Windows 10 support has ended: choose your next step
Windows 10 support ended on 14 October 2025. Check Windows 11 eligibility and, if you need more time, whether your PC qualifies for consumer ESU through 12 October 2027.
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Your Windows 10 PC will still work, but standard Windows 10 support ended on 14 October 2025. Without eligible ESU enrolment, it no longer receives regular security updates or Microsoft technical support. Eligible enrolled consumer PCs can receive critical and important security updates through 12 October 2027. Check which supported route fits the computer and how much preparation it needs. Read Microsoft's current consumer ESU guidance .
First check whether the PC is eligible for Windows 11. If it is, plan the upgrade around your important apps and files. If you need more time, the consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme can provide critical and important security updates for eligible enrolled devices through 12 October 2027, but it does not restore full product support.
This guide covers personal Windows 10 version 22H2 Home, Pro, Pro Education and Pro for Workstations PCs and Microsoft's consumer ESU programme. Work or school-managed devices and commercial use need their own support plan; consumer ESU is not available for commercial scenarios.
Windows 10 support ended on 14 October 2025
The end of support is a software maintenance deadline. A working computer may still do what you need; what matters is having a supported plan for future security updates.
Microsoft's consumer ESU programme provides Critical and Important security updates for eligible, enrolled PCs through 12 October 2027. It does not restore ordinary product support: new features, non-security fixes and general technical support are excluded. Check Microsoft's current ESU guidance for full terms.
The consumer ESU programme runs through 12 October 2027. You can enrol an eligible device until the programme ends; enrolled devices continue to receive critical and important security updates through that date. Updates do not cover the period before enrolment, so an unenrolled device remains exposed to unpatched Windows vulnerabilities. Enrollment options may vary by region. Check Microsoft's current consumer ESU guidance for the latest terms.
Antivirus updates and Windows security updates are different. An up-to-date malware scanner does not mean that Windows itself is receiving security patches. Check the operating system's support arrangement directly. See Microsoft's Windows 10 support guidance .
Check the PC you own before considering a replacement
Use Microsoft’s PC Health Check app to check Windows 11 eligibility. Then open Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update and select Check for updates to see whether the upgrade is offered. Microsoft describes these as separate checks in its Windows 11 upgrade guide .
Read any failed requirement. Windows 11 eligibility includes a compatible processor, TPM 2.0 and UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability, alongside memory, storage and other requirements. Microsoft’s hardware requirements explanation explains the criteria and how PC Health Check identifies problems.
A fast SSD or plenty of RAM cannot answer every part of that check. If the result points to a firmware setting, consult the instructions for your exact PC or motherboard before changing it. If it identifies an unsupported component, record that result when comparing your options.
A passing hardware check also leaves your own compatibility questions to answer. Make a short list of what would interrupt your day if it stopped working: a particular game, an audio interface, a printer, a VPN, or an older paid application. Check each manufacturer’s Windows 11 support information. For games, include any launcher, anti-cheat system or mod you depend on.
If Windows Update says the upgrade is not ready, read the reason before forcing an installation. Microsoft can withhold an offer because of a known compatibility problem; its upgrade documentation describes these safeguard holds. A successful workaround would not answer the underlying support question.
When consumer ESU is a useful choice
ESU makes most sense when you can name what the extra time is for. Perhaps you are checking an essential application, arranging a replacement, or waiting for a sensible break in work. Put that task and a review date beside the decision to enrol.
Microsoft's current consumer ESU guidance lists three enrolment options:
| Route | What you provide |
|---|---|
| Windows Backup settings sync | Sync your PC settings to the cloud, at no additional charge for ESU |
| Microsoft Rewards | Redeem 1,000 points |
| Paid enrolment | One-time US$30 payment or local equivalent, plus applicable tax |
Choose from the options offered on your device and check the displayed total and terms before confirming; Microsoft’s consumer guidance specifies the payment terms.
The settings-sync option deserves a separate check. Windows Backup has separate choices for personal files and settings, as Microsoft explained when introducing the backup experience . Completing ESU enrolment does not prove that your documents, photographs or project files are backed up. Open a few important files from the backup location to verify that the copies are readable.
Enrol through Windows Update, then check the result
Consumer ESU requires Windows 10 version 22H2 Home, Pro, Pro Education or Pro for Workstations; the latest Windows update; and the Windows 10 ESU Licensing Preparation Package (KB5126256). The Microsoft account used to enrol must be an administrator account and cannot be a child account. Check Microsoft's current prerequisites before enrolling.
Check your installed edition and version under Settings → System → About → Windows specifications, using Microsoft’s device-information instructions .
On an eligible PC, open Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update and look for the Enroll now link. Microsoft says eligible consumers can enrol until the programme ends on 12 October 2027 ; the offer and available options can vary by region.
- Open Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update.
- Install the available Windows updates and restart if prompted.
- Select Enroll now when the ESU offer appears.
- Sign in to the Microsoft account used for enrolment if prompted, choose an offered route and complete the wizard.
- Check the enrolment status in Windows Update. Keep the confirmation and, if you paid, the purchase record.
If the link is missing, check the prerequisites and whether the PC is managed by an organisation. Consumer ESU is not offered for commercial scenarios or some managed devices. Do not download a separate “ESU activator.”
If the wizard does not appear or fails, install available Windows updates, including KB5126256, and restart if needed. Confirm the requirements above and the options offered in your region. If the problem persists, record the exact error and use Microsoft's support guidance ; older update-specific fixes are not a universal solution.
Treat enrolment as unfinished until Windows Update confirms the status. Keep the confirmation and, if you paid, the purchase record. Continue installing updates Windows Update offers.
Make the move manageable
Before an upgrade or replacement, check that you can recover your important files and sign in to the services you use. Microsoft’s upgrade preparation guidance recommends backing up important data and keeping access to essential software accounts before changing Windows.
Give that preparation a small, concrete scope:
- Verify your important file backups, even if you are upgrading the same PC.
- Check the account access, licence information and installer source for software you must keep.
- Record the apps and connected devices whose compatibility still needs checking.
- Set aside time to try your everyday tasks after the move, before treating it as complete.
For a replacement PC, confirm that the proposed model meets your needs and has a supported operating system. If you are considering a different operating system on existing hardware, check the actual applications, games and peripherals you rely on before committing. A cheaper route is only useful if you can do your work on it.
For example, if your PC is not eligible for Windows 11 and replacing it will take time, ESU may be a temporary option if the device meets the current requirements. Choose a target date for replacing or upgrading it, and set a checkpoint before the ESU programme ends on 12 October 2027.
Leave yourself a decision you can finish
Write down the PC's eligibility result, your chosen route, any remaining compatibility question and a target date. If you are using ESU, include a checkpoint well before its scheduled end on 12 October 2027.
For an eligible PC with the important compatibility checks complete, a supported Windows 11 upgrade is the straightforward route. When more time is needed, confirmed ESU enrolment provides a defined transition period, not full Windows support. If neither route fits, arrange another supported setup well before the programme ends on 12 October 2027.
The useful result is a PC with a known update arrangement, files you can recover and a clear next action.
Sources
- Microsoft, consumer ESU and Windows 10 support announcement , 31 October 2024.
- Microsoft, current consumer ESU enrolment options and terms.
- Microsoft, consumer ESU prerequisites and programme end date ; find your Windows edition and version .
- Microsoft, Windows 11 requirements and PC Health Check , 27 August 2021; how to get Windows 11 , 4 October 2021.
- Microsoft, Windows Backup introduction , 26 September 2023.
- Microsoft Learn, Windows 10 to Windows 11 upgrade preparation , updated 22 August 2025.
