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Here’s the tricky part: everything still boots up and works exactly like it did yesterday. That’s precisely why it’s so easy to shrug and deal with it later. But every month you sit on Windows 10, the pile of unpatched security holes gets taller, and nobody at Microsoft is coming back to fix them.

So let’s talk about what this means for you and what your actual options are. There are three: upgrade to Windows 11, buy extended updates to give yourself time, or replace the machine. I’ll walk you through each. But first, let’s be clear on what “end of support” really means.

What “end of support” actually means

When Microsoft retires a version of Windows, the updates stop — including the monthly security patches that close newly discovered holes. Microsoft has confirmed that as of October 14, 2025, Windows 10 gets no more security fixes, no quality updates, no feature updates, and no technical support.

Your PCs don’t die. Nothing shuts off at midnight. What changed is that Microsoft stopped fixing Windows 10’s security flaws. Attackers and researchers keep finding new ones — that never stops — and now there’s no one patching them. Every new flaw that surfaces is another open door into your systems, and it stays open for good.

Why this is a real risk (not just an old, slow PC)

This isn’t about a sluggish computer. Here’s what you’re actually exposed to:

• You’re an easy mark. Attackers actively hunt for machines running software that’s stopped getting patched, because they know the holes will just sit there waiting. CISA flags the use of unsupported, end-of-life software as one of its “bad practices” — the kind of thing it warns is dangerously risky, and often exploitable even by attackers who aren’t especially sophisticated.
• You can fall out of compliance. Handle card payments, health records, or customer data? Frameworks like PCI DSS and HIPAA expect you to run supported, patched software. Windows 10 no longer clears that bar, which can drop you out of compliance.
• It can wreck your cyber insurance. Insurers increasingly ask whether your systems are supported and patched. Running an unsupported OS can push your premium up, shrink your coverage, or hand the insurer a reason to fight a claim right when you need it paid.
• Your other software will abandon it too. Over time, browsers, accounting tools, and line-of-business apps drop Windows 10 support. The programs your team lives in every day start refusing to update — or stop working altogether.

Running supported, patched software sits on CISA’s short list of basic security steps for any business. It’s fundamental, not optional.

Your three options

Realistically, you’ve got three moves — and most businesses end up using a mix of them across their fleet.

1. Upgrade to Windows 11 (free, if the hardware makes the cut)

Bought the PC in the last few years? Upgrading to Windows 11 is free, and it’s usually the right call. The catch is hardware. Windows 11 requires a supported processor, TPM 2.0, and Secure Boot — and that disqualifies a lot of older machines. To check whether a specific PC qualifies, run Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app.

2. Buy Extended Security Updates (ESU) as a bridge

If a PC can’t jump to Windows 11 yet, Microsoft will sell you Extended Security Updates to keep the security patches flowing a while longer.

For businesses, that’s $61 per device for year one — and it doubles every year after, up to three years. Keep one machine on Windows 10 for the full run and you’re looking at roughly $427 per device over those three years.

Home users get a far better deal: a one-time $30 payment covers up to 10 devices with security updates through October 12, 2027 — or it’s free if you sync your PC settings.

Just know what ESU is and isn’t. It’s security patches, period. No new features, no real tech support. It exists to buy you time while you plan the upgrade or the replacement.

3. Replace the PC

Some machines are simply too old for Windows 11 and not worth paying escalating ESU fees on year after year. For those, buying a new PC that already runs Windows 11 usually comes out cheaper once you total up the ESU bills and the cost of nursing aging hardware along.

How to plan the move

You don’t have to do all of this in one weekend — but you do need a plan. Here’s the order I’d run it in:

1. Inventory every computer still on Windows 10.
2. Check which ones can move to Windows 11, using the PC Health Check app or your IT provider.
3. Upgrade the ones that qualify. It’s free, and it keeps your files and programs right where they are.
4. Decide on the rest — ESU to buy time, or replacement — based on the machine’s age and what it’s used for.

A good IT provider can run that inventory fast and tell you the smartest move for each machine, so you’re not guessing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Windows 10 still safe to use after October 2025?

It still runs, but it’s not getting security updates — so the risk climbs steadily as new flaws are found and left unpatched. If you’re going to keep using it, either enroll in Extended Security Updates or get a Windows 11 migration on the calendar.

What happens if I keep using Windows 10 and do nothing?

Your PCs keep running, but they become an easier target for attackers, can knock you out of compliance with payment and privacy rules, and may cause headaches with your cyber insurance. And over time, the apps you depend on will start dropping Windows 10 support too.

How much does Windows 10 ESU cost for a business?

For businesses, it’s $61 per device the first year and doubles each year after, up to three years — roughly $427 per device all in. Home users get the 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. Windows 11 needs a supported processor, TPM 2.0, and Secure Boot. The PC Health Check app will tell you whether a specific machine qualifies — and 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 babysitting aging hardware. If it can upgrade, start with the free Windows 11 upgrade — no reason to spend money you don’t have to.

Not sure where your machines stand? Sorting out which PCs to upgrade, which to bridge with ESU, and which to replace is exactly the kind of thing we handle for businesses every week. If you’d like a hand taking inventory and figuring out the right move for each computer, give us a call at (407) 720-6540 — we’re happy to point you in the right direction.