Microsoft stopped supporting Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. If your business is still running it — and plenty are — your computers aren’t getting security updates anymore.
Everything still turns on and works like normal, which is exactly why it’s easy to put off doing anything about it. The trouble is, the longer you stay on Windows 10, the more security holes pile up that nobody’s ever going to fix.
So what does this actually mean for your business, and what are your options? There are three: upgrade to Windows 11, pay for extended updates to buy some time, or replace the machine. Let’s walk through what you’re dealing with first.
What “end of support” actually means
When Microsoft ends support for a version of Windows, the updates stop — including the monthly security patches that fix newly discovered flaws. Microsoft has confirmed that since October 14, 2025, Windows 10 gets no more security fixes, quality updates, feature updates, or technical support.
Your PCs don’t stop working. Nothing switches off the moment support ends. What’s different is that Microsoft has stopped fixing Windows 10’s security flaws — and attackers and researchers keep finding new ones. Now nobody’s patching them. Every new flaw that turns up is one more way into your computers that never gets closed.
Why this is a real risk, not just an inconvenience
This is about more than an old, slow computer.
- They become an easy target. Attackers go looking for computers running software that doesn’t get fixed anymore, because they know the flaws will just sit there waiting. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre points out that holes in unsupported products stay exploitable, often by fairly low-skilled attackers.
- You can fall out of compliance. If you handle card payments, health records, or personal data, rules like PCI DSS and HIPAA expect you to run supported, patched software. Windows 10 no longer qualifies, which can put you out of compliance without you realizing it.
- It can hit your cyber insurance. Insurers are asking more and more whether your systems are supported and patched. Running an unsupported operating system can push your premium up, shrink your coverage, or give the insurer grounds to fight a claim.
- Your other software will drop it. Over time, browsers, accounting tools, and other programs stop supporting Windows 10, so the apps you rely on daily can stop updating — or stop working altogether.
CISA puts “run supported, updated software” on its short list of basic security steps for any business.
Your three options
Most businesses end up mixing these across their fleet of computers.
1. Upgrade to Windows 11 (free, if the hardware qualifies)
If you bought the PC in the last few years, upgrading is free and usually the right move. The catch is the hardware — Windows 11 needs a supported processor, TPM 2.0, and Secure Boot, which rules out a fair number of older machines. Run Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app to see whether a specific PC qualifies.
2. Buy Extended Security Updates as a bridge
If a PC can’t move to Windows 11 yet, Microsoft will sell Extended Security Updates (ESU) to keep the patches coming a while longer. For businesses, that’s $61 per device the first year, doubling every year after that, up to three years — around $427 per device total if you keep one machine on Windows 10 the whole time. Home users get a much better deal: a one-time $30 payment covers up to 10 devices through October 12, 2027, and it’s free if you sync your PC settings.
ESU buys you security patches and nothing else — no new features, no real tech support. It’s there to buy time while you sort out the upgrade or a new machine.
3. Replace the PC
Some machines are simply too old for Windows 11, and not worth paying ESU on year after year. For those, a new PC that already runs Windows 11 usually works out cheaper once you add up the ESU fees against the cost of keeping an old machine limping along.
How to actually plan the move
You don’t have to do all of this at once, but you do need a plan. A sensible order:
- Make a list of every computer still on Windows 10.
- Check which ones can move to Windows 11, using the PC Health Check app or your IT provider.
- Upgrade the ones that qualify — it’s free, and keeps your files and programs in place.
- For the rest, choose between ESU to buy time or replacing the machine, depending on age and what it’s used for.
Your IT provider can run that inventory in an afternoon and tell you the right call for each machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Windows 10 still safe to use after October 2025?
It still works, but it’s not getting security updates anymore, so the risk creeps up as new flaws get found and left unpatched. If you’re going to keep using it for now, either enroll in Extended Security Updates or plan your move to Windows 11.
What happens if I keep using Windows 10 and do nothing?
Your PCs keep running, but they turn into an easier target for attackers, can put you out of compliance with payment and privacy rules, and may cause problems with your cyber insurance. Over time, the apps you depend on will start dropping Windows 10 too.
How much does Windows 10 ESU cost for a business?
$61 per device the first year, doubling each year after that up to three years — about $427 per device total. Home users get a better deal: a one-time $30 payment covers up to 10 devices through October 12, 2027, or it’s free if you sync your PC settings.
Can my PC upgrade to Windows 11 for free?
If it meets the hardware requirements, yes — a supported processor, TPM 2.0, and Secure Boot. The PC Health Check app tells you whether a specific machine qualifies. PCs from the last few years usually do.
Should I just buy a new computer?
If a PC can’t run Windows 11, a new one is often cheaper than paying escalating ESU fees for years on top of running aging hardware. If it can upgrade, start with the free Windows 11 upgrade instead.
Graham’s Take
We’re running into this a lot right now — businesses that have no idea how many of their machines are still on Windows 10 until someone actually checks. It’s a quick inventory to run, and knowing where you stand beats finding out the hard way.
