[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":253},["ShallowReactive",2],{"en-post-13":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":12,"extension":246,"meta":247,"navigation":248,"path":249,"seo":250,"stem":251,"__hash__":252},"content/post/13.md","13",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":230},"minimark",[9,13,18,21,34,37,41,44,104,108,113,116,127,131,134,145,149,152,156,159,171,179,182,186,194,198,205,211,217,223,227],[10,11,12],"p",{},"The short version: a Windows 10 PC still boots and works after October 14, 2025, but Microsoft no longer ships security updates or support, and the risk from viruses and malware climbs steeply the longer you stay online. Upgrade to Windows 11 if you can, for free. If you cannot, buy time with the ESU program or replace the machine. Do not fall into the \"it's good enough\" habit and run an unpatched system for the long haul.",[14,15,17],"h2",{"id":16},"what-happened-windows-10s-official-exit","What happened: Windows 10's official exit",[10,19,20],{},"Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. From that date on:",[22,23,24,28,31],"ul",{},[25,26,27],"li",{},"No security updates or patches (vulnerabilities stop being fixed)",[25,29,30],{},"No feature updates",[25,32,33],{},"No technical support of any kind",[10,35,36],{},"The machine will not suddenly refuse to boot, but every day that passes adds another day of unpatched new vulnerabilities, and the odds of an attack rise with them. For home users still on Windows 10, this is the one thing to deal with in 2026.",[14,38,40],{"id":39},"what-your-pc-does-now","What your PC does now",[10,42,43],{},"End of support changes whether anyone still patches the system, not whether the system still runs:",[45,46,47,60],"table",{},[48,49,50],"thead",{},[51,52,53,57],"tr",{},[54,55,56],"th",{},"Item",[54,58,59],{},"Reality after end of support",[61,62,63,72,80,88,96],"tbody",{},[51,64,65,69],{},[66,67,68],"td",{},"Boots and browses normally",[66,70,71],{},"Yes, the system itself does not stop working",[51,73,74,77],{},[66,75,76],{},"Installs new software",[66,78,79],{},"Yes, but new software will gradually drop Windows 10",[51,81,82,85],{},[66,83,84],{},"Security protection",[66,86,87],{},"Defender's virus definitions still update until October 2028, but system vulnerabilities get no patch, so protection stays limited",[51,89,90,93],{},[66,91,92],{},"Browser / Office",[66,94,95],{},"New Edge and Chrome still work for a while, but they will drop Windows 10 eventually",[51,97,98,101],{},[66,99,100],{},"Long-term risk",[66,102,103],{},"Exposed to known but unpatched holes, an easy target for ransomware",[14,105,107],{"id":106},"three-paths-forward-in-order-of-recommendation","Three paths forward (in order of recommendation)",[109,110,112],"h3",{"id":111},"route-a-free-upgrade-to-windows-11-first-choice","Route A: Free upgrade to Windows 11 (first choice)",[10,114,115],{},"If your PC meets the Windows 11 hardware requirements, you will usually see a free \"Upgrade to Windows 11\" option directly in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.",[22,117,118,121,124],{},[25,119,120],{},"The upgrade keeps your files, apps, and settings. It is roughly a refresh in place.",[25,122,123],{},"The whole thing happens inside Windows Update; no USB stick or reinstall required.",[25,125,126],{},"It is the lowest-cost and safest option.",[109,128,130],{"id":129},"route-b-buy-time-with-esu","Route B: Buy time with ESU",[10,132,133],{},"If you cannot replace the machine yet and do not want to run unpatched, sign up for Microsoft's Extended Security Updates (ESU) program to keep receiving important security updates on Windows 10, through October 12, 2027 at the latest.",[22,135,136,139,142],{},[25,137,138],{},"ESU covers only Critical and Important security updates. It adds no new features and no technical support. It is essentially buying time to replace the machine.",[25,140,141],{},"To sign up, your system must be Windows 10 22H2, have the latest updates installed, and be signed in with a Microsoft admin account.",[25,143,144],{},"Home users have three sign-up routes: stay signed in with a Microsoft account and sync your PC settings, which costs nothing extra; redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points; or pay a one-time $30. All three end coverage on October 12, 2027.",[109,146,148],{"id":147},"route-c-replace-with-a-new-windows-11-pc","Route C: Replace with a new Windows 11 PC",[10,150,151],{},"When the machine itself is too old (no TPM 2.0, CPU not on the support list), upgrading is off the table, and replacing it is the cleanest answer. In 2026 most new machines ship with Windows 11, and many are Copilot+ PCs with an NPU that can run AI features locally.",[14,153,155],{"id":154},"can-your-pc-upgrade-to-windows-11","Can your PC upgrade to Windows 11?",[10,157,158],{},"Microsoft set hard gates, and three matter most:",[160,161,162,165,168],"ol",{},[25,163,164],{},"CPU on the support list (8th-generation Intel Core or newer, or Ryzen 2000 or newer; check the official list for specifics)",[25,166,167],{},"A TPM 2.0 security chip (most models from 2018 on have it, but it may need enabling in the BIOS)",[25,169,170],{},"At least 4GB of memory and 64GB of storage (8GB or more is the realistic recommendation for smooth use)",[10,172,173,174,178],{},"The fastest check is Microsoft's \"PC Health Check\" tool, downloadable from their site, which tests in one click. You can also type ",[175,176,177],"code",{},"tpm.msc"," in the search box to see whether your machine has TPM 2.0.",[10,180,181],{},"A note on the \"bypass TPM and force Windows 11\" methods circulating online: they do get the system installed, but the result is an unsupported configuration. Later updates may throw errors, and it is not safe, so ordinary users should skip it.",[14,183,185],{"id":184},"two-things-to-do-before-upgrading","Two things to do before upgrading",[160,187,188,191],{},[25,189,190],{},"Back up your personal files. Use the built-in backup (Windows 10: Settings > Update & Security > Backup; Windows 11: Settings > Accounts > Windows Backup), or copy your Documents, Photos, and Desktop files to an external drive or OneDrive by hand.",[25,192,193],{},"Confirm activation status. Most brand-name PCs have a digital license written into the motherboard, so they activate automatically online after a reinstall or upgrade with no key needed. Check the status at Settings > System > Activation.",[14,195,197],{"id":196},"common-questions","Common questions",[10,199,200,204],{},[201,202,203],"strong",{},"Q: Can Windows 10 keep going for a few more years?","\nIt boots, but I would not keep it as a main machine on the network long term. At minimum sign up for ESU, or plan the upgrade soon.",[10,206,207,210],{},[201,208,209],{},"Q: Will upgrading to Windows 11 lose my software?","\nThe official \"upgrade\" path keeps your files and installed apps. If you pick \"clean install,\" you will need to reinstall apps, so back up first.",[10,212,213,216],{},[201,214,215],{},"Q: My old PC is slow. Will it get worse after upgrading?","\nWindows 11 carries some overhead on old hardware. If you have only 4GB of memory or still use a mechanical drive, add memory or move to an SSD before upgrading for the clearest gain.",[10,218,219,222],{},[201,220,221],{},"Q: How much does ESU cost?","\nHome users have three routes: stay signed in with a Microsoft account and sync settings, which is free; redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points; or pay a one-time $30. Whichever you choose, updates stop on October 12, 2027. Treat it as transitional insurance.",[14,224,226],{"id":225},"wrap-up","Wrap-up",[10,228,229],{},"Windows 10's exit is not a sudden event. It is a security decision every Windows 10 user has to make in 2026. The least painful path is to take the free upgrade through Windows Update; if the hardware does not qualify, buy time with ESU or replace the machine. Either way, do not leave the system sitting on an unpatched version for long.",{"title":231,"searchDepth":232,"depth":232,"links":233},"",2,[234,235,236,242,243,244,245],{"id":16,"depth":232,"text":17},{"id":39,"depth":232,"text":40},{"id":106,"depth":232,"text":107,"children":237},[238,240,241],{"id":111,"depth":239,"text":112},3,{"id":129,"depth":239,"text":130},{"id":147,"depth":239,"text":148},{"id":154,"depth":232,"text":155},{"id":184,"depth":232,"text":185},{"id":196,"depth":232,"text":197},{"id":225,"depth":232,"text":226},"md",{},true,"/post/13",{"description":12},"post/13","BCSsXSieu2sn7hAlzX2j4PPZzplvnr4O2tA-U4UbqNg",1794378303595]