Still on Windows 10? Your Options After End of Support (ESU Now Runs to Oct. 2027)
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How we wrote this: A summary of Microsoft's official end-of-support, Extended Security Updates (ESU), lifecycle and Windows 11 requirements pages (linked below), checked October 28, 2026. Microsoft changes program details, so confirm on its pages before you decide.
Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. A year later, plenty of home-office PCs still run it. Here is what that means and what your options are.
What end of support means
Microsoft's end-of-support FAQ says a Windows 10 PC keeps working, but Microsoft no longer provides technical support, software updates, or security updates and fixes. Without security updates, it says, the PC is at greater risk from viruses and malware. Microsoft's lifecycle page confirms that version 22H2 is the final version of Windows 10 Home and Pro.
For a computer you use for banking, client files or business email, running without security updates is a real risk. You have three ways out.
Option 1: Upgrade to Windows 11 for free
Microsoft says the upgrade is free for Windows 10 PCs that run version 22H2 and meet the minimum hardware requirements. To check, go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates. Microsoft's PC Health Check app also reports eligibility.
The main Windows 11 minimum requirements:
| Component | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Processor | 1 GHz or faster, 2 or more cores, on Microsoft's approved CPU list |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB or larger |
| Firmware | UEFI, Secure Boot capable |
| TPM | Trusted Platform Module 2.0 |
| Graphics | DirectX 12 or later with a WDDM 2.0 driver |
The CPU is usually the deciding factor. Microsoft notes that clock speed and core count can't be upgraded. If a PC fails only on Secure Boot or TPM, Microsoft's requirements page links to articles on steps that may enable them. Microsoft also says Windows 11 Home (and Pro for personal use) needs an internet connection and a Microsoft account during initial setup.
Before upgrading, back up your files. See our 3-2-1 backup guide.
Option 2: Enroll in Extended Security Updates (ESU)
If your PC can't run Windows 11, or you need more time, Microsoft's consumer ESU program supplies critical and important security updates for Windows 10, version 22H2. Microsoft now says ESU runs until October 12, 2027, and that you can enroll at any time until then. If you're already enrolled, coverage continues automatically.
How Microsoft describes enrollment:
- Cost: free if you sync your PC settings, or redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or make a one-time $30 purchase (plus tax). One license covers up to 10 devices.
- Requirements: Windows 10 version 22H2 (Home, Pro, Pro Education or Pro for Workstations), the latest updates installed, and a Microsoft account with administrator rights. You may be asked to sign in with a Microsoft account if you use a local account.
- Where: Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update shows an enrollment link when your device qualifies.
- What it isn't: ESU includes no new features, non-security fixes or technical support. Microsoft also says the consumer program can't be used in commercial scenarios. Devices joined to a domain or managed by an MDM tool aren't eligible, and businesses use a separate commercial ESU program.
ESU buys time. It isn't a permanent fix: after October 12, 2027, there's no consumer path to more Windows 10 security updates.
Option 3: Replace the PC
If you replace the computer, Microsoft points to Windows Backup to move files, settings and some apps to the new PC. Before the old machine leaves your hands, wipe it properly. Our guide to wiping a computer before recycling covers the steps and the EPA's donation and recycling options.
If the replacement will run local AI tools, see what to check in a laptop for local AI.
While you decide
- Keep your browser and apps up to date.
- Use strong sign-in protection on important accounts. See passwords and MFA and passkeys.
- Keep a current backup.