Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Your PCs still turn on and run, but Microsoft no longer provides free security updates, bug fixes, or technical support for them. For a business, that turns an aging operating system into an open door for attackers.
If you have been asking whether to upgrade to Windows 11, the question has changed. It is now how quickly you can finish the move, and what to do with the machines that cannot make it.
What Windows 10 End of Support Means for Your Business
Since October 14, 2025, Windows 10 devices no longer receive quality updates, security fixes, new features, or technical support from Microsoft, according to Microsoft’s Windows lifecycle FAQ. Every new vulnerability found in Windows 10 since then stays unpatched on any PC that is not enrolled in Microsoft’s paid Extended Security Updates program.
The risk goes beyond the PC itself. Unpatched systems are a common entry point for ransomware, and many cyber insurance policies and compliance frameworks expect supported, patched operating systems. Running unsupported Windows can complicate an insurance claim or an audit.
Your Options for Remaining Windows 10 PCs
Upgrade eligible PCs to Windows 11
If a PC meets the Windows 11 hardware requirements, an in-place upgrade is usually the fastest and least expensive path. For managed fleets, tools like Microsoft Intune and Windows Autopatch can roll the upgrade out in waves instead of one machine at a time.
Replace PCs that cannot upgrade
Many older PCs fail the Windows 11 check because of their processor or the lack of TPM 2.0. For those machines, a new Windows 11 PC is usually a better long-term investment than paying for extended updates year after year.
Buy time with Extended Security Updates
Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program keeps critical and important security patches flowing to enrolled Windows 10 PCs for up to three years. Commercial pricing starts at $61 per device for Year 1 and doubles each year after that, and coverage is cumulative, so a business enrolling in Year 2 also pays for Year 1. ESU does not include new features or general technical support, and devices must run Windows 10 version 22H2.
Year 1 coverage ran through October 13, 2026, so a business enrolling now is in Year 2 and pays for both years, $183 per device, for coverage through October 12, 2027, as eWeek reports. ESU works best as a short bridge for a handful of devices, not a plan for the whole office.
Move to the cloud with Windows 365
Windows 365 Cloud PCs stream Windows 11 to almost any device, including older Windows 10 hardware. Windows 10 devices used to connect to Windows 365 Cloud PCs with an active license receive ESU at no additional cost, which can make sense for a small group of users who need more time.
How to Check If a PC Can Run Windows 11
Windows 11 requires a compatible 64-bit processor with two or more cores at 1 GHz or faster, 4 GB of memory, 64 GB of storage, UEFI firmware with Secure Boot, TPM version 2.0, and a DirectX 12 compatible graphics card. Microsoft lists the full details in its Windows 11 requirements. The free PC Health Check app shows whether a given PC qualifies and which requirement it fails.
Some failures are easy to fix. TPM and Secure Boot are often available but turned off in the firmware settings, especially on custom-built PCs. Processor failures cannot be fixed with a setting, and those machines are candidates for replacement.
A Practical Migration Plan
For most small and mid-sized businesses, a clean migration follows the same pattern. Start with an inventory of every Windows device, its hardware, and who uses it. Sort devices into three groups: ready to upgrade, fixable with a firmware change, and due for replacement. Test your line-of-business applications on Windows 11 before rolling out widely, then upgrade in small waves so problems surface early.
Budget replacements for the machines that cannot upgrade, and use ESU only as a bridge for devices that truly cannot move yet. Throughout the process, confirm backups are current before each upgrade, and keep endpoint protection and monitoring active on every device, upgraded or not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still use Windows 10 after end of support?
Yes. Windows 10 PCs keep working, but without free security updates or technical support they become more vulnerable to attacks over time. Businesses should upgrade, replace, or enroll remaining PCs in Extended Security Updates.
How much do Windows 10 Extended Security Updates cost for businesses?
Commercial ESU starts at $61 per device for Year 1 and doubles each year, for up to three years. Coverage is cumulative, so a business enrolling in Year 2 also pays for Year 1.
Is upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 free?
Microsoft has offered the Windows 11 upgrade at no license cost for eligible Windows 10 PCs. The real costs are usually staff time, application testing, and replacing PCs that do not meet the hardware requirements.
How do I know if my PC can run Windows 11?
Run Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app. It shows whether the PC meets the Windows 11 requirements and which one it fails, such as the processor, TPM 2.0, or Secure Boot.
How BlueKey IT Helps
BlueKey IT handles Windows 11 migrations as part of our managed IT services: inventory and compatibility checks, upgrade planning and rollout, hardware recommendations, and ESU licensing for devices that need more time. For more on keeping your Microsoft environment secure, see our guide to Microsoft IT support. If your business still has Windows 10 PCs in use, contact us for a quick assessment.
