No, of course you don’t have to update to Windows 11. Same as they didn’t with Windows 7, 8, Vista, ME, or 98.

Microsoft thinks it is a threat to take away your support for Windows 10. Did anyone ever feel supported? Your life will only be better when Microsoft stops forcing buggy Windows updates on you. That is the totality of Microsoft support, btw, their Windows updates - the worst thing about Windows. Yes, take away our “support” Microsoft, and let us be.

Also, nothing gets onto your computer unless it comes through your internet browsers: Firefox, Chrome, (don’t use) Microsoft Edge. If you are using Chrome, Firefox, or even Edge, those programs update their security each time you open and close them, completely independent of Microsoft Windows Updates. So you will still be safe as long as those programs can update themselves, and that usually continues 3-5 years past this point we are at now in Oct. 2025 with Windows 10. What will happen is that at the top of your screen on Chrome or Firefox, there will be a banner that says that at some point in the future, they will stop updating those programs on the operating system you are using. That point is three to five years away, given Microsoft’s previous scare campaign history with Windows 7 and before. But even then, take your time. If your computer is working fine otherwise, I would still do some research before taking a chance with the latest Windows operating system. It may be horrible and annoying.

So, as usual, ignore or do the opposite of what Microsoft tells you. You don’t need to do anything other than keep using your computer. Your goal is to be at the very tail end of any Microsoft changes; better if you can skip them altogether.