Microsoft stopped providing free security updates for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Many people bought themselves a year with Microsoft's Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for home users — and that one-year extension runs out in October 2026.
A Windows 10 computer won't stop working when updates end. But every security hole discovered from then on stays open, which makes it an easy target for ransomware and scams. For a business, it can also cause problems with cyber-insurance and compliance.
Your three options
- Upgrade to Windows 11 for free — if your computer meets Microsoft's requirements, the upgrade costs nothing. We can check compatibility, back up your files and do the upgrade for you.
- Upgrade the hardware — many computers that "can't" run Windows 11 only need a newer drive or a settings change. Sometimes an SSD and RAM upgrade gives an older PC years of extra life.
- Replace the computer — if it's more than six or seven years old, a new machine is often the better value. We'll move all your files, email and programs across.
For businesses
Businesses can buy paid Extended Security Updates from Microsoft for a limited time, but costs rise each year. It's usually best treated as a short bridge while you plan replacements — not a long-term fix.
Not sure where you stand?
Book a free IT checkup and we'll tell you which of your computers can upgrade, which need hardware, and what it will cost — before you spend anything.
