Windows 10 was released on 29 July 2015 and reached end of support on 14 October 2025. Windows 10 computers still work, but they no longer get regular security updates unless they are enrolled in Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates. For a business, that makes every unpatched Windows 10 PC a growing security risk.
The short answer
Name the device’s edition, support route and business use first. Upgrade eligible devices, or use the appropriate Extended Security Updates programme while planning the next step. Consumer and commercial enrolment have different eligibility and terms; an update received by one Windows 10 device does not prove another is covered.
I wrote the original version of this post in August 2015. The useful question now is how to keep each device on an appropriate support path and retire it without leaving business accounts or data exposed.
When did Windows 10 come out and when did support end?
Windows 10 was released globally on 29 July 2015 and Microsoft ended support on 14 October 2025. After that date, Windows 10 PCs stopped receiving regular software updates, security fixes and technical support. According to Microsoft’s end of support page, the computers keep working but become more exposed to malware over time.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Windows 10 released | 29 July 2015 |
| Free upgrade offer for Windows 7 and 8.1 users | First year after release |
| End of support | 14 October 2025 |
| Consumer Extended Security Updates end | 12 October 2027 (per Microsoft, checked October 2026) |
| Security updates for Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 end | 10 October 2028 |
Caption: Windows 10 timeline. Source: Microsoft’s Windows 10 end of support page, checked 19 October 2026.
What does Windows 10 end of support mean for your business?
For a mainstream Windows 10 device outside ESU, new security fixes are no longer provided through the ordinary support route. Check actual enrolment and patch status, not just whether Windows still starts. Insurance and contractual requirements are case-specific; ask the responsible provider rather than assuming a particular policy verdict.
What to check:
- How many staff computers still run Windows 10.
- Which of them meet Windows 11’s hardware requirements.
- Whether any business software only runs on Windows 10.
- Whether your insurer or clients require supported operating systems.
How do you upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11?
Upgrade an eligible PC from Windows 10 to Windows 11 through Windows Update, where Microsoft offers the upgrade for free. Back up the computer first, check that your business software supports Windows 11, then run the upgrade outside working hours. PCs that do not meet Windows 11’s requirements will not see the offer.
- Back up files and settings.
- Open Settings, then Windows Update, and check for the Windows 11 upgrade.
- Confirm key business apps and printers support Windows 11.
- Run the upgrade and test the computer before returning it to use.
- For PCs that cannot upgrade, plan replacement or enrol them in Extended Security Updates.
What are Windows 10 Extended Security Updates?
Extended Security Updates, or ESU, is a Microsoft program that keeps delivering critical and important security updates to Windows 10 after end of support. It does not add features or general support, and devices must be on Windows 10 version 22H2. There are two programs:
- Consumer ESU for personal-use PCs, which Microsoft says runs to 12 October 2027. Enrolment details are on Microsoft’s consumer ESU page.
- Commercial ESU for businesses, schools and other organisations, bought per device, one year at a time, for up to three years after end of support. The price rises each year, and you cannot skip a year. The terms are on Microsoft Learn’s ESU program for Windows 10 page.
ESU is a bridge, not a plan. Use it to protect PCs while you budget for the upgrade or replacement.
Keep an inventory with edition, device owner, support end date, ESU status, last successful update and the accounts accessible from it. Retiring the hardware and revoking its sessions are separate tasks. Test the business application on its replacement before wiping the only usable copy.
Which Windows 10 editions have different support dates?
The 14 October 2025 date covers the mainstream Home, Pro, Enterprise and Education editions. Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) editions, often found on point-of-sale terminals, medical devices and factory machines, follow Microsoft’s fixed lifecycle instead. Per Microsoft’s lifecycle pages, Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 support ends in January 2027, Enterprise LTSC 2019 in January 2029 and IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 in January 2032. If a device runs one of these, check its exact date on Microsoft’s lifecycle site before you replace hardware that is still supported.
Does Windows 10 end of support affect your website?
Not directly. Your website runs on a web server, not on your staff’s computers. But visitors still using Windows 10 may run older, unpatched browsers, and staff on unsupported PCs who log in to your website, CRM or hosting are a security risk. Use strong passwords, two-factor authentication and supported browsers for anyone with admin access.
The device is rarely the whole story; access is. The pattern I see most often when a business retires old hardware is that nobody owns the list of who can log in. The old laptop goes in a cupboard with saved passwords for the website, email and accounts still on it, and logins for people who left years ago stay live. An unpatched PC with a saved admin login is an open door, so when you retire Windows 10, audit the logins as well as the laptops.
My guide to WordPress management covers keeping admin access secure, my WordPress security checklist covers locking down logins, and my guide to WordPress backups covers recovering if something goes wrong.
What to do next
- List every Windows 10 computer in the business.
- Upgrade eligible PCs to Windows 11.
- Check whether any devices run an LTSC edition with a later support date.
- Enrol the rest in Extended Security Updates and plan their upgrade or replacement.
- Turn on two-factor authentication for website and email admin accounts.
- If your website admin access needs a security review, book a free call with my team.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still use Windows 10?
Yes, the computer will keep working. But without security updates it becomes more vulnerable over time. For business use, upgrade to Windows 11, enrol in Extended Security Updates as a short-term bridge, or replace the computer.
Is the Windows 11 upgrade free?
For eligible Windows 10 PCs, Microsoft offers the upgrade to Windows 11 for free through Windows Update. Computers that do not meet Windows 11’s hardware requirements will not be offered the upgrade.
Will my software work on Windows 11?
Most software that runs on Windows 10 also runs on Windows 11. Check with the vendor for specialised business software, older accounting packages and printer drivers before upgrading every machine. Test on one computer first.
Is Windows 10 safe for online banking and payments?
An unpatched operating system is a risk for any sensitive task. If you must use a Windows 10 PC, enrol it in Extended Security Updates, keep your browser up to date and use two-factor authentication. Better still, use a supported device for banking and admin work.
