Can I still use Windows 10 after 2025? Yes. Your computer keeps working exactly as it did before, your files are untouched, and nothing forces you to act today. What actually changed on October 14, 2025 is that Windows 10 stopped receiving free security updates from Microsoft after ten years of support. That’s worth understanding, but it isn’t an emergency — Microsoft has since opened a bridge program that extends protection for most home users through October 2027.
This guide covers what “end of support” really means, what the Extended Security Updates program costs (it can be free), and how to check whether your PC is ready for Windows 11 whenever you decide to move.
Key Takeaways:
- Windows 10 stopped receiving free security updates on October 14, 2025, but existing installations keep running normally.
- Microsoft’s consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program now runs through October 12, 2027, following a one-year extension announced in June 2026.
- ESU enrollment is free if you sync your PC settings to a Microsoft account, or costs a one-time $30 (or 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points).
- Windows 11 requires a TPM 2.0 security chip and a compatible 64-bit processor; Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app checks eligibility in under a minute.
What Happened to Windows 10 Support in October 2025?
Microsoft stopped sending free security updates for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, after ten years of support. Your PC keeps running exactly as before — nothing is deleted, disabled, or blocked.
This is a normal part of the Windows lifecycle, not something specific to your computer. The same thing happened to Windows 7 in January 2020 and Windows 8.1 in January 2023. “End of support” means Microsoft no longer investigates newly discovered security flaws in Windows 10 or sends fixes for them — it doesn’t mean the operating system stops functioning. Your web browser, antivirus software, and most everyday apps typically keep updating on their own schedules for a while longer. The practical risk grows slowly over time rather than overnight, which is exactly why there’s no need to rush a decision.
What Is the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) Program?
Extended Security Updates (ESU) is Microsoft’s optional bridge program that keeps sending critical security patches to Windows 10 after October 2025 — through October 12, 2027 — with no new features included.
Microsoft built ESU for home users who aren’t ready to switch computers yet. It covers only the essentials: patches for security vulnerabilities rated critical or important. It doesn’t add new features, fix non-security bugs, or include general troubleshooting help. The consumer program was originally set to end on October 13, 2026, exactly one year after support ended. Microsoft extended it again around mid-2026, pushing the cutoff to October 12, 2027 — nearly two full years of extra protection for anyone who enrolls. If you already enrolled under the old date, this extension applies automatically; there’s nothing new to sign up for.
How Much Does Windows 10 Extended Security Updates Cost?
Nothing, if you already sync your Windows settings to a Microsoft account. Otherwise, it’s a one-time $30 payment or 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points — either way, coverage runs through October 12, 2027.
Microsoft built in three ways to enroll, and none of them involve an ongoing subscription:
| Enrollment Option | Cost | What’s Required |
|---|---|---|
| Sync PC settings | Free | Microsoft account with Windows Backup / settings sync turned on |
| Redeem Rewards points | Free (uses points) | 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points |
| One-time purchase | $30 USD, plus tax | Microsoft account (no sync required) |
All three options provide identical protection and the same end date. One enrollment can also cover up to 10 devices linked to the same Microsoft account, which helps if there’s more than one older computer in the house.
How Do I Enroll in Windows 10 ESU?
Open Settings, then Update & Security, then Windows Update, and look for “Enroll now” under Extended Security Updates. You’ll need Windows 10 version 22H2 and a Microsoft account.
- Confirm your PC is on Windows 10, version 22H2, with the latest updates installed (Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates).
- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
- Select “Enroll now” under the Extended Security Updates section and sign in with a Microsoft account if you aren’t already.
- Choose how to enroll: settings sync, Rewards points, or the one-time payment.
Enrollment can be completed anytime before the program ends — there’s no early deadline to sign up, only a limit on how long coverage lasts once you do.
Is My Computer Eligible for Windows 11 Instead?
Most PCs made in the last five to six years qualify. Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app checks your specific computer in under a minute.
Windows 11 requires a security chip called TPM 2.0, a compatible 64-bit processor, 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of storage. TPM 2.0 is usually what trips people up — on many PCs it’s built in but switched off in the settings, rather than genuinely missing. Search “PC Health Check” in the Windows search bar, open Microsoft’s free tool, and select “Check now” for a plain yes-or-no answer, plus the specific reason if your PC doesn’t qualify. If it does qualify, the upgrade itself is free through Windows Update. Once you’re running Windows 11, activating it is a short one-time step, and it’s worth understanding the difference between a retail and OEM license if you’re buying one rather than upgrading in place.
Should I Stay on Windows 10 or Move to Windows 11 Now?
Either is reasonable. ESU gives you until October 2027 on Windows 10; moving to Windows 11 now works too, if your PC qualifies and you’re ready.
There isn’t a wrong answer, and nothing here needs to happen today. If your computer mainly handles email, browsing, and everyday tasks, staying on Windows 10 with ESU enrolled is a sound choice for the next year or more. If you’re setting up a new PC anyway, or your current one is starting to feel slow, moving to Windows 11 now avoids a second transition later. Either way, if you do change computers, don’t forget the software you already own — transferring Microsoft Office to a new PC is usually simpler than people expect, and it’s worth finding your existing activation key before you retire the old machine, just in case you need it later.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Windows 11 support end?
Windows 11 doesn’t have one fixed retirement date the way Windows 10 does. Each annual version gets about 24 months of updates on Home and Pro editions — the current version, 25H2, is supported through October 12, 2027 — and Microsoft keeps releasing new versions to carry support forward, as long as the PC stays updated.
Is Windows 10 unsafe to use after October 2025?
Not immediately. Your PC keeps working normally, and other software like browsers and antivirus tools may keep updating on their own. Risk grows gradually as new vulnerabilities go unpatched, which is exactly what the ESU program is designed to slow down.
Do I have to pay for Windows 10 ESU?
No. Enrollment is free if your PC settings already sync to a Microsoft account. If not, it’s a one-time $30 payment or 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points — there’s no recurring fee either way.
How do I check if I’m on Windows 10 version 22H2?
Go to Settings > System > About and look under Windows specifications for “Version.” If it shows an older version, run Windows Update first; most PCs updated in the last couple of years are already on 22H2.
Is the Windows 11 upgrade really free if my PC qualifies?
Yes. If PC Health Check confirms your computer meets the requirements, Microsoft offers the upgrade at no cost through Windows Update. You’d only pay for a license if you’re installing on a new PC or a machine that didn’t come with Windows 11 already activated.
Ready When You Are
Whatever you choose, there’s no deadline pressuring you right now. Enroll in ESU and keep your Windows 10 PC running safely through 2027, or make the move to Windows 11 when it suits you — the choice is yours to make at your own pace.
When you are ready for Windows 11, Windows 11 Pro is a genuine retail license for $99.99, one time, with no subscription to track. It’s listed in the Microsoft Partner directory, backed by a 180-day replacement warranty, and delivered to your inbox within 15–45 minutes so you can activate it the same day. Windows 11 Home covers most everyday households too, at $89.99, if you don’t need Pro’s business features.
