In exactly one year, support for Windows 10 will expire. Millions of PCs are in danger of being discarded then, whether they still work or not. Don’t wait until the very last day to take action.
Oct. 14, 2025: the day Microsoft officially pulls the plug on Windows 10. That date is getting closer and closer. Millions of Windows users will face a dilemma over the next 12 months: upgrade to Windows 11 or not? If you too are in this situation, we will help you prepare for the end of Windows 10. A year passes quickly.
Still popular
This is far from the first time a Windows version has come to the end of its lifespan: no Windows version lasts forever. For example, Windows 10 itself once replaced Windows 8. However, ending support for Windows 10 presents an exceptional situation.
Indeed, Windows 10 is still wildly popular. In August, 64 percent of all Windows computers worldwide were still running the older version, according to figures from Statcounter. Only 31 percent were already making the switch to Windows 11. By comparison, when Windows 8 went out of circulation, it only had a share of barely three percent.
As the deadline approaches, Windows 11’s share will rise, but it cannot be ruled out that Windows 10 will still be the most popular version when support ends. Microsoft has reluctantly had to acknowledge the popularity of Windows 10 and continues to add new features, such as the Copilot app.
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It is also notable that the time window between when Windows 10 was “replaced” and when security updates stop is much shorter than with previous versions. Windows 8 and Windows 7 users are given seven years of consideration; only four years are granted for Windows 10. Even early versions of Windows 11, meanwhile, no longer enjoy support.
On the scrap heap
So what happens to all those millions of PCs still running Windows 10 after Oct. 14, 2025? Canalys warns of a mass grave. The analysis firm calculated that 240 million PCs worldwide are at risk of being discarded along with Windows 10, including devices that would still work perfectly well.
To be clear, if there is nothing wrong with your device, it will still work after Oct. 14, 2025. Ending support does not mean that Windows 10 will stop working completely. You can still find devices today running Windows 8, Windows 7 or – we’re not making it up – Windows XP.
Microsoft has had to counter and acknowledge the continued popularity of Windows 10.
From a security standpoint, this is very unwise: we will hit this nail on the head many times. Unsupported Windows versions are no longer provided with security updates. This opens the doors of your PC to vulnerabilities. So using Windows 10 after October 14, 2025 is at your own risk: especially for corporate PCs that have access to sensitive data and critical IT environments, we strongly advise against it.
Standing firm
That millions of Windows PCs are at risk of the scrap heap is also largely Microsoft’s responsibility. For many users, it is not a matter of not wanting, but not being allowed to upgrade to Windows 11. From the beginning, Microsoft imposed certain system requirements to install Windows 11. We list them again:
- 4 GB RAM
- 64 GB storage
- UEFI & Secure Boot
- TPM 2.0
- HD display (720p)
- An approved processor from Intel, AMD or Qualcomm (see Microsoft’s official list )
Quasi all new PCs cross this bar effortlessly. But for older devices, from say 2018 and older, those requirements are less obvious. In particular, the mandatory TPM 2.0 may be a game-changer, as older devices may still have an older standard.
This may exclude your PC from Windows 11, even though it worked perfectly well with Windows 10. In this case, you are basically forced to buy a new PC. The slow adoption of Windows 11 shows that far from everyone is going along with it.
Microsoft is standing firm on system requirements, even as it shoots itself in the foot in doing so. Loopholes to install Windows 11 on an unsupported device will be irrevocably closed sooner or later.
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Procrastination is not procrastination
For business users, there is another track from October 2025. Businesses can subscribe to Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates program to extend (for a fee) the life of their Windows PCs.
Exact prices of the extended updates have not yet been communicated by Microsoft, but count about four hundred euros per device if you sign up for the full three years. The first year still starts relatively cheap, but for year two and year three, prices rise significantly.
Again, this is just delaying the inevitable: sooner or later, Microsoft will pull the plug on Windows 10 for good. So thoroughly consider whether it is financially the most attractive choice to continue paying for your devices for another three years, or invest in a new computer park right away. Private users do not have the option of extended security updates anyway.
A second life
Don’t feel like buying a new PC while your old one is still working? You can still give your PC a second life. For this, you can also look at other operating systems. Did you know that you can turn a Windows PC into a Linux PC? Using a USB drive, you can install a Linux distribution of your choice on your PC.
Linux comes in many flavors, and most distributions do require some technical knowledge. The freedom Linux grants you is a blessing for the seasoned user, but can feel overwhelming for the beginner. Is Chrome OS more up your alley? Then use the Chrome OS Flex tool to turn your Windows PC into a Chromebook.
Don’t wait until it’s too late
Specifically, you have these five options after the support deadline for Windows 10 expires:
- Continuing to use Windows 10 without updates (not recommended)
- Upgrade to Windows 11 (if your PC meets the hardware requirements)
- Buying a new PC with Windows 11
- Pay for Extended Security Updates for Windows 10 (maximum three years)
- Switching to a new operating system (can be done with your old PC)
Whichever option you will choose, don’t wait until Oct. 13, 2025 to spring into action. Doomsday will be here sooner than you think for Windows 10.