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    Windows 10 Support Has Ended: What to Do Now

    Microsoft stopped issuing free security updates for Windows 10. Here is how to check what you have and choose your next step.

    4 min read6 stepsChecked Aug 2026

    Microsoft ended free support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Your computer did not stop working that day and will not stop working now. What changed is that Microsoft no longer sends free security updates to it, and each month that passes adds newly discovered weaknesses that will never be patched on that version.

    1. Step 1: Find out which version of Windows you have

      Click the Start button, type "winver" and press Enter. A small window appears showing your Windows version. If it says Windows 11, you are already receiving updates and nothing here applies to you.

      Quick Tip

      Write down what the window says before closing it. You will want it if you call a family member or a repair shop for help.

    2. Step 2: Check whether your computer can run Windows 11

      Open Settings, choose Windows Update, and look for an upgrade message. Windows will tell you directly whether this computer meets the requirements for Windows 11. Microsoft also offers a free PC Health Check app from support.microsoft.com that gives the same answer.

    3. Step 3: If it qualifies, upgrade to Windows 11 — it is free

      In Settings, go to Windows Update and choose Download and install when Windows 11 is offered. Your documents, photos, and installed programs stay where they are. Set aside an hour or two, keep a laptop plugged in, and do not turn the computer off partway through.

      Warning

      Back up important files to an external drive or cloud storage before any major upgrade. Upgrades usually go smoothly, but a backup is the only thing that makes a failure recoverable.

    4. Step 4: If it does not qualify, look at Extended Security Updates

      Open Settings and go to Windows Update. If your computer is eligible for consumer Extended Security Updates, an enrollment option appears there. This continues security patches for a limited period and buys time to plan a replacement.

    5. Step 5: Consider whether replacing the computer makes more sense

      If the machine is already slow, low on storage, or has a failing battery, the cost of extending it may be better spent on a newer one. A budget laptop bought today will run Windows 11 and receive updates for years.

    6. Step 6: Ignore anyone who calls or pops up about Windows support

      Microsoft does not telephone people about expiring support, and no genuine warning asks you to call a number. Every legitimate option is inside Windows Update. Close the pop-up, hang up the call, and do not give remote access to your computer.

      Warning

      Giving remote access to a stranger hands them your files, your browser, and any accounts you are signed in to. This is one of the most costly mistakes in this category.

    More about this

    That is a real risk, but it is a gradual one, not an emergency. There is time to make a considered decision rather than a rushed purchase — which matters, because scam callers and pop-ups have been using the deadline to pressure people into paying for "Windows support" they do not need.

    There are three honest paths. If your computer meets Microsoft's hardware requirements, upgrading to Windows 11 is free and keeps your files and programs in place. If it does not meet the requirements, Microsoft offers Extended Security Updates for consumers, which continue security patches for a limited period; enrollment is done through Windows Update itself. And if the machine is old and slow anyway, replacing it may cost less than the effort of extending a computer that is already struggling.

    What you should not do is pay a stranger who calls or a pop-up that appears. Microsoft does not phone people about expiring support, and every legitimate option above is handled inside Windows Update or through a retailer you choose.

    (Sources: Microsoft Support — support.microsoft.com; AARP technology resources — aarp.org)

    Official sources

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