Still Running Windows 10? Here’s Exactly What to Do Now

Windows 10 stopped receiving security updates on October 14, 2025. If that’s still the computer you’re using every day, nothing broke overnight — but the protection quietly did. Here’s what actually changed, what your real options are, and how to decide without panicking or overspending.

What “end of support” really means

Your Windows 10 PC still turns on, still runs your programs, and still browses the web exactly as before. What Microsoft stopped providing is the part you don’t see: security patches, bug fixes, and technical support. Every new vulnerability discovered in Windows 10 from here on simply stays open on unprotected machines — nobody is closing those doors anymore.

That risk grows over time, not all at once. A Windows 10 PC on October 15, 2025 was barely different from the day before. A Windows 10 PC in 2027, with two years of unpatched holes, is a much easier target. The clock is the danger, not the calendar date itself.

The one exception worth knowing: Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, Outlook) will keep getting security updates on Windows 10 through October 10, 2028. That’s Office, not Windows — your operating system itself is still unprotected.

The free lifeline: Extended Security Updates (ESU)

If you’re not ready to move yet, Microsoft’s consumer ESU program covers critical and important security updates for Windows 10 (version 22H2) through October 12, 2027. You have three ways to enroll:

• Free — turn on Windows Backup / settings sync to your Microsoft account
• Free — redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points
• $30 one-time — covers up to 10 devices tied to the same Microsoft account

You’ll need an administrator-level Microsoft account (not a work/school-managed one) and the latest Windows 10 updates installed first. ESU buys you time — it doesn’t add new features or restore Microsoft’s tech support, just the security patches.

Can your PC actually run Windows 11?

Before deciding anything, check eligibility: go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update (or Settings > Windows Update on newer builds) and look for the upgrade offer, or download Microsoft’s PC Health Check app.

Broadly, Windows 11 needs a supported 64-bit processor from the last several years, TPM 2.0, UEFI Secure Boot, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. TPM 2.0 is the one that trips people up — it’s a security chip that’s been standard for years but is sometimes turned off in older PCs’ firmware rather than actually missing.

So what should you actually do?

• PC is Windows 11-eligible: upgrade. It’s a free download and it’s the real fix, not a workaround.
• PC isn’t eligible but is otherwise fine: enroll in free ESU now, and treat 2027 as your real deadline to replace the machine.
• PC is older and already slowing down: ESU is a bridge, not a destination — start planning for a replacement rather than sinking more time into an aging machine.

If your current PC still feels sluggish while you weigh these options, search this blog for our guide on speeding up a slow Windows computer for real fixes worth trying in the meantime.

Need help with your Windows 10 upgrade in NYC?

We can check whether your specific PC qualifies for Windows 11, help you understand ESU, do the upgrade itself, or help you weigh repair versus replacement if it’s time for a new machine. Tech Support NYC handles this in person across Manhattan or remotely.

Updated September 2026.