Microsoft ends support for Windows 10

Unsupported Windows 10 can jeopardise compliance and security; Microsoft urges action before vulnerabilities mount.

Millions in the UK still use Windows 10 as updates end, despite rising security risk and scams.

Windows 10 support ends on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, and routine security patches and fixes will no longer be provided. Devices will face increased cyber risk without updates. Microsoft urges upgrades to Windows 11 where possible.

Windows powers more than 1.4 billion devices, with Windows 10 still widely used. UK consumer group Which? estimates 21 million local users. Some plan to continue regardless, citing cost, waste, and working hardware.

Upgrade to Windows 11 is free for eligible PCs via the Settings app. Others can enrol in Extended Security Updates, which deliver security fixes only until October 2026. ESU offers no technical support or feature updates.

Personal users in the European Economic Area can register for ESU at no charge. Elsewhere, eligibility may unlock ESU for free, or it costs $30 or 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points. Businesses pay $61 per device for year one.

Unsupported systems become easier targets for malware and scams, and some software may degrade over time. Organisations risk compliance issues running out-of-support platforms. Privacy-minded users may also dislike Windows 11’s tighter Microsoft account requirements.

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