'Tis the season to upgrade to Windows 11, at least for around 40% of the Windows 10 holdouts. While support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, around half the world has still not moved to Windows 11. Granted, the migration will be gradual, but just like me, countless others are switching not by choice but due to one or more factors. In my case, it wasn't Windows 10's security concerns or mere curiosity but a more practical reason that prompted a jump to Windows 11.

I moved to an OLED display

Windows 11 handles HDR much better

I've resisted the Windows 11 upgrade for years, content with using what has been familiar to me for over eight years. There was no incentive for me to make the switch, at least not yet — DirectStorage support is still spotty, and the supposedly better UI isn't for me. I had tried Windows 11 for a while a few years ago, and decided I wasn't missing out on anything. However, when I bought an OLED monitor around two months ago, I realized I couldn't resist any longer. Windows 11 was simply the better OS to make the most of my fancy new display.

The way Windows 10 handles HDR is not exactly optimal. When I turned it on in Windows settings, it resulted in washed-out colors in games as well as the desktop. I spent some time on Reddit to figure out what was wrong, and realized that Windows 11 was far better equipped for HDR content. Firstly, the Auto HDR feature makes older, non-HDR titles look better on capable monitors. While Windows 10 struggled with displaying HDR content correctly, Windows 11 allowed me to see my old favorites in a new light.

Secondly, the HDR calibration app on the Microsoft Store wasn't even compatible with Windows 10. If I wanted to tune my AW3423DWF just right, the easiest answer was to move to Windows 11. Sure, I wasn't happy about it, but I wasn't going to sacrifice HDR performance just to stick with Windows 10. Once I set up everything on Windows 11, turning on HDR no longer messed up the colors on my screen. HDR worked seamlessly in modern titles like Alan Wake 2 and Cyberpunk 2077, and older ones like Deus Ex: Human Revolution looked just like I remembered them, which was a big achievement.

My Windows 10 installation was never quite right

I had been dealing with weird issues for years

While the primary reason to embrace Windows 11 was its superior HDR support, I also saw this switch as a means to get rid of the underlying errors I've faced on my Windows 10 installation for years. Occasional file corruption, system restore points disappearing out of the blue, and crappy mic quality on wireless headphones were a few of the persistent problems I could never solve on my Windows 10 PC. I just stuck with it for so long because I was resistant to change.

A fresh Windows 10 install could also have fixed a lot of these issues, but if I was wiping the slate anyway, why not pick Windows 11 this time? Gaming performance was supposed to be slightly better on Windows 11, and I would no longer need to maintain a secondary Windows 11 installation for work purposes. The new OS brought problems of its own, such as needless AI bloatware and a mandatory Microsoft account, but it was this or leaving HDR performance on the table. I know you can still use Windows 11 with a local account, but I was never too opposed to signing up anyway.

Windows 10 EOL was simply a bonus reason to jump ship

I no longer take data security lightly

The end of critical security updates for Windows 10 might not have been a major motivator in my case, but it was something to consider, nonetheless. I've used Windows 10 for years with updates disabled, and sort of winged it when it came to security. I've not faced any incidents in the 8 or so years I've been on Windows 10, but that doesn't mean my PC is invincible or something. Using an unprotected OS isn't recommended for anyone, which makes switching to Windows 11 an obvious, albeit overdue decision.

I'm still not happy with frequent updates, but I'm no longer as averse to them as I used to be. The approach I adopted on Windows 10 was dated, and something I just stuck with for years out of habit. The new me is more sensitive towards security risks — I want to do everything I can to protect my data from online threats. It was a good run I had with Windows 10, and I hope I will grow to like Windows 11 over time. There's no Windows 12 in sight, so it seems I'll be stuck with Windows 11 for the foreseeable future.

Windows 10: The end of the line

Like so many others, I've loved using Windows 10 these last few years, resisting the pressure to move to Windows 11. In late 2025, I have finally made the switch, not because my feelings have changed toward Windows 11, but because I don't have a choice. I need to make the most of my new OLED monitor, and Windows 11 simply works better with HDR content. The fresh install also took care of various unresolved errors I faced on my Windows 10 installation, and the lack of security updates on Windows 10 made the upgrade inevitable.