Windows 10 end of support: what it means and your options

You have a computer with Windows 10, and you heard that it is “no longer supported”? This guide explains what that means in practice, where the extended updates program stands as of October 2026, and what your options are: a free upgrade, a hardware fix or a new computer.

When did Windows 10 support end?

On 14 October 2025. Since then, according to Microsoft’s end of support page, the company no longer provides Windows 10 computers with software updates, security fixes or technical assistance.

The computer does not shut down and is not blocked. Microsoft states explicitly that computers running Windows 10 keep working. What changed is that new security vulnerabilities discovered in Windows 10 are no longer closed on a computer that is not enrolled in the extended updates program.

How do I know if my computer runs Windows 10?

Press Windows+R, type winver and press Enter. The window that opens says whether it is Windows 10 or Windows 11, and which version. If it says Windows 10, this guide is for you.

What does it mean in practice?

The computer works as before, but every month that passes it is more exposed. According to Microsoft, a computer without regular security updates is more vulnerable to viruses and malware, and antivirus alone is not enough.

The reason is simple. Antivirus looks for known malware. It does not fix the hole in the system itself, through which new software can get in. Only security updates do that.

What keeps working:

• All your programs and files, as before.
• Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, Outlook). According to Microsoft, they keep receiving security updates on Windows 10 until 10 October 2028.
• The browser, as long as its maker keeps supporting it on Windows 10.

What stopped:

• Regular security updates for Windows itself, unless you enrolled in ESU.
• Microsoft technical support.
• New features.

What is ESU and how long does it last?

ESU (Extended Security Updates) is a Microsoft program that keeps sending critical and important security updates to Windows 10 computers. According to the official program page, the consumer program runs until 12 October 2027.

It is worth knowing that this date changed. Originally, the consumer program was supposed to end in October 2026, and in the summer of 2026 Microsoft updated the program page to the new date. So if you read elsewhere that it is ending now, that is old information. As of today, 13 October 2026, according to Microsoft:

• Anyone already enrolled keeps receiving updates until 12 October 2027, without doing anything.
• Anyone not enrolled can enroll at any time until the program ends.
• One license covers up to 10 computers.

ESU includes security updates only. There are no new features and no technical support. It is a bridge that buys you time, not a permanent solution.

What will happen on 12 October 2027?

The program will end, and Windows 10 computers will stop receiving the extended security updates as well. Microsoft’s program page shows only this date, and there is no commitment there to a further extension.

So it is best to treat ESU as a year of time to plan, not as a reason to postpone the decision. A computer that cannot move to Windows 11 will need to be replaced by then, or switched to a use that does not involve sensitive information. It is better to decide now, when there is no pressure, than in the last week.

How do you enroll in ESU?

You enroll from Windows Update on the computer itself. According to Microsoft, you need to meet a few conditions:

1. The right version: Windows 10 version 22H2, in the Home, Pro, Pro Education or Workstations edition. To check, press Windows+R, type winver and press Enter. The version appears in the window that opens.
2. Updates: all the latest updates are installed.
3. Account: a Microsoft account with administrator rights, that is not a child account. Anyone signed in with a local account will be asked to sign in with a Microsoft account.
4. Enrollment: Settings, Update & Security, Windows Update. If the computer is eligible, the Enroll now link appears.

There are three ways to enroll, according to Microsoft: at no additional cost if you sync your computer’s settings, by redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or with a one-time purchase. Check the program page for the current cost.

Why does the option to enroll in ESU not appear for me?

Usually because one of the conditions is not met. Go through them in order:

1. Check in winver that the version is 22H2. An older version needs to update first.
2. Run Windows Update until there are no updates left to install, and restart.
3. Make sure you are signed in with a Microsoft account that is an administrator on the computer, and not a child account.
4. After each change, go back to Windows Update and check again.

If everything is in order and the link still does not appear, that is not a sign that something dangerous is happening. Simply check again in a few days, or ask for help.

What should you prepare before moving to Windows 11?

A backup, and a short list of what you need to keep working. That way the move does not surprise you.

• A backup of your documents, photos and mailbox, if it is stored on the computer.
• Passwords saved in the browser: make sure they are synced to your account or exported.
• Paid software: check that you have the license key or the account you downloaded it from.
• Printer and scanner: check on the maker’s website that they have drivers for Windows 11.
• Free disk space: the upgrade needs room, and Windows will tell you if there is not enough.

What are my options?

There are four, and most of them can be combined. Which one fits you depends mainly on one question: does the computer meet the Windows 11 requirements.

1. Upgrade to Windows 11 for free. According to Microsoft, the upgrade from Windows 10 Home or Pro to the same edition of Windows 11 is free, and if the computer meets the requirements, the option appears in Windows Update.
2. Fix what is blocking. Many computers fail the check only because TPM or Secure Boot is turned off in the BIOS. How to check and enable them is in the guide Windows 11 on an old computer.
3. A new computer. If the processor is not supported, no setting will change that. You move the files over, and there is a guide for that: Moving to a new computer.
4. ESU as a bridge. If you need time to decide or to save up, enrolling in the program keeps the computer updated until 12 October 2027.

If the computer meets the requirements but is slow, an SSD upgrade before the installation can change the picture completely. There is a guide about that: SSD or hard drive.

What not to do

• Do not keep doing banking, shopping or work with sensitive documents on a Windows 10 computer that is not getting security updates. If there is no ESU, do those things from an updated device.
• Do not click links in emails or messages offering to “extend your Windows support”. Official enrollment is done from Windows Update.
• Do not download a “pre-installed Windows 11” or an “activator” from unofficial sites.
• Do not upgrade without a backup. An upgrade usually keeps your files, but a backup is what protects you if something goes wrong. See Back up before the disk fails.

When to bring the computer to the lab

If PC Health Check says the computer is not compatible and you are not sure why, if the upgrade failed partway through, or if you are moving to a new computer and want the files, saved passwords and programs to move over without losing anything. The same if you want to know whether a hardware upgrade is worth it, or whether a new computer is the better choice.

We are a computer lab in Haifa, and we also serve Nesher and the Krayot. We check the computer, tell you what the options are, and give you a price before we start. We do not keep your files after the work is done.

Did it not work?

The goal of this guide is for you to know exactly where your computer stands and choose the path yourself. If you would rather we do it, we install Windows 11 under Windows installation, upgrade what is needed under computer upgrade, or move everything to the new computer under data transfer.