Still on Windows 10? Your Extra Year of Security Updates Is Ending

Windows 10 officially reached end of support in October 2025. Many of our clients enrolled in Microsoft’s consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program to buy one more year of security patches. That extra year ends this month.

Once it does, a Windows 10 PC will keep turning on and running your programs — but Microsoft will stop fixing newly discovered security holes. Over time that makes it an easier target for malware, ransomware, and account theft.

How to tell what you’re running

Press the Windows key, type winver, and press Enter. The box that appears will say Windows 10 or Windows 11. If it’s Windows 10, keep reading.

Option 1: Upgrade to Windows 11 for free

If your computer meets Microsoft’s requirements — roughly, a processor from about 2018 or newer, TPM 2.0, and Secure Boot — the upgrade is free. Open Settings → Windows Update and look for the Windows 11 offer, or run the PC Health Check app.

Before you upgrade, back up your files. Most upgrades go smoothly, but a backup turns a bad day into a minor inconvenience.

Option 2: Replace the computer

If your PC can’t run Windows 11, it’s usually five or more years old. For many people this is the right time to replace it — a modern laptop will be faster, quieter, and supported for years. We help clients pick a machine that fits how they actually use it, then move everything over: files, photos, email, printers, and passwords.

Option 3: Retire it from the internet

Some older PCs run one program you can’t replace — old accounting software, a scanner, lab equipment. Those can stay on Windows 10 if they’re kept offline or tightly limited. Don’t use an unsupported PC for email, banking, or general web browsing.

What not to do

• Don’t ignore it and hope for the best — unsupported PCs are actively targeted
• Don’t download “Windows 11 unlocker” tools from random websites
• Don’t call a number from a pop-up claiming your Windows 10 is “expired” — that’s a scam

Not sure which option fits?

We’ll check your computer’s compatibility, give you an honest recommendation, and handle the upgrade or the move to a new machine — on-site anywhere in Northern Virginia or remotely. Want a broader look at your setup? Our free Cyber Safety Checkup asks about unsupported devices too.