Win 10 · Maintenance

Windows 10 is past end of support — what to do now

Windows 10 stopped getting security updates on 14 October 2025. The PC still works — it just stops getting patched, and that gap widens every month.

DifficultyEasy
Time15 min
RiskMedium
ReversibleYes
PlatformWin 10
UpdatedAug 18, 2026

Written and tested by emdottech

What that means

Medium risk. This fix changes system settings, services, drivers, startup items or security features — reversible, but taking it back takes some effort or knowledge, and it may temporarily affect stability. This change is reversible — you can return to the previous state without professional help or data loss.

The Windows 10 end-of-support path — checking with winver that patches have stopped, upgrading to Windows 11 free if it qualifies, or bridging with ESU until October 2026 and then replacing

Steps

01
- Check what you're actually on: WinR → winver. If it says Windows 10, you're no longer receiving security fixes
02
- Best option: upgrade to Windows 11, which is still free for qualifying PCs — run 'Check whether your PC can run Windows 11' first so you know what you're dealing with
03
- If it doesn't qualify, enrol in consumer Extended Security Updates (SettingsWindows UpdateEnrol now). It buys security-only patches through October 2026 — no new features, and it is a bridge, not a destination
04
- If neither is possible, treat the machine as untrusted: keep it away from online banking, leave Defender on, and plan either a replacement or a move to a supported Linux desktop

How to verify the fix

winver shows Windows 11 (or ESU enrolment confirmed), and your daily apps still work after the change.

If this didn't fix it

The PC doesn't qualify for Win11 and ESU isn't available — treat it as untrusted: no online banking, Defender on, plan a replacement.

Next stop: the related fixes below, or start a guided diagnosis.

Still stuck? Diagnose my problem Browse all Windows fixes

Windows 10 is past end of support — what to do now

Steps

✓How to verify the fix

!If this didn't fix it

Related fixes

How to verify the fix

If this didn't fix it