Do You Really Have to Stop Using Windows 10?

The extremity is nigh—at least, it is for Windows 10. Microsoft volition halt supporting the decade-old operating strategy connected October 14, 2025.

There's 1 hiccup, though: Even though Windows 11 is simply a escaped update, much radical inactive usage Windows 10 than Windows 11, according to statcounter.com, a tract that tracks operating strategy usage worldwide.

Plenty of people, it seems, either don't privation to upgrade to Windows 11 oregon are utilizing devices that aren't supported. This means millions of radical could beryllium utilizing an operating strategy that’s nary longer receiving information updates.

If you're 1 of them, it makes consciousness to larn what happens to your machine successful October—and what you should bash astir it. Here's a summary of what's happening with Windows 10 and 4 options you person to regenerate it.

Windows 10 Will Keep Working (But It Will Be Less Secure)

Nothing successful peculiar is going to hap connected October 14, the time updates stop. Your machine volition support moving the mode it has, and you're improbable to tally into issues. That doesn't mean it's a large thought to support utilizing Windows 10, though.

That's due to the fact that the strategy volition nary longer person information updates oregon patches from Microsoft. This won't substance overmuch until a caller Windows exploit is discovered. After that, though, your instrumentality volition person vulnerabilities that volition ne'er beryllium patched. At that point, you volition beryllium astatine accrued hazard of attacks similar ransomware, wherever a microorganism encrypts each of your files and scammers request a outgo successful bid to decrypt them. Continuing to usage Windows 10 semipermanent dramatically increases the likelihood of these and different attacks.

There are different imaginable annoyances. Third-party developers, meaning the companies that marque the bundle you usage and the games you play, thin to halt providing updates for operating systems that are nary longer officially supported. So, if a crippled adds caller features successful an update, you mightiness not beryllium capable to instal it. The aforesaid goes for the bundle you trust connected to bash your work: Over time, the latest versions of your desktop apps won't tally connected Windows 10, meaning you'll miss retired connected features. There's besides a information angle. In summation to nary longer receiving information updates for your operating system, you'll besides yet halt getting information updates for the tools you use.

None of this volition hap close distant connected October 14. But you tin expect to commencement proceeding astir bundle makers dropping enactment for Windows 10 aboriginal this year. It's a bully idea, then, to beryllium prepared.

Microsoft has 2 authoritative recommendations: updating your machine to Windows 11, which is escaped provided your machine supports it. The different proposal is to bargain a caller device, presumably 1 already moving Windows 11. Those aren't your lone choices, though. You could regenerate Windows with different operating strategy entirely, similar ChromeOS oregon Linux. Let's speech done each 4 options.

Option 1: Try to Install Windows 11

The simplest thing, for astir people, is to upgrade to Windows 11. Yes, this is annoying if you similar Windows 10, but the bully quality is that Windows 11 is free, and the irritating AI features are casual to crook off.

Find retired whether your machine supports Windows 11 by opening Settings. Head to Settings > Privacy and Security > Windows Update. If your machine is compatible you should spot an Upgrade to Windows 11 option. From there, you tin click it to commencement the update procedure. Note that it's mostly a bully thought to backmost up your machine earlier upgrading your operating system.