How to Stay Secure after Windows 10 support ends on October 14, 2025.
As Microsoft ends official support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, millions of users are asking:
"How can I keep Windows 10 updated and secure after support ends?"
In this guide, we will list the official and unofficial ways to keep receiving updates to Windows 10 after their support end on October 14th 2025.
What will happen to your Windows 10 computer after the end of Windows 10's official support from Microsoft on October 14, 2025?
Your computer will continue to work, but it will become less and less secure, because after October 14, 2025, your system will not receive new security updates or updates for bug fixes or performance improvements.
How to Stay Secure after Windows 10 end of support?
If you want to keep your system safe after Windows 10 support ends, you have the following options:
OPTION 1. Upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11.
If your device is eligible to run Windows 11, then you will automatically be prompted to upgrade to Windows 11 for free.
At this case* follow the prompt, or go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Download and Install Windows 11.
* Note: If Windows 11 are not offered for installation in Windows Update, then do the following:
1. Download, install and then run Microsoft's PC Health Check utility to verify that your PC, meets the system requirement to run Windows 11 24H2. (After opening the PC Health utility click on the Check Now button and if your computer is able to run Windows 11, you should see the following screen.)
2. Then, if you PC meets Windows 11 requirements, follow the instructions in this tutorial to upgrade your Windows 10 system to Windows 11 or to perform a clean installation of Windows 11.
Otherwise, if your computer doesn't meet the requirements to run Windows 11, follow the instructions in one of the articles below to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 or to fresh install Windows 11.
- How to Upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 on Unsupported PCs.
- How to Install Windows 11 24H2 on Unsupported PCs.
OPTION 2: Enroll to Microsoft's Extended Security Updates (ESU) Program for Windows 10:
The Extended Security Updates (ESU) program is a paid program by Microsoft that allows individuals and organizations to continue receiving critical security updates after the official end of Windows 10 support. More specifically:
- For organizations: the ESU program costs $61 USD per device for Year One and can be purchased and activated in Volume licensing access in the Microsoft 365 admin center. (For details and instructions on how to join the ESU program, see this article: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/enable-extended-security-updates)
- For individuals or Windows 10 Home customers OUTSIDE the European Economic Area: you can enroll in ESU program for one year in one of the following ways:
-
- At no additional cost (free), if you sync and back up your computer's data and settings to your Microsoft account's OneDrive or if you redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
- One-time purchase of $30 USD or local currency equivalent plus applicable tax.
- For individuals or Windows 10 Home customers INSIDE the European Economic Area: Updates will remain free until October 2026, however these users must authenticate with a Microsoft account once every 60 days, but the user will not be required to sync their computer settings with the cloud or pay any money.
To be able to participate in the ESU program, your device must be running Windows 10, version 22H2, and you can enroll in it by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and selecting Enroll now. Once the ESU enrollment process begins, sign in to your Microsoft account, and then enroll in the ESU program by either backing up your settings, files, and apps to OneDrive, redeeming rewards, or making a one-time purchase of ESU.
OPTION 3. Use Windows 10 LTSC Edition (Long-Term Servicing Channel).
Windows LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) are specialized editions of Windows designed for stability and long-term support and used mainly in enterprise environments. To this end, they receive fewer updates, focusing on critical security updates and bug fixes rather than frequent feature upgrades.
Additionally, the LTSC version of Windows 10 does not include some Windows 10 components, such as the Microsoft Store, as well as components/apps that are regularly updated through the Microsoft Store, such as Camera, Cortana, OneDrive, OneNote, and other modern apps. Also the LTSC version does not support the Microsoft 365 Apps (Office).
Windows 10 LTSC comes in two versions:
- Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021, which is designed primarily for corporate desktops and laptops and its latest build (21H2) is supported until Jan 12, 2027
- Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021, which is designed primarily for embedded/dedicated devices (ATMs, kiosks, medical, industrial computers) and its latest version (21H2) is supported until Jan 13, 2032.
Officially, to obtain Windows 10 LTSC legally, you must be a business or organization that purchases a volume license directly from Microsoft, as it is a corporate product not available to individual consumers.
However, there is a unofficial method to upgrade your Windows 10 system to the LTSC version of Windows 10 without losing your personal files and applications, which you can find in this tutorial: How to Upgrade Windows 10 to LTSC without losing data.
OPTION 4. Continue using Windows 10 without updates, but safely.
You can continue to use Windows 10 after October 14, 2025, but at your own risk, taking certain precautions:
- Use a reliable third-party antivirus (e.g. Bitdefender, ESET, etc.)
- Be careful online, avoiding downloading unknown files or using outdated web browsers.
- Keep all the installed programs/applications updated.
That's it! Let me know if this guide has helped you by leaving your comment about your experience. Please like and share this guide to help others.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to my Windows 10 PC after the support ends on October 14, 2025?
Your computer will continue to function, but it will become increasingly vulnerable to security threats as it will no longer receive security updates, bug fixes, or performance improvements.
How can I upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 after support ends?
If your device is eligible to run Windows 11, you will be prompted to upgrade for free through the Windows Update settings. If not offered, use Microsoft's PC Health Check utility to verify eligibility and follow upgrade instructions.
Can I still get security updates for Windows 10 after support ends without upgrading to Windows 11?
Yes, you can enroll in Microsoft's Extended Security Updates (ESU) Program, which is a paid service that provides critical updates past the support end date. Enrollment is available to both individuals and organizations.
What options do I have if my PC is not eligible for Windows 11?
You can attempt to install Windows 11 on unsupported PCs following specific guides, or enroll in the ESU program for extended security updates. Alternatively, consider using Windows 10 LTSC Edition for long-term servicing.
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October 17, 2025 @ 3:14 pm
Great. Thanks for this. It explained everything that I wanted to know about what happens next now that the support has ended. Guess I'll be upgrading to 11. Thanks for all your work. They're very helpful!