Industry Odisha Bureau, Aug 19: In latest news, China is reportedly asking some government agencies to remove Windows 10 from their computers as Beijing steps up efforts to reduce its dependency on US technology. The affected organisations are being encouraged to move to locally developed operating systems, particularly Linux based alternatives.
An official report says that the Chinese Ministry of State Security has told some state linked entities to uninstall Microsoft’s software. The move is reportedly linked to data security concerns. Although, authorities have not pointed to any specific security flaw in Windows.
The Windows version used by these agencies is not the standard version found on most personal computers. It is a customized edition developed by C&M Information Technologies (CMIT). Notably, it is a venture between Microsoft and state owned China Electronics Technology Group. The system was designed to meet China’s security requirements and supported the use of Chinese encryption standards.
Further, Microsoft said it was not aware of any security incident involving the product and noted that it continues to receive regular security updates.
The customized Windows 10 version was originally scheduled to be retired in February 2027. Reportedly, China is now bringing forward its replacement as part of a broader push to use domestic technology for sensitive government work.
It is to be noted that several Chinese companies already offer alternatives. Kylin Software has developed the Linux based Kylin OS. Meanwhile, Tongxin Software Technology offers Unity OS, which is based on Debian Linux.
Despite the government push, Windows remains widely used by Chinese consumers. StatCounter data showed that it accounted for 87.64% of desktop web traffic in China in July 2026.
