Windows 10 is ending security support in October – 6 ways you can prepare

Official support for Windows 10 ends on 14 October 2025, meaning Microsoft will no longer offer fixes, new features or security updates after that date, unless you take action. If you do nothing, you'll be vulnerable to hackers.

If you have a Windows 10 PC, you’ve likely already have seen notifications informing you about the end of support. For PCs eligible for Windows 11, this includes the option to upgrade for free. 

Not all PCs with Windows 10 will have the necessary specs to upgrade, though. And if you have a PC running Windows 7 or 8.1 (or one bought with these and later upgraded to Windows 10), you almost certainly won't.

Below, our tech experts run through next steps. Plus, we've included advice on what specs to look for if you're shopping for a new laptop or desktop PC.

Get tech confident for less

12 months of tech support & buying advice for only £24.50, that's 50% off. Together we’ll show your tech who’s boss.

Join Which? Tech Support

Cancel anytime.

Already a Tech Support member? For more help and 1-2-1 technical advice, including buying advice, go to our Tech Support online booking tool.

Why you need security support

Windows updates make sure your PC stays secure through security updates and the latest fixes, so it continues to run properly and stay protected.

After support ends in October, Windows 10 will still function – but it won’t get security updates unless you take action. Hackers and criminals often target unsupported software to exploit weaknesses and steal data. You might also find over time that some features or software will no longer work on your PC.

Anyone using Windows 10 on their PC will be affected. Around 28% of Which? members* have told us they're still using Windows 10.

You can extend your licence for free for one year only. We recommend doing this as it will keep your data safe and your PC running smoothly after 14 October 2025. Then upgrade when you can. 

Act now: what you can do about Windows 10 ending support

Jump to:

1. Upgrade to Windows 11 for free
2. Buy a new computer
3. Convert to ChromeOS Flex
4. Upgrade outdated components
5. Extend your Windows 10 licence for one year - including for free
6. Convert to Ubuntu

Prefer 1-2-1 help from a tech expert? Find out more about Which? Tech Support - available from £4.99 a month.

 1. Upgrade to Windows 11 for free

If your current PC supports Windows 11, you can upgrade without paying a penny – you’ll likely have received upgrade notifications from Microsoft. Use our free Windows 11 compatibility tool to confirm, if you're unsure whether your PC has the necessary specs.

We suggest installing Windows 11 sooner rather than later, so make sure you take advantage of Microsoft's offer while it lasts. Simply follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Start (Windows) button, or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
2. Choose Update & Security > Windows Update.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Windows 11 feels similar to Windows 10 and it’s actually been simplified to make it easier to use. Speed and performance have also been improved – which is handy if your PC is compatible but isn't as fast as it once was.

If your machine isn't eligible to upgrade, you can buy a new computer (see below). Alternatively, if you have a desktop PC, you could upgrade outdated components.

2. Buy a new computer

You might find that Microsoft's pending changes are a good excuse to treat yourself to a new computer. Thanks to our rigorous lab tests, you can avoid buying a dud machine that's painfully sluggish. We test more than 120 laptops in our specialist lab every year.

When scoring laptops, we pay close attention to several key features, including:

• Speed and performance – we use advanced software benchmarks to measure the speed of a laptop when browsing the web, editing photos, editing documents and spreadsheets, opening programs and editing videos. 
• Battery life – our experts run at least three battery tests, including playing a video streamed via YouTube until the battery runs out, and then, separately, browsing the web while connected to the internet over a wi-fi connection.
• Screen quality and sound – a calibrated piece of screen analysis equipment called a colorimeter is used to measure how the screen performs. We study the screen’s ability to display accurate colours along with icontrast, brightness and darkness.

Know your specs

When picking out your new PC, look out for the following:

• At least 8GB of Ram (if you can, choose 16GB for future-proofing)
• At least 256GB solid-state drive (SSD) storage (ideally more)
• Intel Core 5 (or i5) or AMD Ryzen 5 processor at minimum. Avoid any Intel Pentium or Celeron processors, as they're now too outdated for future-proofing.

If you want a Microsoft's Copilot+ laptop, which allows you to run intensive AI tasks on your computer, we're talking 16GB of Ram, a Snapdragon X Series, Intel Core Ultra or AMD Ryzen AI processor and at least 512MB SSD.

Our experts have tested the best laptops and the best all-in-one computers to make upgrading a breeze. Alternatively, if you're shopping for a desktop, see how to choose a good PC.

Our expert says:

'On a mission to help you find a laptop to suit your needs, we highlight good-value deals on laptops that perform well in our rigorous lab tests. This way, you aren't lured into spending your money on a deal that isn't as good as it seems.

'You'll find our favourite deals on our laptops deals page – a really handy resource if you want to spend less on a good model.'

Oliver Trebilcock, Which? laptops expert

3. Convert to ChromeOS Flex (if you're using a laptop)

If you’re reluctant to fork out for a new PC, consider whether converting your Windows laptop to a Chromebook is right for you. ChromeOS Flex is free to install and has much lighter requirements than Windows 11, so it’s likely to be compatible with your older device.

Chromebooks run ChromeOS, which works differently from Windows: it has an online focus and needs you to have a Google account. You do all your tasks online via your browser or through apps downloaded from the Google Play Store. If you mainly use online apps, such as Google’s own Docs and Sheets, a Chromebook could suit you well.

Also, many popular apps, including Microsoft Office, are available to download or buy. However, Windows software isn't compatible – so some programs may not be available.

Find out more with our guide on how to turn your old laptop into a free Chromebook.

4. Upgrade outdated components (if you're using a desktop)

This isn't an option for everyone, as it depends on your PC. In a recent Which? survey*, 8% of members who have Windows 10 told us they plan on paying somebody to upgrade their PC. Meanwhile, 10% of respondents told us they were planning to tackle it themselves.

One requirement for Windows 11 is a Trusted Platform Module (TPM 2.0) chip, which enhances security but is mostly only on PCs released in the past five years. 

Upgrading existing hardware can be a hassle if you’re not an enthusiast, and there’s a risk of error if you don’t know what you’re doing.

If you need help, find a trusted, local computer repair shop using Which? Trusted Traders.

 5. Extend your Windows 10 licence for one year - including for free

Assuming you need more time before moving to a Windows 11 device, Microsoft is offering a one-year extension as part of its Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme. 

Ultimately, if you want to continue to use Windows, you’ll need to switch to Windows 11 at some point between now and 13 October 2026. But ESU could provide you with a useful way to bridge the gap and keep using Windows 10 safely for up to another year.

Enrolment in ESU isn’t automatic, so you’ll need to take action to remain safe. Microsoft is currently rolling out a prompt to begin the enrolment process via Windows Update. There are several ways to qualify for ESU. You can enrol for free if you agree to back up your Windows settings to the cloud. Otherwise, you can redeem Microsoft loyalty points (if you have earned any), or pay a one-off fee. 

You need a Microsoft account to enrol into ESU. If you currently log into your PC with a local account instead, you will be prompted to sign in or create a Microsoft account (for free) during the process.

How to extend your Windows 10 licence

Click Start > Settings > Update & Security, then click Check for updates. If the Windows 10 ESU enrolment option has been rolled out to your PC, you'll see a message showing 'Windows 10 support ends in October 2025'. Below this, you'll see an Enrol now link - click this.

A new window will open. Read the information about the Extended Security Updates programme, then click Next.

What you see on the following screen may vary, depending on a number of factors:

• If you're signed into your PC with a local account, you'll be promoted to sign into your Microsoft account (or create one, if you don't have one).
• If you have already set Windows to back up your settings (Settings > Account > Windows backup and enable Remember my preferences), you'll be told you're eligible to enrol in Extended Security Updates at no extra cost - click Enrol to continue.

What if you haven't set Windows 10 to back up your settings?

You will see a screen that presents you with three options:

1. Back up your settings - select this if you want to keep receiving Windows 10 updates for free. This doesn't back up your files and data and data. It just uses a very small portion of the free OneDrive cloud storage included with your Microsoft account in order to sync your system settings, preferences and apps.
2. Redeem Microsoft Reward Points - Choose this if you have earned 1,000 Microsoft Reward points and would like to redeem them to pay for your enrolment. These are loyalty points that Microsoft account holders can earn by fulfilling various activities, such as playing Xbox games or searching with Bing. If you have earned any, your current total will be shown here. You can find out more on the Microsoft Rewards website.
3. One time purchase - If you don't want to back up your settings or don't have Microsoft Reward points to redeem, select this option to pay £24.99.

Once you've made your choice, click Next.

Windows 10 licence extension: complete the process

What you do next depends on which choice you made:

1.  Back up your PC settings - you’ll see a screen explaining that Windows will start backing up your apps and settings (automatically enabling the options found under Settings > Accounts > Windows backup). Click Enrol to continue.
2. Redeem Microsoft Reward Points,- you’ll see a confirmation screen. Click Redeem to complete the process.
3. One time purchase - you’ll see a payment screen showing the last four digits of the credit card currently associated with your Microsoft account. Click Change if you want to use a different payment method or click Buy to complete the purchase. 

In each case, you should now see a screen confirming that your device has been enrolled to receive extended security updates until October 13 2026. Click Done.

Worth knowing about Windows 10

Initially, Microsoft told its users they would have to pay if they wanted the one-year Windows licence extension. In a Windows Experience Blog Update (24 June 2025), Microsoft outlined the two additional free options.

 6. Convert to Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a free Linux operating system that comes with pre-installed apps for web browsing, messaging, gaming and content creation. The OS is updated regularly and has built-in security features.

You can download Ubuntu from the developer's website or, conveniently, try it for free without installing it on your PC. Tech Support subscribers can look back at the October 2022 issue of Which? Tech magazine to find out how to do it.

Note: The setup process for installing Ubuntu is quite lengthy, so we suggest trying this only if you consider yourself fairly tech savvy.

Join Which? Tech Support

Get tech confident for less

12 months of tech support & buying advice for only £24.50, that's 50% off. Together we’ll show your tech who’s boss.

Join Which? Tech Support

Cancel anytime.

Which? Tech Support can help you keep on top of your home tech. Our experts explain things clearly so you can resolve issues and feel more confident using your devices.

Get unlimited 1-2-1 expert support:

• By remote fix – we connect securely from our office to your home computer and resolve issues while you watch
• By phone – clear guidance on choosing, setting up, using and resolving issues with your home tech devices
• By email – outline the issue and we’ll email you our answer
• In print – Which? Tech magazine, six issues a year delivered to your door.

You can join Which? Tech Support.

*Online survey, 1,161 Which? members, January 2025

Article updated 26 June 2025 to include news about two free Windows 10 licence extensions, announced 24 June on the Windows Experience Blog.