Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, meaning Microsoft no longer releases free security patches, bug fixes, or technical support for it. Your laptop doesn't stop working the day after, but every new vulnerability discovered from that date forward stays unpatched unless you're enrolled in the paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, making the device a growing target over time.
What "End of Support" Actually Means Day to Day
Nothing changes visibly at first. The laptop boots, apps open, the internet works exactly as before. What's gone is the monthly security patch that used to close newly discovered holes in Windows itself. Antivirus software still helps, but it's treating symptoms on an operating system that's no longer getting fixed at the source.
Is It Still Safe to Use Right Now?
For general browsing and offline work, a Windows 10 machine isn't immediately dangerous, but risk compounds the longer it goes unpatched. Microsoft's consumer ESU program extends critical security updates for one additional year past the cutoff for those who enroll, which buys time without requiring an immediate hardware decision. It's a bridge, not a permanent fix.
Can Your Laptop Actually Upgrade to Windows 11?
Windows 11 requires a TPM 2.0 security chip, UEFI Secure Boot support, and a supported processor generation, requirements that exclude a large share of laptops made before roughly 2018. Type tpm.msc into the Start menu search to check if your laptop has a TPM chip and which version, or run Microsoft's free PC Health Check app for a full pass/fail with a reason.
If It Doesn't Qualify, What Are Your Real Options?
- Keep using it with ESU for now while you plan a replacement, especially if the laptop otherwise still meets your needs.
- Check whether a hardware upgrade changes the outcome on borderline cases, since a RAM upgrade or SSD swap sometimes resolves performance complaints even on an aging platform, though it won't fix a TPM or CPU-generation failure.
- Consider whether repair or replacement makes more financial sense if the laptop is failing the Windows 11 check specifically due to CPU age rather than a fixable component.
A Note on Desktops and Printers Too
This same cutoff applies to any Windows 10 desktop still in service, and it's worth checking network printers and multifunction devices too, since drivers for very old printer models sometimes stop receiving updates around the same window, which can surface as print jobs failing after a Windows 11 migration. A full security check is a reasonable step for any machine that's been running unpatched for a while before you decide its next chapter.
Checking Compatibility Yourself, Step by Step
Download PC Health Check from Microsoft's own site, run it, and read the specific failure reason rather than just the pass/fail result, since "TPM 2.0 required" and "processor not supported" lead to very different next steps. The first is sometimes fixable by enabling a setting in BIOS called "PTT" or "fTPM" that's present but switched off by default on many boards; the second genuinely means the hardware generation is the limiting factor. For more on deciding between upgrading components versus replacing the machine outright, see our guide on upgrading RAM and storage before you commit to either path.
