Microsoft ended mainstream support for Windows 10 on 14 October 2025. Machines still running it keep working, but they no longer receive security fixes unless you're enrolled in Extended Security Updates.
The three real options
- Upgrade in place where the hardware supports Windows 11. Free, and usually the right answer for anything bought in the last five years.
- Replace the machine. Older kit without TPM 2.0 or a supported CPU can't take Windows 11 cleanly. A modest business laptop replaced on a rolling basis is cheaper than a big-bang refresh.
- Extended Security Updates as a bridge for the small number of machines tied to software that won't move yet. It buys time and costs money each year.
Why this isn't just IT tidiness
- Cyber Essentials fails on unsupported operating systems, and more customers and public-sector contracts are asking for the certificate.
- Some cyber insurance policies have conditions about supported software. Worth checking your wording.
- Attackers watch end-of-life dates. The flaws found after the cut-off never get fixed.
If you're not sure what you've got, we can produce a device list with age, spec and Windows 11 eligibility so the spend can be spread sensibly rather than panicked.