What “end of support” actually means
On 14 October 2025, Microsoft stopped providing free updates for Windows 10. That date has passed, and it’s the single most common question coming into the workshop right now: does my computer still work, and is it safe?
The short version: your Windows 10 PC still turns on, still runs your programs, and hasn’t changed overnight. “End of support” doesn’t switch anything off. What it means is that Microsoft has stopped shipping free security updates — the monthly patches that fix newly discovered holes attackers use to break in. The software keeps running; it just stops getting fixed.
That distinction matters because it changes the urgency. This isn’t “your PC will stop working tomorrow.” It’s “every month from now, your PC gets a little more exposed to threats that newer, patched systems are protected against.” It’s a slow-rising risk, not a cliff edge — which means you have time to make a considered decision rather than a panicked one.
Why an unpatched PC is a real (but manageable) risk
Security updates exist because new vulnerabilities are found in every operating system all the time. On a supported system, Microsoft finds or is told about a hole, writes a fix, and pushes it out before most attackers can take advantage. On an unsupported system, that hole stays open forever.
The practical risk is highest if you:
- Bank, shop or handle sensitive information on the machine
- Use it for work, especially with client or company data
- Open email attachments and browse widely, which is most people
The risk is lower — though not zero — if the machine is offline most of the time, or only used for a single local task like a printer or a bit of offline work. But for a normal home or business PC that’s online every day, running it unpatched indefinitely is not something we’d recommend.
The good news is you have three clear routes, and none of them requires panic.
Option 1: Extended Security Updates (buy yourself time)
Microsoft is offering Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10 — a way to keep receiving critical security patches after the cut-off while you plan your next move. For home users this covers roughly a year; businesses can extend further for a higher cost.
ESU is the right choice when:
- Your PC can’t run Windows 11 (it doesn’t meet the hardware requirements) but is otherwise fine
- You’re not ready to spend on a new machine right now
- You want to stay protected while you decide rather than being rushed
Think of ESU as a bridge, not a destination. It keeps the security patches coming so you’re not exposed, and buys you a year to upgrade or replace on your own timetable instead of Microsoft’s. The exact enrolment options and pricing have shifted since launch, so it’s worth checking the current terms — but the principle holds: if your machine can’t move to Windows 11 yet, ESU keeps it safe in the meantime.
Option 2: Upgrade to Windows 11 (if the hardware allows)
If your PC meets Windows 11’s requirements, upgrading is usually the best long-term answer — it’s free from a licensed Windows 10, and it puts you back on a fully supported system that’ll keep getting updates for years.
The catch is that Windows 11 is fussier about hardware than any previous version. It requires:
- A fairly recent processor (roughly 2018 onwards)
- TPM 2.0, a security chip that many machines have but which is sometimes switched off in the settings
- Secure Boot enabled
A lot of machines that “fail” the Windows 11 check actually have the required hardware — TPM and Secure Boot are simply turned off in the firmware and can be switched on. We see this constantly: a PC that Microsoft’s checker says can’t run Windows 11, which upgrades perfectly once two settings are enabled. So a failed compatibility check is worth a second opinion before you conclude you need a new machine.
Where it’s genuinely not possible — an older processor that isn’t on the supported list — forcing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware is possible but not something we’d advise for a machine you rely on. That’s where ESU or replacement comes in.
Option 3: Replace the machine (when it’s genuinely time)
Sometimes the honest answer is that the machine has had a good run and replacement is the sensible spend. That’s usually the case when:
- The PC is already slow and tired — end of support is just the final nudge
- It can’t run Windows 11 and you don’t want to keep paying for ESU indefinitely
- A repair or upgrade would cost a meaningful fraction of a new machine’s price
If you do replace, the important part is doing it properly: getting your files, emails and settings moved across cleanly, and securely wiping the old machine before it leaves your hands, especially if you’re recycling or selling it. A drive full of old documents and saved passwords is not something to hand over unwiped.
We won’t push you toward a new machine if your current one has life left in it — but we’ll also tell you plainly when you’re better off replacing than pouring money into an old box.
How to decide: a quick guide
Work through it in this order:
- Can your PC run Windows 11? Don’t just trust the compatibility checker — the answer is often “yes, once TPM and Secure Boot are enabled.” If yes, upgrading is usually the best move. It’s free and it’s a long-term fix.
- If it can’t run Windows 11, is the machine otherwise good? If it’s still fast enough and you’re happy with it, ESU keeps it safe while you plan. No rush.
- Is the machine already slow, old and struggling? Then end of support is a good moment to replace it — and to do the data migration and secure wipe properly.
There’s no single right answer for everyone. It depends on your specific machine, what you use it for, and how sensitive the data on it is.
What we can do
If you’re not sure which camp your PC falls into, that’s exactly the kind of thing worth a quick check. We can:
- Test whether your machine genuinely can or can’t run Windows 11 — and enable the hardware settings if it can
- Upgrade it to Windows 11 cleanly, keeping your files and programs
- Enrol it in Extended Security Updates if it can’t upgrade but you want to keep it safely running
- Migrate your data to a new machine and securely wipe the old one if replacement is the right call
- Give you a straight, no-pressure recommendation on which of the three routes actually fits your machine
If your PC is still on Windows 10 and you’d like to know where you stand, call us on 020 7610 0500, drop in to our Putney workshop in SW15, or use the contact form. It’s a short conversation that can save you either a security scare or the cost of a machine you didn’t need to replace.