October 14, 2025. The day Windows 10 quits active life and retires.

Ten years is a long time for an operating system, so it is not unexpected. Computers with Windows 10 will continue to function, but the operating system will be stagnant. There will no longer be security vulnerability fixes, bug fixes, or feature improvements, and Microsoft will no longer offer technical support for Windows 10. Is that a big deal? Are you thinking that your Windows 10 system works fine, so why should it matter?

Security is the first big reason. Hackers seek out outdated operating systems because they know they are more vulnerable to viruses, malware, and ransomware attacks. And if your business needs to comply with standards like HIPAA, SOC 2, or NIST Cybersecurity Framework, then using an unsupported operating system will put you out of compliance.

Reliability is the second reason. New applications and hardware won’t be optimized for or written to support Windows 10. You’ll start seeing more crashes and performance issues, and many of your apps will stop working over time. Eventually, you will need to update.

So what can you do?

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Certain PCs that are currently running Windows 10 can be upgraded to Windows 11. They must meet certain hardware requirements, the CPU generation number being the most important feature. You can research the possibility of your particular PC running Windows 11 by researching your model number on the manufacturer's website.

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If you have a computer that cannot be upgraded, but you would like to keep using it for a little while longer, Microsoft is offering a paid service to provide security updates. This does not address the other potential problems down the road but does keep you safe from security vulnerabilities. For individuals or Windows 10 Home customers, Extended Security Updates (ESUs) for Windows 10 will cost $30 for one year. ESUs allow you to receive critical and/or important security updates for Windows 10 PCs, giving you extra time to move to Windows 11. Your devices must be running the latest patch of Windows 10, version 22H2. ESUs for organizations and businesses costs $61 per device for Year One. The price doubles every consecutive year, for a maximum of three years.

Read this informative post by Jason Leznek of Microsoft for more details: When to use Windows 10 Extended Security Updates | Windows IT Pro Blog

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‍Another option for small businesses is to migrate their older PCs to the cloud with Windows 365 Business. With Windows 365 Business, you step up to Windows 11 via Microsoft's Cloud PC—on virtually any Windows 10 device—with the added benefit of having a personal virtual desktop system to safely keep your data in. Windows 365 Business comes with both the 365 license and a free extended security update for your Windows 10 devices.  

See these articles for more information about Windows 365 Business:

How Windows 365 can help you get ready for Windows 10 End of Support – Microsoft Pulse

Get started with Windows 365 Business and Cloud PCs | Microsoft Learn

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‍Consider repurposing your older computer by formatting it and installing ChromeOS Flex, so it can serve as a web browsing device for your basic computing needs, such as email and Google apps.

Here is a great overview of the uses of Chrome OS by Mitja Rutnik of Android Authority: What is Chrome OS and who is it for? - Android Authority

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If your Windows 10 PC is slowing you down or the options listed above will not work for you, you can purchase a new PC running Windows 11 with its latest security features and new accessibility tools.

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Whatever steps you take, Comprehensive Computing can help.