Short answer: Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, but home users can still get free or low-cost security updates through Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme, which Microsoft has now extended to October 12, 2027. If your laptop can run Windows 11, upgrading for free is the best long-term option. If it can’t, enrol in ESU now and plan your next step before late 2027.
In this article
What “end of support” means
Windows 10 keeps working. Nothing switches off. But without security updates, newly discovered vulnerabilities stay unpatched, which makes the laptop increasingly risky for banking, email and browsing. Over time, browsers and apps also drop support.
Option 1: Upgrade to Windows 11 for free (if your laptop qualifies)
- Open Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update. If your laptop is eligible, you’ll see an offer to upgrade to Windows 11.
- Or download Microsoft’s PC Health Check app and click Check now.
- The main requirements are a supported processor (roughly Intel 8th gen / AMD Ryzen 2000 or newer), TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage.
Tip: if PC Health Check says TPM is missing on a laptop from 2018 or later, it’s often just switched off in the BIOS (look for “Intel PTT”, “AMD fTPM” or “Security Device Support”). Enable it and check again.
Back up your files before upgrading. The upgrade keeps your files and apps, but it’s always wise to have a copy.
Option 2: Enrol in Extended Security Updates (ESU)
If your laptop can’t run Windows 11, ESU keeps it patched for now.
- Requirements: Windows 10 version 22H2 (Home, Pro, Pro Education or Workstations) with the latest updates installed, signed in with an administrator account. Work and school-managed PCs aren’t eligible for the consumer programme.
- How to enrol: go to Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update and click Enroll now. Microsoft’s enrolment options have included syncing your settings with a Microsoft account via Windows Backup, redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or a one-time payment of about $30. Users in the European Economic Area get it free with a Microsoft account sign-in.
- How long: Microsoft has extended consumer ESU to October 12, 2027. Check Microsoft’s Windows 10 ESU page for the latest details, as the programme has changed more than once.
Option 3: Replace the laptop (before ESU runs out)
A laptop that can’t run Windows 11 is typically 7+ years old. Battery, storage and performance are probably holding you back too. Even a modern budget laptop will feel dramatically faster. See our best budget laptops and the best time to buy. With ESU covering you through most of 2027, you can wait for a good Black Friday deal.
Option 4: Give an old laptop a second life
- ChromeOS Flex: Google’s free version of ChromeOS for old PCs. It’s fast, secure and ideal for browsing and email. Check Google’s certified models list first.
- Linux: beginner-friendly distributions like Linux Mint or Ubuntu run well on older hardware and are free and secure. See how to install Linux alongside Windows to try it without losing Windows.
What about unofficial Windows 11 workarounds?
There are tools that install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware by bypassing the TPM and CPU checks. They work, but Microsoft doesn’t support these installs, may not deliver all updates to them, and displays a warning. For most people, ESU or a new laptop is the safer path.
Before you do anything: back up
Copy your Documents, Pictures and Desktop to OneDrive or an external drive. A portable SSD makes this quick, and you’ll need it when moving to a new laptop anyway.
