For years, Windows 10 has been the stalwart operating system powering countless computers around the globe. It brought stability, user-friendliness, and a wave of updates that kept it relevant and secure. However, like all good things, its reign is coming to an end. Microsoft will officially end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025.
This might seem like a long way off, but it’s crucial to understand what this means and, more importantly, what you need to do to ensure your continued security and productivity.
What Does "End of Support" Actually Mean?
End of support, in Microsoft’s terminology, signifies that the company will no longer provide the following for Windows 10:
- Security Updates: This is the most critical aspect. Without security updates, your computer becomes increasingly vulnerable to viruses, malware, and other cyber threats. Newly discovered vulnerabilities will remain unpatched, leaving your system exposed.
- Non-Security Updates: These include bug fixes, feature improvements, and other enhancements that maintain the stability and performance of the operating system. Without them, your computer may experience performance issues, compatibility problems, and general instability
- Assisted Support: Microsoft will no longer offer technical support for Windows 10, whether it's through phone, chat, or online resources.
Why is This Happening?
Microsoft has a lifecycle policy for all its products. Windows 10 was released in 2015 and has enjoyed a long period of support. Moving on allows Microsoft to focus its resources on newer operating systems like Windows 11, driving innovation and providing users with the latest features and security enhancements.
The Risks of Continuing to Use Windows 10 After End of Support:
Using an unsupported operating system is like leaving your door unlocked and inviting trouble in. Here’s what you’re risking:
Increased Security Vulnerability
As mentioned, lack of security updates makes your system a prime target for cyberattacks. Hackers actively seek out vulnerabilities in unsupported systems.
Malware Infections
Compatibility Issues
Performance Degradation
Compliance Issues
What Are Your Options?
You have a few options to consider before October 14, 2025:
Upgrade to Windows 11: This is the recommended path for most users. Windows 11 offers improved security, a modern user interface, and enhanced performance.
Before Upgrading: It’s crucial to check if your computer meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 11. Key requirements include having a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 chip and Secure Boot enabled. You can use Microsoft’s PC Health Check app to determine compatibility. Make sure to back up your important files before attempting the upgrade.
Purchase a New Computer: If your current computer doesn’t meet the Windows 11 system requirements, consider purchasing a new one. New computers come pre-installed with the latest version of Windows, ensuring you have a supported and secure operating system.
Explore Alternative Operating Systems: If you’re comfortable with a more technical approach, you could consider switching to a different operating system like Linux. Various Linux distributions offer a wide range of features and can be installed on older hardware. I’ve been using Linux for my desktop for a while and I won’t go back to Windows. Linux comes in a million-billion flavours, just to confuse the uninitiated, so start with a standard release like Ubuntu or Fedora. Hopefully more people adopt Linux so we can avoid throwing away perfectly good hardware just because MS says so.
Extended Security Updates (ESU): For businesses and organizations that cannot upgrade or replace their computers by October 2025, Microsoft offers Extended Security Updates (ESU). This program provides limited security updates for up to three years. However, ESUs come at a cost and are generally intended for enterprise environments.
Take Action Now!
Procrastination can lead to headaches and potential security risks. Here’s what you should do now:
Assess Your Current Situation: Identify all computers in your home or business running Windows 10.
Check Compatibility: Use the PC Health Check app to determine if your computers are compatible with Windows 11.
Back Up Your Data: Always back up your important files before making any significant changes to your system. Use an external hard drive, cloud storage, or a combination of both.
Develop a Plan: Decide which computers you will upgrade, replace, or enroll in ESU (if applicable).
Start the Upgrade Process: Begin upgrading or replacing your computers well in advance of the end-of-support date. This will give you time to troubleshoot any issues that may arise.
Still Wondering What To Do?
Give us a call and we’ll explain your options. I’d personally like to convert your system to Linux. In a better version of this world, everyone works on Linux. Wally has options for updating Windows even when it fails to meet all of the prerequisites. And if all else fails we’ll help you with the purchase of a new computer.
