I haven't seen any option like that and I got all the updates except what came out yesterday.  Did see something from a Google search that you needed an update, but I forget number now.  I did check and I had done the update they mention back in 2024.  Thought that strange the update mention was that old.  Anyway, I am up to date and no option yet.

[Perplexed in Los Angeles]

Mine came last night when Microsoft did a routine Win 10 update, which generated what Chat GPT called a wizard, basically a note saying click here to obtain Wind 10 support up to Oct 2026. When I clicked it said it's free for me and immediately activated.  

[p5browne1]

2 of my Window 10 computers got the notice, and that led to the Free Extended to October 2026. Waiting for the others to follow. H&R sent email re starting my return with them.  Sent email to them asking when the software will be available to do so, and whether it will work on my Extended Windows 10 computer. So far no reply.

[kaj726]

There has been much discussion about obtaining a free one year extension for Windows 10 security updates, and inquiries from some regarding why they have not received an offer from MS for the free extension.

I believe that the free security update extension is offered only to those Windows 10 users who agree to enable cloud backup on their machines and to connect it to your OneDrive account with MS.  Otherwise, you will have to purchase the $30 one year extension from MS if you wish to receive security updates to Windows 10.  This information was noted in a CNET.com discussion about the extension:

"Microsoft is sunsetting Windows 10 support on Oct. 14, and with it stopping all updates to the former OS. If you aren't able to update to Windows 11, you still have options. For $30 you can grab a year of extended-security updates. There is also a free option available, provided you're willing to enable cloud backup and connect it to your OneDrive account."

See https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/microsoft-offers-windows-10-extended-security-updates-for-free-y...

So, if you are willing to do those two things, you are good to go for at least a year.   Otherwise, fork over the $30 if you want another year of MS security updates.

[FortFun]

kaj72, one other option is to use 1000 Microsoft Reward Points.

[greyman1952]

So far everything I've seen about extending support for Windows 10 requires having a Microsoft Account and Logging into that Microsoft Account. That's bad enough. But, when you add required access to cloud storage, which Microsoft and its corporate minions have access to. There is no way.

[ARD58]

• It gets worse. Apart from now having to upgrade my computer again to be able to use TT, I don’t want my personal tax information stored online. Windows 11 will make it impossible or difficult to keep your files stored locally on your hard drive. The recent update of onedrive, without my permission, starting backing up my documents directory  (including my desktop files) to OneDrive cloud storage. I had to manually disable OneDrive backup (which I’m told will be able to do with Windows 11) and manually copy my files back to my computer and the delete it twice on my OneDrive account. I can’t trust that it’s actually been deleted. 

I can understand TurboTax using an online account to manage the licensing of the software I purchase faithfully every year. I don’t need online security to do or save my taxes. If TurboTax can’t securely upload my data to the government the I prefer to print and mail it. 

I’m still mad as hell and looking for an alternative. 

[M-MTax]

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@ARD58 wrote:
If TurboTax can’t securely upload my data to the government the I prefer to print and mail it.

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I'm sure Intuit's protocol, procedures, and security generally result in the safety of your data.

However, anyone and any company can be the victims of hackers; that includes federal and state governmental agencies after your data is transmitted.

[ARD58]

I appreciate your point however I’m not so sure I can trust their direction.  They seem to believe it will only be secure with Windows 11. That’s OK if you wish to do your taxes online , which I prefer not to do. I don’t trust Windows 11´s dépendance on  OneDrive. I use a dedicated computer to do my taxes every year. I never use this computer online for casual browsing. Registering the software, updating the forms and net filing are the only times I enable my internet connection. Now why do I need Windows 11? 

[VolvoGirl]

I upgraded my Windows 10 to 11 and One Drive wasn't activated.  I wasn't using it in Win 10 and it stays empty on Win 11.  

[M-MTax]

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@ARD58 wrote:

I don’t trust Windows 11´s dépendance on  OneDrive....

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I had 2 Windows desktop machines running Windows 10 and used a hack to upgrade them to Windows 11. I also bought 2 new desktop machines with Windows 11 pre-installed. None of the foregoing had One Drive enabled and I have never been forced to use OneDrive nor have I ever used it. In fact, you can completely get rid of OneDrive in Windows 10 or 11 if you so desire. 

[M-MTax]

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@ARD58 wrote:

I use a dedicated computer to do my taxes every year. I never use this computer online for casual browsing. Registering the software, updating the forms and net filing are the only times I enable my internet connection.

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I'd be willing to bet that you are in the **extreme** minority of desktop users in that regard, probably well under 1%. Intuit can't accommodate an infinitesimally small number of users as it's not economically viable to do so.

[VolvoGirl]

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@ARD58 wrote:

......... Registering the software, updating the forms and net filing are the only times I enable my internet connection. Now why do I need Windows 11? 

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Net filing?   That is usually a term for doing Canada returns.   Are you in Canada? This is the USA forum. Here is the Canada forum
https://turbotax.community.intuit.ca/tax-help