When you should update and what it means for you

A big change is coming for many people who use Windows computers.

Microsoft is ending support for the Windows 10 operating system; This means that starting Wednesday, October 14, these computers may be at risk.

This is because security updates are stopped and devices become 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.

“The end of Windows 10 support is a disaster 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 world’s most popular computer operating system, and Microsoft states that 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.

UK consumer guide Which? It is estimated that there may be 21 million people currently using Windows 10.

In September, conducted a survey It turns out that about a quarter of these users plan to continue using the app even after Microsoft’s official support ends.

Nearly one in seven people said they plan to buy a new computer.

Other consumer groups criticized the end of support for Windows 10, saying it would lead to unnecessary expenses and environmental waste.

“People are tired of living in a world full of short-lived devices we can’t fix, lose software support or otherwise end up in the waste stream,” said Mr Proctor, who campaigns for the right to repair in the US.

He added: “We deserve permanent technology.”

Microsoft actually offers personal users two options: Update to Windows 11 or sign up to receive extended security updates for 12 months.

You can do these operations in the “Privacy and Security” section of your settings.

People who have computers compatible with Windows 11 can upgrade for free.

But Mr. Proctor said “many people will have to buy new devices even though their existing computers work just fine.”

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 keep the most important security updates until October 2026.

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

To get it for free, you’ll need to update to the latest version of Windows 10, have a Microsoft account, and back up your PC settings.

Otherwise, you’ll need to pay a $30 (£22) fee or redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points to access ESU.

For commercial organizations using Windows 10, the cost is $61 per device.

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

Microsoft has kept Windows 10 up and running with frequent software updates since its release in 2015.

These were used to fix security issues and bugs, as well as add or tweak new features.

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

It also makes Windows 11 harder to use Without Microsoft account – and one way to extend the life of your Windows 10 machine requires a Microsoft account.

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

Microsoft will stop shipping critical security updates and fixes to Windows 10 computers.

This can make your device more vulnerable to threats such as viruses or malware because you won’t have the latest defense against attacks.

We saw many high profile cyber attacks In recent months it has spread to businesses ranging from retailers to car manufacturers and even a nursery chain.

Microsoft Consumer Marketing Director Yusuf Mehdi wrote in an article that companies “may find it difficult to maintain regulatory compliance with unsupported software.” blog post.

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