Phones, computers & home
Windows 10 is no longer supported. What should I do?
Microsoft ended mainstream support for Windows 10 on 14 October 2025. Your PC still turns on and works, but new security flaws are only fixed for computers enrolled in Extended Security Updates. Here’s how to work out where you stand and what to do next.
The short version
Your options
- Upgrade to Windows 11 for free if your PC supports it.
- If not, enrol in Extended Security Updates to buy time.
- Plan to replace PCs that can’t run Windows 11.
- Don’t keep using an unpatched Windows 10 PC for banking or work.
What end of support means
Since 14 October 2025, Microsoft no longer provides regular security updates, feature updates or technical support for Windows 10. Computers keep working, but any new security flaw discovered in Windows 10 stays open unless the PC is enrolled in Extended Security Updates (ESU).
Over time, that makes an unpatched Windows 10 PC an easier target, particularly for anything that involves the internet: email, banking, web browsing and work systems.
Step 1: Check if your PC can run Windows 11
Go to Settings, then Update & Security, then Windows Update. If your PC can upgrade, you’ll usually see an offer to download Windows 11 for free. You can also use Microsoft’s PC Health Check app, which tells you exactly why a PC doesn’t qualify.
Common reasons a PC can’t upgrade are an older processor or a missing security chip called TPM 2.0. Sometimes TPM just needs turning on in the PC’s settings, so it’s worth checking before giving up.
Step 2: Upgrade if you can
Back up first
Before any major upgrade, back up your files. See our backup guide.
Check your important software
Make sure the programs and devices you rely on, like accounting software, printers and scanners, work on Windows 11. Most do.
Upgrade through Windows Update
Follow the prompts in Windows Update. It usually takes an hour or two, and your files and apps stay in place.
Step 3: If you can’t upgrade yet, use Extended Security Updates
ESU keeps critical security updates coming to Windows 10 for a limited time.
- Home users: Microsoft offers consumer ESU, which can be free if you sync your settings with Windows Backup or redeem Microsoft Rewards points, or can be bought as a one-year licence. Microsoft has since extended the consumer program, and its documentation now says enrolment is available until 12 October 2027. Look for the enrolment option in Windows Update. Your PC needs to be on Windows 10 version 22H2 with the latest updates.
- Businesses: commercial ESU is a paid, per-device subscription for up to three years, purchased through Microsoft or a licensing partner.
ESU is a bridge, not a plan. It buys time to replace or upgrade PCs properly.
Check the dates on Microsoft’s site
Microsoft has changed ESU details since the original announcement. Confirm the current terms on its Windows 10 support page before relying on a date.
Step 4: Plan replacements
If a PC can’t run Windows 11, plan to replace it. When you do:
- Move your files using a backup, OneDrive or an external drive.
- Wipe the old PC properly before selling, donating or recycling it. Use Reset this PC and choose to remove everything and clean the drive.
- Set up the new one securely. See our guide to setting up a new work laptop.
If replacing a PC isn’t possible yet, keep it on ESU, and if it isn’t enrolled, avoid using it for banking, email or work.
For businesses
- List every Windows 10 device, whether it can run Windows 11 and when it will be replaced.
- Enrol any remaining devices in commercial ESU so they keep getting patches.
- Check line-of-business software and peripherals for Windows 11 compatibility.
- Plan the remaining replacements across the budget year rather than all at once.
NovaSoft’s managed IT team can help assess, upgrade and replace devices if you’d like a hand.
Common questions
Will my Windows 10 PC stop working?
No. It will keep running. The issue is security over time, not the computer switching off.
Will my antivirus protect me instead?
Antivirus helps, but it can’t fix flaws in Windows itself. It’s not a replacement for security updates.
Is Microsoft 365 still supported on Windows 10?
Microsoft has said it will continue providing security updates for Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 for a period after end of support, but the operating system itself is the bigger risk. Check Microsoft’s current guidance.
Sources
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. If you think you’ve lost money or personal information, contact your bank and the services named above straight away.
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Want a hand with this at work?
These guides are free to use. If your business wants help putting the checks, accounts and devices in place, our team can do it with you.