By The KTech team · Published 29 October 2026
Windows 10 reached the end of support on 14 October 2025. That does not mean your computer stops working. It means Microsoft no longer provides regular security updates, feature updates or technical help for it, so the risk grows every month that you carry on using it as it is.
If you are still on Windows 10, you have a few sensible choices. This guide explains them without jargon, based on Microsoft's own published information, and shows how to decide.
What Microsoft says
Microsoft's support page, Windows 10 support has ended on October 14, 2025, sets out the options. In short: upgrade to Windows 11 if your PC is eligible, replace the PC with one that runs Windows 11, or, for a limited time, enrol in the consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme.
At the time of writing, Microsoft states that the consumer ESU programme can protect a Windows 10 device until 12 October 2027. Terms and eligibility can change, so please check Microsoft's page for the current position. ESU is a stop-gap that buys time. It is not a long-term plan.
Businesses may have different arrangements, and the right answer depends on how your systems are managed.
Step one: check whether your PC can run Windows 11
Windows 11 has stricter hardware requirements than Windows 10. In broad terms it needs a fairly recent processor, a security chip called TPM 2.0, secure boot support, and enough memory and storage. Many computers made before about 2018 do not qualify, though plenty of newer ones do.
Microsoft's PC Health Check tool will tell you whether your computer is eligible, or you can look in Settings under Windows Update, where an eligible PC usually shows an upgrade offer. If you would like us to check, we can look at the specifications and tell you straight.
Do not try tricks to force Windows 11 on to unsupported hardware. It may seem to work, but you can end up without updates, or with a machine that is unreliable.
Upgrade, extend or replace?
Upgrade the machine you have. If your PC meets the requirements, it is usually the best route. You keep your computer and your programmes, and you return to a supported system. It is worth a backup and a little preparation first.
Extend with ESU. If your PC cannot run Windows 11 and you are not ready to buy a replacement, ESU can give you extra months of security updates. Think of it as a ramp, not a destination. Use the time to plan the next step.
Replace the computer. If the machine is old, slow or not eligible, replacing it is often the most sensible answer. A new Windows 11 PC comes with a long runway of support, and a good refurbished model can be a sound and sustainable choice. Our guide on refurbished versus new laptops will help you decide.
Consider other options. Some older machines run Linux or ChromeOS Flex well, which suits browser-based use. They are not for everyone, but they can give an older computer a useful second life.
Moving your data and programmes
Whichever route you take, protect your files first. Take a backup before changing anything, and check that you can open it. List the programmes you rely on, and find installers or licence keys where you can.
If you are moving to a new computer, you will want your files, email, browser bookmarks, passwords and printers set up in the same way. It is not difficult, but it is fiddly, and it is where people most often lose something. Our new computer setup service handles the whole move, including wiping and safely disposing of the old machine.
Check any specialist software, old printers and scanners to make sure they work with Windows 11. Most do, but some very old kit needs a newer driver or replacement.
Shopping for a replacement
If a new machine is the answer, think about what you really do with it. Email, browsing and documents need far less than video editing or gaming. We keep a range of laptops and desktops in our shop, and our workshop also supplies refurbished laptops with the data wiped and the system set up.
Whatever you buy, check the memory (8GB is a sensible minimum these days), that it has a solid-state drive, and how long the maker expects to support it.
A word for businesses
If you manage several PCs, make a simple list of which can upgrade and which need replacing, then plan replacements over a sensible period. Unsupported systems are a risk to your whole network, not just the one machine. We help small firms around Kingsbridge and the South Hams with exactly this kind of planning. You can read about IT support for Kingsbridge businesses, or call to talk it through.
Common questions
Will my files disappear? No. Windows 10 keeps working and your files stay where they are. What changes is that new security problems are no longer patched, so the risk of carrying on rises over time, especially for anything that goes online.
Can I keep using Windows 10 offline? A computer that never connects to the internet or to other devices is at much lower risk. For a machine that is used for email, banking or shopping, though, that is not practical, and we would not recommend it.
Will my programmes work on Windows 11? Most do. Check older or specialist software with its maker, and old printers or scanners may need updated drivers. Test before you commit, if you can.
Is upgrading difficult? For an eligible PC it is usually a download and a restart, and it can take a while. The risk is not the upgrade itself but being unprepared, so make a backup first.
Do I need a new PC just for this? Not always. If your computer is eligible, upgrading is often enough. If it is not, think about whether the machine is worth keeping for other reasons, or whether it is simply time.