Windows 10: With one week of support left, here are your options
Microsoft launched Windows 10 almost 10 years ago and it plans to end support for the operating system next week, on October 14th, 2025.
End of support means that Microsoft won't deliver updates to your devices anymore for the operating system. That is a problem, as security issues won't get fixed anymore. If you connect your PC to the Internet, this affects the security of the device and is in most cases better avoided.
This guide reveals the options that you have to keep the PC up and running, and secured.
Option 1: Extend the life by joining ESU
Extended Security Updates are at this time probably the best option. They extend life by a year for consumer PCs and by up to three years for business PCs.
For consumers, it is easy to join.
- Check Settings > Update / Security for enrollment information. Check this guide for additional details on enrolling in Windows 10 ESU.
- Use this handy open source script to join, even if you use a local account.
Users from the European Economic Area may join for free. Everyone else has three options (pay money, pay with Rewards points, allow cloud backups).
Takeaway: Extends support by a year, giving you time to think about the next step.
Option 2: Upgrade to Windows 11
The upgrade to Windows 11 should be free for most Windows 10 devices. However, not all Windows 10 devices are compatible with Windows 10, as Microsoft changed the system requirements.
You can use Microsoft's official PC Health Check app to find out if your PC is compatible.
If your PC is compatible, you should be able to upgrade to Windows 11 via Settings > Update & Security.
If your PC is not compatible, there is still a good chance that you can install Windows 11 on the device. My suggestion is to use the open source Flyoobe for that. It does all of the heavy lifting for you so that you can install Windows 11 without having to tinker with Registry settings or manipulating installation media manually.
Another option comes in the form of the open source tool Rufus. Either way, most Windows 10 PCs should be able to upgrade to Windows 11 using these tools.
Option 3: Sign up for 0Patch
The third-party 0Patch will provide critical security updates for Windows 10 once it goes out of support. You install an agent on the system that patches the issues in memory. It costs about $30 per year, but you also get support for other Microsoft products, such as Office versions that Microsoft no longer supports.
0Patch plans to support Windows 10 until 2030 at the very least. The company has a solid track record of pushing out patches, some even before Microsoft.
Option 4: Switch to Linux
This is the most daunting option, as it will take quite some time and learning. Linux is free and open source, and you can switch for free.
However, there are some caveats:
- You need to migrate the data from your Windows 10 PC.
- Not all apps or games that you worked with may be available, but there are usually alternatives.
- You need to learn using a new operating system.
It is probably the best option, if you plan to use the PC for a long time. However, it is not the best course of action when you are in a hurry. Better option: join ESU, use the year to prepare, then migrate.
Option 5: Buy a new PC
This is Microsoft's recommended option. If your Windows 10 PC is not compatible with Windows 11, just buy a new one. This works out well if you needed a new PC anyway and have the money to do so.
This is not as easy as picking the first PC with Windows 11 that you encounter. You need to make several decisions.
- Do you need AI functionality or want the option to use it in the future? Then you should pay attention to the Copilot+ PCs label, as this guarantees support for now.
- Do you have special requirements, for instance for gaming or work that requires plenty of horse power?
- Do you just need a PC to browse the Internet, do some shopping, watch a few streams? A mini PC may be an option.
Now You: have another option that I missed or did you pick one of the listed options already? Feel free to leave a comment down below.
Option 1: Extend the life by joining ESU – Same problem next year.
Option 2: Upgrade to Windows 11 – Microsoft blocks me from doing that.
Option 3: Sign up for 0Patch – Costly and liability uncertain
Option 4: Switch to Linux – Nice, but not for everybody
Option 5: Buy a new PC – Costly (if you can afford it) and unnecessary early e-waste.
Honestly- as long as you don’t go clicking dumb links or anything, Windows 10 will be fine and most programs will continue to support it for a while, especially considering, afaik, the NT Kernel was largely unchanged between the versions. I’m still using Windows 7 as my main Windows system to this day, with a Win10 VM on my linux laptop in the event I need a newer Windows program.
There is yet another option. Totally ignore that this is happening, the way I did with Windows 7. And if something happens to my PC for doing this, I have all my data backed up and will, at that time, totally abandon using any Microsoft product -going with Linux finally.
Oh. Sorry Martin. I guess you did cover that one.
Microsoft refuses to acknowledge the many poorer countries who have a lot of users who simply cannot afford to buy a new PC because Microsoft wants them too. I expect many of those users will continue to use Windows 10 or possible even a older Windows because they have no choice. Or they will continue to use their older device with a alternative OS if forced to. I don’t think Linux is a valid option for many but at least it would offer a up to date OS that can run on older hardware. The problem with Microsoft these days is they seem obsessed with AI and getting users to buy hardware that supports it. The disconnect Microsoft has with users now is really bad.
I feel like going back to windows 8. Tired of update here and there.
Just continue using it as you always have, but be careful about what you download. I still use Windows 7, and I have no intention of switching operating systems. I’m still waiting for the boogieman to hack and exploit my system, and I’m starting to think that it’s never going to happen. :)
If you have the time and ability, learn to build your own PC’s.
If you take the time to learn about all the newest technologies you can build a PC that far outperforms prebuilts for less the half the cost, like we do.
I am sticking with Win 10 pc. As is, no fixes. I will keep trying to maximize my security and download no new software. I download everything with chocolatey package manager.
And there is no perfect system.
But a month or two ago, I bought a Dell Optiplex 7070 sff, with win 11 pro. I mistakenly bought the sff, because the price was sweet at $150.
This is a very informative and timely article — especially with Windows 10 support ending so soon. Many users still rely on it, so having a clear overview of **realistic options** like ESU enrollment, upgrading to Windows 11, or even switching to Linux is extremely helpful.
I particularly appreciate how you included **third-party alternatives like 0Patch**, which often get overlooked but can extend device life securely for those not ready to upgrade. The mention of tools like **Flyoobe and Rufus** also gives users more flexibility to transition smoothly.
It’s bittersweet to see the end of an era for Windows 10, but guides like this make the transition much easier for both casual and power users alike. Excellent breakdown, Martin! ?
To Allwynd: “There are projects like Thorium that allow you to install up-to-date Chromium on those systems too.”
This is not actually true, because it can be said with a high degree of confidence that the Thorium project has been dead for more than half a year.
The latest version of Thorium is v.130.0.6723.174 – it was published in February 2025. The current Chromium version as of today is v.141.0.7390.65 (for Windows).
@Here,
I don’t follow it as I don’t use an outdated version of Windows, but I had a 2005 laptop with XP given to me and I tried to find a semi-modern browser, I found a Firefox fork called MyPal and then Thorium and both versions allow you to more or less browse the web.
It may not be the most up-to-date version, but you’re missing the point.
1. It’s received an update this year, so certainly it’s maintained unless the developer explicitly states it’s abandoned or remains like that for more than 365 days.
2. Not every project gets updated every month, it depends on what priority it is for the creator and how much users it has.
3. Version 130 of Chromium is more than enough for now, why do you need “the absolute bleeding edge version?”
I know a few browsers, Quetta for Android and Slimjet for Linux, Mac and Windows, which receives updates often, last for Slimjet was August 2025, last for Quetta was September 2025 and both are using Chrome 135 regardless that the newest version is 141. They can update, but they aren’t for some reason, same with Vivaldi – it’s most of the time 2 versions behind the latest, sometimes they manage to catch up, sometimes not, who cares when it works? Only pedantic people who care about the highest number. Technically Firefox surpassed Chrome in terms of version number, so for some people it must make it better now, considering it was worse when it was a lower version than Chrome, end of joke.
The Chromium-based Supermium is also compatible with Windows XP (as well as Windows 2003, Vista, 7, and 8.x) –
https://github.com/win32ss/supermium
To Allwynd: I replied to you regarding what you wrote: “that allow you to install up-to-date Chromium” – which is essentially incorrect. Regarding everything else in your theses – we are absolutely of the same opinion.
moving to Debian 13 next week.
IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 + MASSGRAVE
and after 2032 say a big F*CK OFF to MS and switch to Linux
You could literally migrate today a Linux distro. If you haven’t bought a second PC yet to run both OS side by side, realistically you will never make the switch ever. I would not advise to dual boot, as this often hast lead in the past to data loss for *some* people.
Also I you shouldn’t boast that *you* commit cybercrime online.
I’m more leaning towards option 4, but also there should be option 6 – just ignore everything and keep on using Windows 10 as it is.
Windows XP and 7 worked for a long time after their support ended and 3rd party software as well. Unless Microsoft pushes 3rd party software vendors to stop supporting Windows 10, I can see it working for at least 5 more years unobstructed.
People scaremongering that you need the latest patches to be secure are delusional, you just need to be careful and not click and download everything you are presented with. You can still use XP or 7 without an antivirus and browse the internet and not get infected. There are projects like Thorium that allow you to install up-to-date Chromium on those systems too.
Fully agree. People have no idea how many computers and phones are out there connected to the internet that dont have this months “security patch” (by the way, one of those started breaking people’s ssd’s recently)
I fully agree with Allwynd, there is a very reasonable option 6: just do nothing, simply keep using Win10 as-is. If you have decent browsing habits (no p*rno and g*mbling sites etc, not clicking suspicious links, no downloads from dubious sources) and if you use an active antivirus + firewall (not to mention filtering extensions such as Ublock Origin) the risk of viruses and malware is nil. Well, let’s make that about 0.000.000.001% ?
I installed Win10 20H2 nearly five years ago and right after installation, I completely disabled Windows Update because I didn’t want to bothered with it. Regular system updates very often bring much more trouble than real benefit. There’s a word for what I gained by never updating the system: stability. Individual apps I will update when there’s actually something to gain with a new version.
In short, I’ve been running Windows 10 20H2 for almost five years without any system updates and this caused me no, repeat NO trouble at all. It proved simply much more convenient. Continuously installing new system updates for safety reasons (or even for functional improvement) is mainly a hype that Microsoft and other firms want you to believe in.
I will get a new Windows system only when the time has come to buy a new computer. And when that time has come, one of the first things I will do on my new PC is to completely disable Windows Update once again.
@Henk,
I used Windows 7 until maybe 2019 on my then old PC before I got a new PC with Windows 10. I had tried 10 on that old PC and kinda worked OK, but 7 was much more lightweight. And I kept using 7 and I did the same as you, but further – not just disabled Windows Update – outright deleted the DLLs and services corresponding to it so it can never update.
I also did some research back then that Windows 7 was good until some update around 2011-2012 which added a new Internet Explorer and some annoying new tab page for it with news feeds and ads that was impossible to remove, just disable. And around that time, the updates for Windows 7 made it more bloated with useless new features, heavy and unstable. So I used some Windows 7 version from 2011 that wasn’t updated in 2019 and everything worked OK.
I don’t use Windows anymore, but if I did, I would probably be pushing Windows 10 to the limit and use it until it stops working. I got a new laptop this year, after moving to Linux in 2024 and this new laptop has only had Linux installed on it, never tainted with Windows. I imagine, even if the laptop came with Windows preinstalled, I would erase it before it even boots and still install Linux, which is a personal choice of mine, but I noticed how much slower Windows is compared to Windows, even on a top-notch hardware and I would rather live with Linux’ shortcomings than be daily frustrated with Windows playing cat and mouse.
So good for you for sticking with Windows 10, nothing wrong if it works and serves you well, the craze to have the latest and greatest bleeding edge version of software or even hardware is fueled by consumerism. I’ve seen this with other house appliances – cups, plates, stoves, cutting boards – I’ve heard comments from people why I use an old scratched cutting board or a cup that has its handle broken when the cup itself is fine and the cutting board is a bit unsightly but still works… why would I need to replace it with a brand new shiny one if this one works? That’s how people constantly give away their money and wonder why are they poor and in debt.
And with how Windows is since version 8 when they removed internal testing and started the Insider program, it has been a perpetual beta for 13 years already, a new version has to be officially released for at least 3 years before it’s stable enough for regular use by Average Joes these days.
Windows Powershell script to enroll in Windows 10 Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program via the free Backup option, with or without Microsoft Account. Here:
https://github.com/abbodi1406/ConsumerESU?tab=readme-ov-file
My main system is fully 11-compatible.
I’m posting this from a 11-MiniPC, but the main System is on 10 20H1 and hasn’t been updated in years, and never will.
They lied to me about Windows 10 being a permanent channel and then betrayed their customers because they just have to copy Apple, which abandoned the X-line due to a completely legitimate change.
I’m staying on 10 because I refuse to bow down to bullies who cheated me for no reason. If I have to, I will use never software via remote app from a virtual PC.
I am of course terribly afraid of all the viruses which came to me during the last 5 years (zero alerts and no suspicious behavior).
I have updated every PC in our company to Windows 11 (around 50). That’s a different matter.
Privately, I’m not undoing all the changes and useful shell extensions because of a lying company’s antics. They actually owe me money for lying to me.
“They lied to me about Windows 10 being a permanent channel” where did they say that?
I hope you expect no round of applause on a site for IT professionals, whilst running insecure systems.
Perhaps it’s your skills that are questionable if you trust M$ for security.
So you run no updates at all because why just use a footgun if you can amputate the whole leg? Gottem.