Windows 10 End of Support: Your Options in 2026 and Beyond
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Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Your PC still boots, still runs your apps, and still connects to the internet — but the rules changed that day. This guide explains what actually happens now, what the Extended Security Updates programme covers after Microsoft's June 2026 extension, and how to decide between staying, upgrading, or replacing your machine.
What end of support actually means
Microsoft stopped shipping feature updates, quality fixes and technical assistance for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Nothing was switched off remotely and no licence expired. What disappeared was the monthly stream of patches that closes newly discovered security holes.
That distinction matters. An unsupported operating system does not fail on day one; it degrades. Each month that passes without patches adds another known vulnerability that attackers can rely on being present.
Extended Security Updates: the deadline moved
Microsoft opened an ESU programme to consumers for the first time — previously it was reserved for enterprise customers. It was originally scheduled to run for one year, ending October 13, 2026.
In June 2026, Microsoft extended the consumer programme to October 12, 2027. If you are already enrolled, your coverage continues to that date automatically. If you are not, you can still enrol at any point before the programme closes.
What ESU gives you — and what it does not
- Included: critical and important security updates, as classified by the Microsoft Security Response Center
- Not included: feature updates, non-security bug fixes, performance improvements, design changes
- Not included: technical support from Microsoft
ESU is a bridge, not a destination. It buys planning time; it does not make Windows 10 a long-term platform.
How to enrol
Enrolment happens from Settings on the PC itself. Three routes are available:
- Turn on Windows Backup to sync your PC settings — no charge
- Redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points
- Pay a one-time fee of around $30, plus applicable tax
Your device must be running Windows 10 version 22H2 in the Home, Pro, Pro Education or Pro for Workstations edition, with the latest updates installed. Enrolment requires signing in with an administrator Microsoft account — local accounts are prompted to switch, and child accounts are not eligible. Enrolment options and timing vary by region, notably in the European Economic Area.
Business PCs are a separate programme
Commercial ESU is licensed through volume licensing and structured as three annual years running to 2026, 2027 and 2028. It is not the consumer enrolment repeated across company devices. If you manage a fleet, check your entitlement route before assuming coverage.
Should you upgrade to Windows 11 instead?
For most people the answer is yes, and the reason is simple arithmetic: Windows 11 is supported into 2031, while every ESU path has a fixed exit date. Upgrading now also avoids doing it later under time pressure.
Windows 11 adds hardware-backed security that Windows 10 cannot match — TPM-based isolation, Secure Boot enforced by default, virtualisation-based protection — alongside better power management on modern laptops and access to Copilot.
Enrolling in ESU does not lock you out of upgrading later. If your hardware qualifies, you can move to Windows 11 at any point during or after the ESU period.
Check whether your PC qualifies
Microsoft's free PC Health Check app gives a definitive answer. The requirements are:
- TPM 2.0
- Secure Boot capable
- 64-bit processor, 1 GHz or faster, with 2 or more cores
- 4 GB RAM minimum
- 64 GB storage minimum
Plenty of machines that look too old actually qualify — TPM is often present but disabled in the BIOS. It is worth checking before assuming you need new hardware.
How to upgrade
- Back up your files to OneDrive or an external drive
- Run PC Health Check to confirm eligibility
- Get a genuine licence — our Windows 11 Pro retail key is transferable to a future PC, while the OEM key costs less but stays tied to one machine
- Download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant from Microsoft
- Follow the guided steps — your files, apps and settings are preserved
If you are also replacing an ageing Office installation, the Windows 11 Pro + Office 2024 bundle covers both in one purchase.
If you are staying on Windows 10
Some hardware simply cannot make the jump, and that is a legitimate position. If you stay, reduce your exposure:
- Enrol in ESU — the free Windows Backup route costs nothing and is the single highest-impact step
- Keep a reputable third-party antivirus updated alongside Defender
- Keep your browser current, since it is the most exposed surface on the machine
- Back up regularly, so ransomware becomes an inconvenience rather than a disaster
- Avoid using the machine for banking or handling sensitive data
Lightweight Linux distributions and ChromeOS Flex are genuine alternatives for older hardware, provided you do not depend on Windows-only software.
Frequently asked questions
Will Windows 10 stop working?
No. It keeps running indefinitely. What stops is the supply of security patches once your ESU coverage ends.
When exactly does consumer ESU end?
October 12, 2027, following Microsoft's June 2026 extension. The originally announced date of October 13, 2026 no longer applies to the consumer programme.
Can I still use Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10?
Yes. Microsoft has committed to shipping security updates for Microsoft 365 apps running on Windows 10 through October 2028.
Is the Windows 11 upgrade free?
If you hold a valid Windows 10 licence and your hardware qualifies, the upgrade path is free. A fresh licence is needed for a clean install on a machine without one, or when moving from Home to Pro.
Does enrolling in ESU stop me upgrading later?
No. You can move to Windows 11 whenever you are ready.
The bottom line
The cliff edge people feared in October 2025 turned into a managed wind-down, and the June 2026 extension gave everyone another year. That is breathing room, not a reprieve — the exit date is fixed and it is now October 12, 2027.
If your PC can run Windows 11, upgrading is the cheaper decision over any horizon longer than a year. If it cannot, enrol in ESU today at no cost and use the time to plan properly.