Mirror Review
August 11, 2025
Microsoft’s decision to discontinue Windows 10 starting October 14, 2025, due to the end of its official support cycle, has sparked frustration among millions of users.
For many, this isn’t just about losing security updates; it’s about saying goodbye to features that defined their PC experience.
Some features will vanish completely, while others will survive in Windows 11 but in a reduced or altered form.
Here’s the breakdown of what you’re really losing as Microsoft Discontinues Windows 10.
Windows 10 Features Gone for Good
- Live Tiles
What it is: Those colorful, square icons in the Start menu that could show live updates (like the latest weather forecast, your unread emails, or breaking news) without opening an app.
What will change: Windows 11 replaces them with static icons that never update unless you click them, removing that at-a-glance convenience.
- Tablet Mode
What it is: A dedicated mode that turned your desktop into a touch-friendly interface, with larger icons and a full-screen Start menu. This was perfect for 2-in-1 laptops or touch-screen PCs.
What will change: Windows 11 drops this entirely. Touch support still exists, but it’s just the regular desktop interface, which feels cramped and a compromise.
- Timeline
What it is: A scrolling view of everything you’ve done recently, like documents, websites, and apps. This helped you to instantly jump back to something you were working on days or weeks ago.
What will change: Removed with no direct replacement. You’ll have to remember and manually search for what you were doing before.
- Native Skype Integration
What it is: Skype came built into Windows 10, letting you start a video or voice call straight from your taskbar without downloading anything.
What will change: Windows 11 replaces this with Microsoft Teams Chat, which focuses more on business meetings than casual calls with friends or family.
Windows 10 Features Still There, But Changed
- Classic Windows 10 Start Menu
What it is: The familiar menu in the bottom-left corner with your most-used apps, a search bar, and those customizable tiles you could pin for quick access.
What will change: In Windows 11, the Start menu moves to the center by default, drops tile support, and offers fewer customization options.
- Control Panel Easy Access
What it is: The traditional settings hub that’s been in Windows for decades, where you can adjust everything from network settings to user accounts in one place.
What will change: Many options are now hidden in the modern “Settings” app, making the old Control Panel harder to find and less complete.
- Taskbar Flexibility
What it is: The ability to pin anything you like, resize the taskbar, and move it to the top or sides of your screen. A great feature that personalized your workflow.
What will change: You can still pin items, but moving the taskbar to the top or sides requires registry hacks.
- Familiar File Explorer with Ribbon Menu
What it is: The File Explorer you’ve known for years, with the “ribbon” of icons at the top for easy access to functions like copy, paste, and view settings.
What will change: Windows 11 replaces the ribbon with a simplified toolbar that hides many advanced options.
- Action Center
What it is: A single panel that combines notifications with quick settings like Wi-Fi, brightness, and battery saver, all in one place.
What will change: Windows 11 splits this into two separate menus — one for notifications and another for quick settings. This has added extra clicks for what used to be one panel.
- Old Volume Mixer
What it is: A quick panel that lets you control the sound level of each app separately with just a couple of clicks.
What will change: The feature still exists in Windows 11 but is buried behind more menus, losing the quick-access feel that power users loved.
What You Can Do Now Before Windows 10 Ends
With Windows 10 support ending October 14, 2025, act now to avoid disruption:
- Check compatibility with Windows 11 using Microsoft’s PC Health Check.
- Back up your files to cloud or external storage.
- List key features you rely on and find replacements or workarounds.
- Test Windows 11 on a spare device before switching.
Preparing early means you won’t lose productivity or the tools you love when the change comes.
Why This Hits Harder Than Just an Update
This isn’t the first time Microsoft has retired a beloved OS. The same backlash was faced when Windows 7 was stopped in 2020.
But this time, Windows 10 still commands nearly 68% of the desktop market share as of mid-2025, making the shift far more disruptive.
History shows that when companies kill widely used features or products (think Google Reader or Apple’s headphone jack removal), it can spark long-lasting trust issues.
For businesses, this means retraining staff, replacing hardware, and adjusting workflows. For everyday users, it’s losing the comfort of an interface that feels “just right.”
Soon, millions of PCs will lose the personality and practicality that made Windows 10 so loved.
If you rely on these features, the clock is ticking to decide your next move!
