Windows 10 Is End of Life: What It Means and What to Do
On 14 October 2025, Windows 10 reached what Microsoft calls "end of support" — the day the security updates stopped. If you're still on Windows 10, your PC carries on working exactly as before. That's precisely what makes this easy to ignore, and precisely why it matters. Here's what end of life really means, how to check where you stand in about a minute, and what your options are.
What "end of life" actually means
End of support doesn't switch anything off. Your apps open, your files are all there, the machine feels identical. What's changed is invisible: from that date, Microsoft no longer issues security patches for Windows 10. Every new vulnerability discovered from now on stays open on your PC forever — and attackers deliberately target out-of-support systems because they know the holes will never be closed. The risk doesn't arrive with a bang; it builds quietly, month after month. For anything you use for banking, email, shopping or work, that's a slow leak worth taking seriously.
Are you affected? Check in seconds
First, confirm what you're running: press the Windows key, type winver and hit Enter. A little box tells you the version. If it says Windows 10, this applies to you. If it says Windows 11, you're still getting updates — though it's worth reading on, because some PCs are running Windows 11 on hardware Microsoft doesn't officially support, and that has its own catch.
Can your PC run Windows 11? Find out free
The good news: for a lot of people, Windows 11 is a free upgrade away. The catch is that it has stricter requirements than any previous version — chiefly a security chip called TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and a reasonably recent processor. Our free PC Health Check for Windows gives you a straight answer in about 60 seconds — and, usefully, tells you why if the answer is no. It even flags the machines that are already on Windows 11 but don't meet the requirements, where Microsoft doesn't guarantee future updates. Nothing leaves your PC, and there's no sign-up.
One thing worth knowing before you write off a good machine: on plenty of PCs, TPM and Secure Boot are present but switched off in the firmware settings. A "not compatible" result is sometimes a five-minute change away from "compatible" — which is exactly the sort of thing we check before recommending anything more drastic.
Your options, honestly
- Upgrade to Windows 11 (free). If your PC qualifies, it's a free upgrade from a genuine Windows 10 install. See our guide on whether and how to upgrade to Windows 11, and back up your files first.
- Enable TPM / Secure Boot. If those are the only things failing, they can often just be turned on in the firmware. We're happy to do it for you and confirm the machine is genuinely ready.
- Extended Security Updates (a stopgap). Microsoft is offering a limited, time-boxed way to keep receiving Windows 10 security updates for a while longer. It's a bridge, not a destination — sensible if you need breathing room, not a long-term plan.
- A newer (or refurbished) PC. If your machine is genuinely too old, a cost-effective replacement may beat sinking money into it — and we'll move your files, apps and settings across so it feels like home. Old device? We can recycle or trade it in too.
If you run a business
For a business, unsupported systems aren't just a security risk — they're increasingly a compliance and insurance one, as cyber policies now ask about it directly. If you've a handful of machines (or a room full) still on Windows 10, we can audit what can upgrade in place, what needs replacing, and plan a rollout that doesn't disrupt the working day. Our free business IT health check is a good place to start.
Official guidance: The UK's National Cyber Security Centre recommends keeping your devices and software on versions that still receive security updates — running unsupported software is one of the most common ways attackers get in.