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Will Your Surface Hub Become Costly E-Waste After Windows 10 Support Ends?
With Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, organizations using Surface Hub 2S and Surface Hub v1 face a significant and potentially negative turning point. These high-investment devices, once promoted as the ultimate collaboration tools, are at risk of becoming expensive electronic waste unless proactive steps are taken.
What Happens After October 2025?
- No More Security Updates: Both Surface Hub v1 and 2S will stop receiving security patches, bug fixes, and technical support. This exposes your meeting rooms and company networks to increased security vulnerabilities.
- Microsoft Teams Will Stop Working: The Microsoft Teams app will cease to function on these devices, severely limiting their collaborative value.
- Compliance Risks: Continuing to use unsupported hardware can lead to compliance and data protection issues, especially in regulated industries.
Device-Specific Guidance
Surface Hub v1
- No Upgrade Path: Surface Hub v1 is locked to Windows 10 Team Edition and cannot be upgraded to Windows 11.
- Recommendation: Microsoft strongly recommends a hardware refresh—replace v1 devices with the Surface Hub 3 to maintain support and functionality.
- After October 2025: Devices will still power on, but will be unsupported and increasingly insecure, effectively becoming “digital landfill” or, as some put it, a “$22K paperweight”.
Surface Hub 2S
- Upgradeable: The 2S model can be upgraded to Surface Hub 3 by swapping in the Surface Hub 3 Compute Cartridge (which comes pre-installed with Windows 11-based Teams Rooms).
- Migration Offer: There’s a free migration path to Teams Rooms on Windows, but this offer expires on October 14, 2025. Act quickly to avoid missing out.
- Alternative: For personal office scenarios, you may install Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise if compatible, though this limits the device’s intended collaborative use.
Key Actions to Take Now
- Audit Your Devices: Identify all Surface Hub v1 and 2S units in your organization.
- Plan for Replacement or Upgrade:
- Replace Surface Hub v1 with Surface Hub 3.
- Upgrade Surface Hub 2S using the Compute Cartridge or migrate to Teams Rooms on Windows before the free offer ends.
- Communicate with Stakeholders: Inform IT, facilities, and business leaders about the risks of unsupported devices.
- Budget for Transition: Allocate funds for hardware upgrades or replacements to avoid last-minute disruptions.
The Negative Impact of Inaction
- Security Threats: Unsupported devices are prime targets for cyberattacks, putting your organization at risk.
- Loss of Collaboration Tools: Teams and other critical apps will stop working, hampering productivity.
- Potential E-Waste: Without a viable upgrade path, these large, expensive devices may end up as electronic waste, contributing to environmental and financial loss.
Don’t let your Surface Hubs become a costly liability. Proactive planning and timely upgrades are essential to keep your meeting spaces secure, functional, and future-proof. Take action now to avoid the negative consequences of unsupported technology and ensure your organization stays ahead of the curve