Microsoft stopped supporting Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. If your computer is still running it, nothing broke that day. It still turns on, still opens your programs, still looks the same. But something important changed underneath, and it's worth understanding what.
What "no longer supported" actually means
It means Microsoft has stopped releasing security updates for Windows 10. New vulnerabilities get discovered in every operating system, all the time, and that's normal. The difference is that Windows 11 keeps getting patched when one is found, and Windows 10 doesn't anymore. Every month that passes, the gap between "what's been found" and "what's been fixed" gets a little wider.
Your antivirus still helps, but it's fighting with one hand tied behind its back. It can catch known threats, not the operating-system-level holes that a patch would have closed.
What your actual options are
There are three real paths, depending on your computer and your budget:
- Upgrade to Windows 11, if your computer supports it. Newer PCs (roughly 2018 onward, though it depends on the exact hardware) usually qualify. This is free and, if it works, is the simplest option by far.
- Pay for Extended Security Updates (ESU) if your hardware can't run Windows 11 but you're not ready to replace it yet. This buys you continued security patches for a limited time: a stopgap, not a permanent fix.
- Get a new PC. If the computer is old enough that it can't run Windows 11 and is already showing its age in other ways (slow, noisy, on its last legs), this is often the more sensible long-term move than patching an old machine indefinitely.
How to check where you stand
The honest answer is that it depends on your specific computer: its processor, whether it has a security chip called TPM 2.0, and a few other details that aren't always obvious from looking at it. Rather than guess, this is a five-minute check I can do for you. I'll tell you plainly whether an upgrade makes sense, whether ESU is worth it for your situation, or whether it's genuinely time for something new, no pressure either way.
This is also flagged on the heads-up board as an active, ongoing situation.