Windows 10 End of Support: Is It Safe and What Are Your Options? (Nov 2026)

• Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Your PC keeps working, but Microsoft no longer releases regular security updates, feature updates or fixes for it.
• Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) run until October 12, 2027. You can enroll for free by syncing your PC settings, by redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or with a one-time $30 USD purchase (plus tax), and one license covers up to 10 devices.
• If your PC meets the requirements, the upgrade to Windows 11 is free. Check Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, or use Microsoft’s PC Health Check app.
• Some protection continues for now: Microsoft says Defender Antivirus will keep getting security intelligence updates on Windows 10 through October 2028, and Microsoft 365 apps get security updates on Windows 10 until October 10, 2028. Neither patches Windows itself.
• Not eligible for Windows 11? Enroll in ESU now to stay patched until October 2027, then plan to replace the PC or move it to another operating system.

Dates checked against Microsoft’s pages on November 7, 2026.

It still turns on and runs your programs, but it becomes riskier every month. Microsoft’s end of support page says Windows 10 PCs no longer receive security updates and face greater risk from viruses and malware. When attackers find a new flaw in Windows 10, a PC without ESU will not get the fix.

Antivirus helps but does not close that gap. Microsoft’s Defender team says it will keep providing security intelligence updates for the built-in Defender Antivirus through October 2028, but also that devices running Windows 10 will be more vulnerable even with those updates. In practice: a Windows 10 PC enrolled in ESU and kept updated is in reasonable shape until October 2027. A Windows 10 PC with no ESU should not be used for online banking, shopping or email you care about.

Every Windows 10 PC falls into one of these paths. The table below compares them side by side.

1. Upgrade to Windows 11 for free if your PC is eligible. This is the best option for most people.
2. Enroll in consumer ESU to keep getting critical security updates until October 12, 2027 while you decide.
3. Replace the PC with one that ships with Windows 11, especially if yours is old or slow anyway.
4. Switch the PC to another operating system such as ChromeOS Flex or Linux, if the hardware still has life left and you mainly use a web browser.

1. Look in Windows Update. Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. If your PC is eligible, an offer to upgrade to Windows 11 appears there. Microsoft says the upgrade is free for eligible Windows 10 PCs.
2. Run PC Health Check. Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app tells you whether the PC meets the requirements and which part fails if it does not. Microsoft notes it does not check the graphics card or display.
3. Compare with the minimum requirements. Microsoft’s Windows 11 specifications list a compatible 64-bit processor with 2 or more cores at 1 GHz or faster, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, UEFI firmware with Secure Boot, TPM version 2.0, DirectX 12 compatible graphics with a WDDM 2.0 driver, and a 720p display larger than 9 inches. Windows 11 Home and Pro for personal use need an internet connection and a Microsoft account during setup.
4. If only TPM or Secure Boot fails, it may just be switched off in the firmware settings. Many PCs from about 2018 onward have a firmware TPM that can be turned on. Check your PC maker’s instructions before changing anything.
5. Back up first. The upgrade keeps your files and apps, but a backup is cheap insurance. Our backup guide shows three ways to do it.

Microsoft only offers the upgrade to PCs that meet the requirements. Workarounds that force Windows 11 onto unsupported hardware exist, but Microsoft does not recommend them and such PCs may not be entitled to updates.

According to Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates page, you can enroll any time until the program ends on October 12, 2027, and choose one of three ways to pay:

• No extra cost if you sync your PC settings (using Windows Backup with your Microsoft account).
• Redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
• A one-time purchase of $30 USD (or local equivalent) plus applicable tax.

One license covers up to 10 devices. Requirements: Windows 10 version 22H2 (Home, Pro, Pro Education or Workstations), the latest Windows update installed, the licensing preparation package Microsoft lists on that page, and a Microsoft account with administrator rights that is not a child account. Microsoft notes that options and timing can differ by region, for example in the European Economic Area.

How to enroll: go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and look for the option to enroll in Extended Security Updates. If you do not see it, install all pending updates, restart, and check that you are signed in with a Microsoft account that is an administrator. ESU covers security updates only: no new features.

Step 1: Enroll in ESU now. It is the cheapest way to keep a Windows 10 PC patched until October 12, 2027, and the free option costs nothing if you are happy to sync settings with a Microsoft account.

Step 2: Decide what happens before October 2027. If the PC is more than 6 to 8 years old, slow, or has a spinning hard drive, replacing it usually makes more sense than upgrading parts. If it runs well and you mostly use a browser, ChromeOS Flex or a beginner-friendly Linux version can keep it useful and updated; back up first, because installing one erases the drive.

Step 3: Stay careful in the meantime. Keep your browser and apps updated, keep Defender on, and do not open unexpected attachments. Watch out for scam pop-ups and calls claiming your Windows 10 PC is “infected” or “expired”: Microsoft does not call people about this. Our phishing guide covers the warning signs.

If Windows 11 is slow after upgrading, our fixes for a slow PC after a Windows 11 update and Windows 11 speed-up tweaks cover the usual causes. If you would rather not do the upgrade or ESU enrollment alone, our Computer & Device Help team handles Windows update problems and upgrades for a fixed price, in a screen sharing session that you start and watch the whole time, with a full refund if it is not fixed.