Windows 10 End of Support: What It Means and What to Do

If you have a Windows 10 computer, you may have seen messages saying "Windows 10 support has ended." It sounds alarming, but your computer has not stopped working, and you do not need to rush out and buy a new one today. Here is what the message means, in plain language, and what your options are.

What "end of support" actually means

Microsoft stopped regular support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. That means no more new features and no more free technical help from Microsoft. Your computer still turns on, your files are still there, and your programs still work.

The part that matters is security updates — the regular fixes that protect your computer from viruses and hackers. Without them, a computer slowly becomes riskier to use for banking, shopping and email.

The good news: free security updates until October 2027

Microsoft offers home users a program called Extended Security Updates (ESU). In June 2026 Microsoft extended it, so enrolled computers now keep getting security updates until October 12, 2027. If you already enrolled, you are covered automatically — there is nothing more to do.

To enrol, your computer needs to be on Windows 10 version 22H2 with the latest updates, and you need to sign in with a Microsoft account (the same kind of account you might use for Outlook or Hotmail email).

How to enrol (about five minutes)

1. Click the Start button, then Settings (the gear icon).
2. Click Update & Security, then Windows Update.
3. Look for the message about Extended Security Updates and click Enroll now. If you don't see it yet, click Check for updates first and install anything waiting.
4. Follow the steps. The free way is to let Windows back up your settings to your Microsoft account. Microsoft also offers a paid one-time option if you prefer not to.

If anything on the screen looks different from these steps, stop and ask someone you trust. Microsoft will never phone you about this.

Your three choices

• Stay on Windows 10 for now — enrol in ESU and keep using the computer you know until October 2027. Good for computers that work well and that you're happy with.
• Upgrade to Windows 11 for free — if your computer is new enough. Open the PC Health Check app (search for it from the Start menu) to find out. Windows 11 looks a little different, so plan an hour to get comfortable.
• Replace the computer — if it's slow, more than about seven years old, or can't run Windows 11. This is also a good moment to decide between a new Windows PC and a Mac; our Mac vs. PC guide can help.

Watch out: "Windows support" scams

Scammers love this kind of news. Microsoft will never call you, send a pop-up with a phone number, or ask for payment by gift card to "fix" Windows 10. If a pop-up says your computer is infected and tells you to call a number, close the browser and call someone you trust instead. Read more in our guide to spotting scam emails.

Before you change anything: back up

Whatever you choose, make a copy of your photos and documents first. Our step-by-step backup guide shows you how.