Microsoft has officially ended support for Windows 10, meaning the operating system will no longer receive security patches or feature updates.
While computers running Windows 10 will still function, Microsoft warns that users who continue using it will face increasing security risks from viruses and malware. The company recommends upgrading to Windows 11 or moving to Windows 365, its cloud-based version of Windows, to stay protected.
“Windows 10 has reached the end of support on October 14, 2025. At this point, technical assistance, feature updates, and security updates are no longer provided,” Microsoft said in a support document released on Tuesday. “While you could continue to use a PC running Windows 10, without continued software and security updates, your PC will be at a greater risk for viruses and malware.”
According to Steam’s September 2025 Hardware & Software Survey, 63.04% of gamers have already switched to Windows 11, while 32.18% still use Windows 10. Statcounter data shows a similar trend, with Windows 11 surpassing Windows 10’s market share in June 2025. Currently, 48.94% of Windows systems run Windows 11, compared to 40.5% still on Windows 10.
For users who aren’t ready to upgrade, Microsoft is offering an Extended Security Updates (ESU) program that provides critical updates for up to three more years. The ESU costs $30 per year for home users and $61 per device per year for enterprise customers, with the price doubling each year. Over the full three-year period, the total cost per enterprise device will reach $427.
Home users can access ESU for free by enrolling with Microsoft Rewards points or enabling Windows Backup to sync their data to the cloud. Following pressure from consumer group Euroconsumers, Microsoft also announced that users in the European Economic Area (EEA) can enroll in ESU for free if they log in with a Microsoft account.
Users who rely on Windows 10 for specialized devices can continue receiving updates through Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) editions. Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 will be supported until January 2027, while the 2019 version will receive updates until January 2029. Windows 10 IoT Enterprise will remain supported until January 2032.
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More details about Windows end-of-service timelines and product retirements are available on Microsoft’s Lifecycle Policy search tool and Windows Lifecycle FAQ page. With Windows 10’s era coming to an end, Microsoft is urging users to move to a newer, supported version to stay secure and up to date.
