Windows 10 end of support: what should you do now? Support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025. Since then, Microsoft no longer provides security updates, bug fixes or technical support for Home and Pro. The PC keeps running but becomes more vulnerable with every month. You have three viable paths: the free upgrade to Windows 11 if the hardware is suitable, the Extended Security Updates (ESU) as a bridge until October 12, 2027, or a new PC with Windows 11.
Status of this page: November 10, 2026.
Quick decision
| Your situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| PC meets the Windows 11 requirements | Upgrade to Windows 11 for free now |
| PC does not meet them but is to keep running for a while | Enroll in ESU, plan a replacement by October 2027 |
| TPM or Secure Boot merely turned off | Turn it on in the UEFI, then upgrade |
| PC is at the end of its useful life anyway | New PC with Windows 11 |
| Company PCs in a domain | Plan the upgrade; ESU for organizations as a bridge |
| Device with Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC or IoT Enterprise LTSC | Its own lifecycle, see below |
The dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| End of support for Windows 10 Home, Pro, Pro Education, Pro for Workstations | October 14, 2025 |
| Last version of Windows 10 | 22H2 |
| End of the ESU program for consumers | October 12, 2027 |
| ESU for organizations | year by year, at most three years after the end of support |
| Security updates for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 | until October 10, 2028 |
| End of support for Office 2016 and Office 2019 | October 14, 2025 |
| End of support for Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 | January 12, 2027 |
| End of support for Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 | January 13, 2032 |
What the end of support means
After the end of support, Microsoft discontinues three things: technical support, software updates, and security updates and fixes. The PC starts and works as before. Newly discovered security vulnerabilities, however, stay open. Microsoft points out that without updates the PC is exposed to a higher risk from viruses and malware.
Programs are affected too. According to Microsoft, Office 2021 and Office 2024 continue to run on Windows 10 but are no longer supported there. For Microsoft 365 Apps, Microsoft still delivers security updates on Windows 10 until October 10, 2028.
Path 1: Upgrade to Windows 11 for free
According to Microsoft, the upgrade is free. The prerequisite: the PC runs Windows 10, version 22H2, and the hardware meets the minimum requirements of Windows 11.
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates.
- If the PC is suitable, Windows Update offers the upgrade to Windows 11.
If no offer appears, check the PC with the “PC Health Check” app. What the app objects to and how to turn on a TPM that is turned off is covered under
Windows 11 system requirements. The guide for the upgrade with all paths:
Moving from Windows 10 to Windows 11.
Your license moves along: an activated Windows 10 Home becomes Windows 11 Home, Pro becomes Pro. You do not need a new key for this.
Path 2: Extended Security Updates (ESU)
ESU stands for Extended Security Updates. The program delivers critical and important security updates for Windows 10, version 22H2 beyond the end of support. It does not include new features, other bug fixes or technical support. Microsoft regards ESU as a bridge, not as a permanent solution.
For consumers, the program runs until October 12, 2027. You can enroll at any time until then. In the European Economic Area there are two ways, according to Microsoft:
- At no additional cost if you sign in to the PC with a Microsoft account and stay signed in with it. If you stop signing in with the account, the updates end after up to 60 days; then you have to enroll again.
- For a one-time payment if you want to keep using a local account. You then need the Microsoft account only for the purchase.
One ESU license covers up to 10 devices. This is how you enroll:
- Install all pending updates; the PC must have Windows 10, version 22H2.
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
- Select the Enroll now link and follow the wizard.
Prerequisites: Windows 10 Home, Pro, Pro Education or Pro for Workstations in version 22H2, an administrator account, not a child account. The program is not offered for devices in kiosk mode or for devices that are joined to an Active Directory domain or Microsoft Entra ID or are managed through mobile device management (MDM).
For organizations there is a separate, paid ESU program per device. It is purchased year by year, runs at most three years after the end of support and, according to Microsoft, becomes more expensive from year to year. Anyone who only joins in the second year also pays for the first year.
Path 3: A new PC
If the PC does not meet the requirements and is old anyway, a new device with Windows 11 is the clean path. According to Microsoft, you transfer files and settings with Windows Backup. If you build the PC yourself or buy it without an operating system, you need a key for Windows 11; what to look out for is covered under
Buying Windows 11 Pro.
What Microsoft advises against
With workarounds, Windows 11 can also be installed on unsupported hardware. Microsoft advises against it: such devices are not supported, and it is not guaranteed that they receive updates, including security updates. That would not solve the problem you want to solve.
Special case: LTSC
The date October 14, 2025 does not apply to the LTSC releases of Windows 10. According to Microsoft, they continue to receive updates according to their own lifecycles: Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 until January 12, 2027, Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019 until January 9, 2029, Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 until January 13, 2032. These releases are intended for special-purpose devices, not as a way out for the office PC. You can find the comparison under
Windows 10 LTSC 2021 or Windows 11 LTSC 2024.
Typical cases
Private PC from 2020. Very probably suitable. Upgrade through Windows Update, free.
Laptop from 2015, runs well, is used for email and banking. The processor is not supported by Windows 11. Enroll the device in ESU and plan the replacement by October 2027.
Office with eight PCs, three of them too old. Upgrade five PCs. For the three old ones, consider ESU as a bridge and schedule the replacement. Which edition the new devices need is covered under Windows 11 Home or Pro.
PC attached to a machine, software only runs on Windows 10. Clarify with the manufacturer whether certification for Windows 11 is coming. For fixed-purpose devices there is
Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC with a longer lifecycle.
At VivaKeys
- Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro for new or self-built PCs
- Category Windows 11
You do not need a new key to upgrade an activated Windows 10. We continue to carry
Windows 10 Home and
Windows 10 Pro, for example if an application requires Windows 10. Keep in mind that these editions no longer receive regular updates from Microsoft. All editions of Windows 11:
Windows 11 editions at a glance. Support dates of other Microsoft products are collected in the
end-of-support calendar.
Frequently asked questions
When was the end of support for Windows 10? On October 14, 2025. This applies to Home, Pro, Pro Education and Pro for Workstations in the last version, 22H2.
Can I keep using Windows 10 after the end of support? Yes, the PC continues to work. Without security updates, however, the risk from malware increases. With ESU you continue to receive security updates until October 12, 2027.
Is the upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 still free? Yes. According to Microsoft, it is free for PCs with Windows 10, version 22H2 that meet the minimum requirements of Windows 11.
What does ESU for Windows 10 cost? In the European Economic Area, consumers can enroll at no additional cost as long as they stay signed in to the PC with a Microsoft account. Alternatively there is a one-time payment; Microsoft states the current amount during enrollment.
What do I do if my PC is not suitable for Windows 11? First check whether TPM or Secure Boot is merely turned off. If the PC remains unsuitable, bridge the gap with ESU and plan a new device.
Does Office continue to run on Windows 10? The programs still start. Office 2016 and 2019 have been without support since October 14, 2025. Office 2021 and 2024 are no longer supported on Windows 10. More on this under
Office end of support.
Sources
Checked on 2026-11-10 against the publisher’s information:
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/updates-lifecycle/windows-10-support-has-ended-on-october-14-2025
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-home-and-pro
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/release-information
- www.microsoft.com/de-de/windows/extended-security-updates
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/extended-security-updates
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/compatibility/windows-11-system-requirements
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/install-upgrade/ways-to-install-windows-11
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/compatibility/windows-11-on-devices-that-don-t-meet-minimum-system-requirements
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-enterprise-ltsc-2021
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-iot-enterprise-ltsc-2021
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-enterprise-ltsc-2019