No. Windows 10 keeps running. The risk is that new security holes stop getting patched unless the PC is enrolled in Extended Security Updates.
Windows 10 End of Support
Windows 10 End of Support
Still on Windows 10? Here’s what to do next.
Microsoft stopped supporting Windows 10 in October 2025. Your PC still turns on, but it only gets security fixes if it’s enrolled in Extended Security Updates. Take two minutes to check whether yours is protected and ready for Windows 11.
Oct 2025
Windows 10 support ended
Oct 12, 2027
Last day of home security updates (with ESU)
Your PC won’t stop working. It just stops getting fixed.
It still turns on
Nothing shuts off. Your files, apps and printers keep working the same as today.
New security holes stay open
Without Extended Security Updates, newly found vulnerabilities never get patched, and attackers know which PCs are unpatched.
Apps slowly drop support
Browsers, antivirus, and business software gradually stop supporting Windows 10, and new hardware and printers may not work with it.
Two-Minute Check
Is your PC protected, and can it run Windows 11?
Answer as you go. Everything happens right here on the page, and nothing you tap is sent anywhere.
Checking several PCs at an office? We’ll do the whole fleet during a free checkup.
1. Which Windows are you on?
Press Windows + R, type winver, press Enter.
2. Is it enrolled in Extended Security Updates?
Open Settings › Update & Security › Windows Update. Enrolled PCs say so on that screen. If you see an Enroll now link, it isn’t enrolled yet.
3. Can it run Windows 11?
Quickest way: Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app. Or check each item:
Processor: Intel 8th gen / AMD Ryzen 2000 or newer (roughly 2018 and later). Settings › System › About.
TPM 2.0: Windows + R ›
tpm.msc › “Specification Version: 2.0”.UEFI + Secure Boot: Windows + R ›
msinfo32 › “BIOS Mode: UEFI”.4 GB+ memory and 64 GB+ storage Settings › System › About / Storage.
Five ways forward, from best to worst.
01
Upgrade to Windows 11
Free for PCs that pass the checklist. Files and apps normally come along.
Best for: PCs about five years old or newer that pass every check.
Watch out: Back up first. Older printers and specialty software may need updates.
02
Replace the PC
A new Windows 11 PC or a Mac, with your files, settings and apps moved over.
Best for: PCs that fail the processor or TPM check, or are over five or six years old.
Watch out: Wipe the old drive properly before you recycle or sell it. We’ll do that for you.
03
Enroll in Extended Security Updates
Home: free with PC settings sync to a Microsoft account, 1,000 Rewards points, or $30. Covers up to 10 PCs through Oct 12, 2027.
Business: $61 per PC for year one, doubling each year, through Oct 2028.
Best for: Buying time while you plan an upgrade or replacement.
Watch out: It’s a bridge, not a destination. Business pricing is cumulative, so starting late means paying for the years you missed.
04
Give old hardware a second life
ChromeOS Flex or Linux can turn an older PC into a safe web-browsing machine.
Best for: A spare PC used only for web, email and streaming.
Watch out: Windows-only apps won’t run. Not a fit for most business machines.
05
Do nothing
Keep running Windows 10 without Extended Security Updates.
Best for: Nothing. We don’t recommend it.
Watch out: Unpatched PCs are an easy way in for ransomware, and cyber insurance may not cover them.
The Windows 10 timeline
Oct 14, 2025
Support ended
Windows 10 stopped getting free updates and technical help.
Oct 13, 2026
Business ESU year 1 ends
Year 2 costs $122 per PC, and late starters pay for year 1 too.
Oct 12, 2027
Home ESU ends
Extended by Microsoft in June 2026. Business year 2 ends the same day.
Oct 10, 2028
Final business year
Last possible security update for any Windows 10 PC.
We’ll handle the whole move.
01
Check every PC
Which ones can upgrade, which need replacing, and which are unprotected today.
02
Back up first
Files, browser bookmarks, email and settings, safely copied before anything changes.
03
Upgrade or replace
Windows 11 upgrades, or new PCs set up with everything moved over and working.
04
Wipe and recycle
Old drives securely erased or destroyed, so your data doesn’t leave with the hardware.
Common questions
-
Will my PC stop working?
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Is upgrading to Windows 11 free?
Yes, for Windows 10 PCs that meet the requirements. Microsoft’s PC Health Check app or the checklist above will tell you.
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How do I enroll in Extended Security Updates at home?
Your PC needs Windows 10 version 22H2 and a Microsoft account with administrator rights. Go to Settings › Update & Security › Windows Update and choose Enroll now. It’s free if you sync your PC settings, or costs 1,000 Rewards points or $30. Enrollment is open until Oct 12, 2027, and you can have us walk you through it.
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Can I force Windows 11 onto a PC that fails the check?
There are workarounds, but Microsoft doesn’t guarantee updates for unsupported hardware. We don’t recommend it, especially for business machines.
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Will I lose my files or programs?
Not if it’s done right. We back everything up first, and a normal upgrade keeps files and apps in place. When replacing a PC, we move everything over for you.
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I have a Mac. Does this affect me?
Not directly, but the same rule applies: make sure your Mac still gets macOS security updates. Apple generally patches the current version and the two before it.
Upgrade, replace, or bridge. We’ll help you choose.
Let’s get your PCs sorted.