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ZDNET's key takeaways
Windows 10 support ends on Oct. 14, 2025.
Users have free and paid options for extended updates.
Doing nothing is not a safe option.
Have you decided what to do with your old Windows 10 PCs when they reach their official end-of-support date in three weeks?
Microsoft is not going to back down at the last minute and extend that deadline. The hardware requirements aren't going to change, either. So, if you have a laptop or desktop PC that doesn't pass the compatibility checks, Microsoft will block you from upgrading through Windows Update, and they will encourage you to buy a new PC instead.
But you have other options, including some new ways to continue getting security updates for an extra year, at no cost, thanks to an announcement Microsoft made in late June. Don't procrastinate, though -- if you're responsible for one or more Windows 10 PCs that fail Microsoft's Windows 11 compatibility tests, you have five options.
Also: How to get free Windows 10 security updates through Oct. 2026
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