What are my options when Windows 10 support ends on October 14?

S.I hear that Microsoft pulled the plug on Windows 10 later this year. What does this mean for a current Windows 10 computer, and what are my options?

A: Microsoft will formally end Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, after slightly over 10 years after the operating system. Although you can follow the use of Windows 10 computers after that date – it is understood the reason, I gave it a glowing review at all – you no longer receive any support to customers, safety updates or any other type of promotion. Windows 10 will actually become a zombie operating system, flounder to work a kind of harmful programs or a huge security breach that makes it very unsafe. (Think about it in this way: Will you already feel safe operating Windows XP, which is an exhibition operating system for harmful programs that have not received a major security update since 2019, today? I hope not!)

So what is the Windows 10 user to do? Let’s look at your choices.

Better option: upgrade to Windows 11

For most users, the simplest way to move from Windows 10 is to climb to the new Microsoft operating system. Windows 11 is a free upgrade for Windows 10 users who run the latest 22HS updates and who also benefit the specifications of the lower devices. Microsoft does not require a lot-just a 64-bit double-core processor, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage-but safety requirements may be a problem for very old computers. This includes the ability to ever in a safe boot mode, in addition to the presence of TPM 2.0 unit (confidence platform 2.0). Windows 11 is based on the latter to log in biometric entry, bitLocker data and other safety features. If you don’t have TPM 2.0, you will be stuck with Windows 10 until you get a new computer. ))

If all of this seems very complicated, the Microsoft Health Check check can also know if your system is ready for Windows 11. If you are bombed by Windows 11 upgrade notifications over the past few years, this is also inverted, your computer is likely to be ready for the new operating system. (There are many breakthroughs that can allow you to install Windows 11 without TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, but they are risk and can make your operating system installation at risk.

If you choose to upgrade, you can expect a relatively painless process. The days when Windows can be easily given your system easily. Assuming that you have enough space from the hard drive to retain the new operating system, the upgrade process is just the issue of sitting and watching your system restarted several times. I still recommend preparing any basic data before the upgrade, though, just if any problems are facing. (The pairing of a backup copy of Microsoft OneDrive based on the core group with a local fixed disk is a good belt and a campaign.)

Price option: Buy a new computer

If your system is too old so that it does not support the safe boot mode and TPM 2.0, then it may be just a upgrade. (Expert users can find solutions on YouTube and other places, but you have to be adventurous enough to deal with the likes of GitHub downloads and safety transgressions.) Fortunately, we have a large number of purchase guides to help you. Make sure to review our best laptop guide, which includes some tips on the best specifications to search for, as well as some of our favorite systems such as Dell 14 Premium and MacBook Air (because it is also a good time to think from Windows to MACS). We also highlight our Windows LEDs Landfirms Windows Guide to our best Windows Surface PRO COPILOT+ Tablet systems. Although SweetSpot for new computers tends to be in a range of 750 to $ 1,200, with current promotions to return to school, you can find laptops and desktop computers very capable for $ 500, and sometimes less. But if you are looking for something higher ($ 1,400 and above), it will be the best gameplay for gaming computer.

Risks Option: Continue to truck transport using Windows 10

Windows 10 will not destroy the self when its support ends, so you can only use the oldest computer until it dies. But this is a risky option because you will not get any safety updates. All it takes is for one of the bold infiltrators to find a new safety defect and you can easily fall victim to any number of problems. This includes obtaining harmful programs, which may slow performance and leak your data for infiltrators, or fall victim to the ransom data theft system. Every day on October 14th, only the possibility of a third -party anti -virus program will be not equipped to fight. Trust me – you don’t want to do this. At least, buy yourself another year to know things

Stalling option: Pay to expand Windows 10 security updates

If your devices are not able to support the transition to Windows 11, you can at least reach the nap button while discovering things. For one -time payment of $ 30 (or 1000 Microsoft Bonuses), you can subscribe to the Windows 10 EXNDED SECURITY (ESU) update (ESU). As his name suggests, ESU will bring you Windows 10 security updates, error repairs and technical support until October 13, 2026. What is worth it, this represents the first time that Microsoft has provided any type of ESU for consumers. Usually, it is just a means of companies’ information technology matches for additional support without deportation to the new operating system.

Do you have a technical question you want to answer?

As technology correspondents, Engadget employees always answer questions from friends and family about electronics, programs, games, large technical policies and more. So we decided to write our answers. This question is one of the recently asked. If you have a technology -related question, you want to answer you, please send an email to Ask@engadget.com.