Windows 10 has a ‘best by’ date. Here’s what you can do when support ends.
The Washington Post
By: Chris Velazco
Updated Thu, August 8, 2024 at 1:17 PM EDT·5 min read
The end is in sight – for Windows 10, anyway.
It’s been nearly a decade since Microsoft first launched its popular Windows 10 operating system, and to this day it remains widely used. That’s even true compared to the software meant to replace it, according to the web traffic analysis firm Statcounter. But nothing lasts forever, not even good software.
On Oct. 14, 2025, Microsoft will officially end public support for Windows 10 – that means no more software updates, security patches, or technical support for your Windows 10 computer, no matter how well it still works. And to make that clear to some of its users, Microsoft has trumpeted the change with full-screen notices that appear when a person turns on their PC.
Don’t worry: If you’re using a Windows 10 PC right now, it’s not going to magically stop working next year. But now’s not a bad time to start thinking through your options for when Microsoft does officially put Windows 10 out to pasture.
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Just update your computer
If your computer is eligible to upgrade to Windows 11, doing so is your easiest and likely safest option.
Windows 11 has been around for nearly three years now, and a steady cadence of updates have ironed out early issues and added new tools. There’s a learning curve, to be sure, and some users have reported that Windows 11 can feel slower than Windows 10, but taking the path of least resistance here isn’t a bad option.
To check if your PC is ready for Windows 11, download and run Microsoft’s PC Health Check app (at support.microsoft.com).
Unfortunately, some people (myself included) don’t have the option to upgrade. That’s because Windows 11 needs to see certain security features in place before you install it – features that didn’t always come standard on Windows 10 PCs.
Naturally, some talented software folks have figured out ways around this requirement, and Microsoft has tacitly acknowledged that you can install Windows 11 even if your computer doesn’t technically meet the minimum requirements.
That said, the company says that if you go down this route, “your PC will no longer be supported and won’t be entitled to receive updates” – which kind of defeats the purpose of the update entirely.
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Ride it out with Windows 10
Your computer will still work normally on Oct. 14, 2025, and in the days that follow. It’ll do just about everything it did before, too, short of installing new Windows updates. And if you really wanted to stick to what has worked for you, well, you certainly can.
Just be aware that your computer will no longer receive new features, and that in the long run, some of the companies that make the apps you rely on may drop support for Windows 10 as well.
You may also be an easier target for malware and bad actors. If you use your computer’s built-in Windows Defender software, you may want to consider alternatives like Malwarebytes that will continue to get updates. But even that might not be enough, some experts say.
“Trying to secure an outdated operating system is hopeless,” said Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer of the Finland-based cybersecurity group WithSecure. When new patches and updates are released for Windows 11, he says attackers will reverse-engineer those releases to see if the same vulnerabilities exist in Windows 10 as well.
“Most of them will, and users running Windows 10 will be attacked,” he added.
If you’re a Windows 10 die-hard, you might have one more option. Late last year, Microsoft announced that it would offer extended service updates to regular consumers the way it does for businesses and schools that aren’t in a position to upgrade. Those businesses and schools have to pay annually for those updates, and it’s not yet clear what – if anything – Microsoft will charge the rest of us.
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Buy a new computer
If you’re one of those people whose current PC simply won’t play nice with Windows 11, it might be worth considering buying a new computer outright.
At The Washington Post’s Help Desk, we’re big fans of holding on to our devices for as long as possible. That said, this is actually a pretty good time to be looking for a new computer anyway – Windows-powered “AI PCs” are having a moment, and the models we’ve tested have offered great performance and battery life.
If you’re on a tighter budget, though, or are only begrudgingly looking for a replacement computer, consider buying refurbished Windows 11 PCs straight from manufacturers. Marketplaces for used gadgets like Back Market can be great places to find deals too, though it can be trickier to find machines already running Windows 11.
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Ditch Windows altogether
Okay, fine – most people really shouldn’t bother with this option. But if you’re trying to breathe new life into an older PC and you’re not wedded to Windows anyway, installing a lightweight, alternate operating system could give you a few extra years of use.
In the past, we’ve found success with ChromeOS Flex – free software from Google that basically turns your computer into a dedicated web-browsing device.
It’s limited, for sure, and won’t offer the same level of software flexibility as Windows, but it managed to turn a $100 test laptop we bought on eBay into a lean, mean Chrome and Google Docs machine.
If you’re really willing to veer away from Windows, there’s always Linux – distributions like Mint and Ubuntu are relatively easy to get started with, and you’ll find a wider variety of apps and services to lean on compared to ChromeOS. (They’re also totally free, which doesn’t hurt.)
These different operating systems can be fascinating to learn and live with, but you’ll need a certain appetite for mucking around with your tech to really benefit from them.