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Have you decided what to do with your Windows 10 PCs when they reach their official end-of-support date three months from now?
I can tell you with absolute certainty that Microsoft is not going to back down at the last minute and extend that deadline. But you do have 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: You'll need to take action in the next 90 days to stay secure.
Also: How to get free Windows 10 security updates through October 2026: Two ways
What does 'end of support' mean?
For nearly a quarter-century, Microsoft has had a formal policy of supporting each major operating system release for 10 years. Windows 10 was released in 2015, so this schedule shouldn't be a surprise.
The end date is right there on the Microsoft Support document that lists "products retiring or reaching the end of support in 2025." Every retail edition of Windows, as well as the Enterprise and Education editions, is slated for retirement.
If you're holding out for an extension, prepare to be disappointed. Screenshot by Ed Bott/ZDNET
That schedule is defined by Microsoft's Modern Lifecycle Policy, which is documented on the Microsoft Lifecycle page: "Windows 10 will reach end of support on Oct.14, 2025. The current version, 22H2, will be the final version of Windows 10, and all editions will remain in support with monthly security update releases through that date." In a separate support article, Microsoft reiterates that as of Oct. 14, 2025, it will no longer provide technical support or security and reliability fixes for PCs running Windows 10.
Also: How to upgrade your 'incompatible' Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 - 2 free options
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