Windows 10 users have 26 days left — here’s how to prepare your PC before Microsoft cuts its support on October 14, 2025

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Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10 on October 14th, after ten years. After that date, anyone still using Windows 10 will be vulnerable to security risks unless they upgrade to a newer operating system or pay for Microsoft’s extended security updates.

Once Microsoft stops supporting Windows 10, you won’t receive any further updates – including new features, security fixes, or bug repairs. This means that if a security flaw is found in Windows 10 after October 14th, Microsoft isn’t required to fix it, potentially leaving your computer vulnerable to attacks.

How to prepare for Windows 10’s End of Life

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This affects all users of Windows 10 Home and Pro. After October 14th, your computer won’t receive updates or security support if you don’t take action, so it’s important to plan ahead. Microsoft suggests upgrading to Windows 11 if your computer can handle it, or purchasing a new Windows 11 PC. If upgrading isn’t possible, the Extended Security Update (ESU) program can provide temporary security protection.

Microsoft is offering a program that lets you keep getting security updates for Windows 10 for an extra year after October 2025. You can get access for free by signing in with your Microsoft account and saving your PC settings to the cloud. If you prefer, you can also pay $30 or use 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.

While Extended Security Updates are one option, you don’t have to pay to stay secure – you could switch to a new computer or find completely free solutions. Here’s a breakdown of your choices when Windows 10 is no longer supported, along with our advice if you’re considering an upgrade.

Are there any alternatives to Windows 10?

If you’re considering replacing your current Windows 10 setup, upgrading to Windows 11 is the most straightforward option. However, your computer needs to meet certain requirements, including having a TPM 2.0 chip, to run the latest version of Windows. A TPM, or Trusted Platform Module, is a security chip that adds an extra layer of protection to your computer beyond just software. You might already have one installed.

Even if your computer doesn’t meet the requirements, you might still be able to install Windows 11, but success isn’t guaranteed. Microsoft doesn’t recommend this, as they still insist on the TPM 2.0 security feature. If you’re not comfortable with these workarounds, or prefer to stay with Windows 10, that’s perfectly fine too.

WINUX strongly resembles Windows 11, and this goes beyond just the background image and taskbar arrangement.

Richard Devine, Windows Central Managing Editor

It’s surprisingly easy to replace Windows 10 or 11 on your computer with another operating system, such as Linux or ChromeOS (the system used on Chromebooks). You don’t need to be a tech expert to do it.

WINUX, a new and free Linux operating system, recently became available. It’s designed to be familiar to Windows users, with a desktop and interface that closely resemble Microsoft’s operating system. After testing it, we found WINUX to be the most convincing Linux alternative for those used to Windows.

You can find installation instructions for Linux distributions or ChromeOS on their official websites. Generally, the process isn’t complicated and usually only requires a standard USB flash drive to create a bootable installer.

Upgrading your PC: Our top recommendations

A reliable way to avoid problems when Windows 10 is no longer supported is to purchase a new computer. While this isn’t the cheapest solution, we’ve found that some of the best Windows laptops are surprisingly affordable.

The ASUS Zenbook A14 (2025) is a lightweight 14-inch laptop available at Amazon for around $879. It boasts impressively long battery life thanks to its efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor. Plus, it features a stunning OLED display – something ASUS is known for – making it a great value for a Windows 11 laptop under $1,000.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is a premium 2-in-1 laptop powered by a powerful Snapdragon X Elite chip. It typically costs around $1,399.99 at Amazon and offers full support for Windows 11. The device features a beautiful 120Hz OLED touchscreen that’s great for both tablet use and typing with the optional detachable Flex keyboard.

10 years of Windows 10: How did we get here?

As a long-time tech fan, I’ve seen Windows 10 dominate as the world’s most-used operating system for almost a decade. But things have shifted – Windows 11 actually overtook it in popularity earlier this year! While ten years of support is pretty typical for an OS, this time around it feels different. There’s a real concern that a lot of older PCs just won’t be able to handle the upgrade to Windows 11 because of the system requirements, which is a bit unusual.

We’ll keep this page current with updates until October 14, 2025, and for a short time afterward if needed. We don’t anticipate any changes to Microsoft’s policies, and continuing with the Extended Security Update (ESU) program will probably be the best way to keep using Windows 10.

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2025-09-18 20:15