When you should update and what it means for you

Many people using Windows computers are in for a big change.

Microsoft is ending support for its Windows 10 operating system, meaning those PCs could be at risk after Tuesday, October 14th.

This is because security updates will be stopped, making devices more vulnerable to attacks.

Microsoft is encouraging people to upgrade to Windows 11 for free, but not all computers will be able to do so.

“Ending support for Windows 10 could be catastrophic for both consumers and the environment,” said Nathan Proctor, senior director of US consumer group PIRG.

So what does this mean for you?

Windows is the most popular computer operating system in the world. Microsoft says it is used on more than 1.4 billion devices worldwide.

About 43% of them were using Windows 10 in July 2025. according to Statcounter.

In the UK, consumer guide Which? An estimated 21 million people are still using Windows 10.

In September he conducted a survey The results revealed that about a quarter of these users planned to continue using it even after official Microsoft support ended.

About one in seven said they planned to buy a new computer.

Other consumer groups have criticized the end of support for Windows 10, saying it will lead to unnecessary costs and environmental losses.

“People are tired of living in a world filled with short-lived devices that we can't fix, or lose software support, or otherwise end up in the waste stream,” said Mr. Proctor, who advocates for a right to repair in the United States.

He added: “We deserve technology that lasts.”

Essentially, Microsoft is giving individual users two options: upgrade to Windows 11 or sign up for 12 months of extended security updates.

This can be done in the Privacy & Security section of your settings.

People who have computers eligible for Windows 11 can upgrade for free.

However, many people “will have to buy new devices even though their current computers work fine,” Mr. Proctor said.

If you don't want to upgrade right away or your device is too old for Windows 11, you can sign up for a scheme that will continue to keep the most important security updates until October 2026.

It's called Extended Security Updates (ESU) – but does not offer any technical support or other software updates.

People living in the European Economic Area will receive it for free by registering. For other users to get it for free, they will need to update to the latest version of Windows 10, have a Microsoft account, and back up their PC settings.

Otherwise, you'll have to pay a $30 (£22) fee or use 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points to access ESU.

For commercial organizations using Windows 10, it will cost $61 per device.

The exact amount you pay depends on where in the world you live.

Since its release in 2015, Microsoft has supported Windows 10 with regular software updates.

They were used to customize or add new features and to fix security issues and bugs.

The company encourages users to upgrade to Windows 11 for free, but some older devices will not be able to run the new operating system.

This also makes Windows 11 more difficult to use. without a Microsoft account — and one way to extend the life of your Windows 10 PC also requires a Microsoft account.

Some users choose not to sign in with a Microsoft account for privacy reasons.

Microsoft will stop sending critical updates and security patches to Windows 10 computers.

This may make your device more vulnerable to threats such as viruses or malware because you won't receive the latest protections against attacks.

We saw a number high-profile cyber attacks in recent months – from retailers to car manufacturers and even nursery chains.

Companies may also “face regulatory compliance challenges when using unsupported software,” Microsoft consumer marketing director Yusuf Mehdi wrote in the article. blog post.

You may also notice that other software may lose some functionality as developers stop shipping their newest features to older operating systems.