Windows 10 reached its end of life on 14 October 2025. After that date, Microsoft stopped releasing security updates, bug fixes and technical support for the operating system. If you are still running Windows 10, it is important to understand what this means and what your options are.
What Does Windows 10 End of Life Mean?
End of life (EOL) means Microsoft has officially ended mainstream support for Windows 10. In practice, this means:
- No more security patches — new vulnerabilities discovered after October 2025 will not be fixed for Windows 10 users
- No bug fixes — software issues and glitches will remain unresolved
- No technical support — Microsoft will not provide help for Windows 10 problems
- Continued operation — Windows 10 will still work; Microsoft is not disabling it
The most significant risk is security. Without patches, newly discovered vulnerabilities remain open indefinitely, making systems increasingly exposed to malware, ransomware and hackers over time.
When Did Windows 10 Reach End of Life?
Microsoft announced the Windows 10 end of life date years in advance to give users time to plan. The final date was 14 October 2025. This applied to all editions of Windows 10, including Home, Pro, Enterprise and Education (version 22H2, the final feature update).
Microsoft followed the same pattern it used for Windows 7, which reached end of life on 14 January 2020. After that date, Windows 7 saw a rapid increase in malware infections targeting unpatched systems.
Is Windows 10 Still Safe to Use?
Immediately after end of life, Windows 10 is not suddenly unsafe — but the risk increases over time. Every month that passes without security updates is another month in which new vulnerabilities pile up without being patched.
If you are using Windows 10 for tasks that involve sensitive data, online banking, business files or email, the risk is meaningful. Cybercriminals actively target end-of-life operating systems because exploits can be used indefinitely without the vendor releasing a fix.
For a PC that is completely offline and used only for a specific offline task, the risk is lower — but this is rarely practical for most users.
Your Options After Windows 10 End of Life
Option 1 — Upgrade to Windows 11 (Free)
If your PC meets the requirements, upgrading to Windows 11 is free and is the recommended path. Windows 11 is supported until at least October 2031. The main hardware requirement is a TPM 2.0 chip, which most PCs made after 2017 have. See our guide on how to check if your PC can run Windows 11.
Option 2 — Purchase Extended Security Updates (ESU)
Microsoft offers Extended Security Updates for Windows 10, giving businesses (and consumers, for the first time) up to three more years of security patches — until October 2028. The cost for consumers is around $30 per year per device. This buys time but is not a long-term solution.
Option 3 — Replace or Upgrade Your Hardware
If your current PC cannot run Windows 11, the most future-proof solution is to buy a new PC or upgrade the hardware. Modern budget PCs costing under £500 comfortably run Windows 11 and will be supported well into the 2030s.
Option 4 — Switch to Linux
If you have an older PC that cannot run Windows 11, switching to a Linux distribution such as Ubuntu or Linux Mint is a legitimate free alternative. Linux is secure, actively updated and works well on older hardware. It does require some adjustment if you are used to Windows.
How Many People Are Still on Windows 10?
Despite the end of life date, Windows 10 still had a significant user base as of late 2025 — estimated at over 60% of Windows devices globally at the time of the announcement, though that number has been declining steadily. Many users delayed upgrading due to hardware incompatibility with Windows 11’s TPM 2.0 requirement.
This large installed base makes Windows 10 an attractive target for attackers who know that millions of machines will be running unpatched software for months or years after EOL.
What About Windows 10 for Businesses?
For businesses, Windows 10 end of life has compliance implications. If your organisation handles personal data under UK GDPR or is subject to Cyber Essentials certification, running an unsupported operating system may put you out of compliance. IT managers should audit all devices and have a migration plan in place.
Microsoft’s Extended Security Update (ESU) programme provides a paid bridge, but migration to Windows 11 or newer hardware is the proper long-term fix. Read our full guide on what businesses need to do before Windows 10 end of life.
Checklist — What to Do Now
- Check whether your PC can run Windows 11 (use PC Health Check)
- If compatible, upgrade to Windows 11 — it is still free
- If not compatible, decide between ESU, a new PC, or Linux
- Back up your data before making any changes
- If you manage multiple devices, audit them all and create a migration timeline
