Your Windows 10 PC can’t be upgraded? You have 5 options before support ends in 2025

Have you decided what to do with your Windows 10 PCs once they reach their goal? official support end date less than a year from now?

Also: Why Windows 11 requires TPM – and how to fix it

I know some people believe that Microsoft will back out at the last minute and extend that deadline. That won’t happen. The end date is listed right on the Microsoft Support document “products will be discontinued or out of support by 2025.”

The schedule is determined by Microsoft Modern lifecycle policyrecorded above Microsoft Lifecycle page: “Windows 10 will reach end of support on October 14, 2025. The current version, 22H2, will be the final version of Windows 10 and all versions will remain supported with future releases monthly security updates until that date.”

Also: How to upgrade an ‘incompatible’ Windows 10 PC to Windows 11

When there is a Windows version to the end of support dateThe software continues to work but the update channel is stopped:

[There] There will be no new security updates, non-security updates, or support supported. Customers are encouraged to migrate to the latest version of the product or service. Paid programs may be available for applicable products.

The middle part sounds encouraging, right? “Customers are encouraged to migrate to the latest version of the product or service.” Unfortunately, that is not a supported option for customers running Windows 10 on hardware that does not meet the requirements. Strict Windows 11 hardware compatibility requirements.

Also: Microsoft has a big problem with Windows 10 – and only has a year to fix it

If you try to upgrade one of those PCs to Windows 11, you’ll get an error message. In a separate support article, Microsoft reiterated that as of October 14, 2025, it will no longer provide technical support or security and reliability fixes for Windows 10 PCs.

If you’re responsible for one or more Windows 10 PCs that don’t pass Microsoft’s Windows 11 compatibility tests, what should you do? You have five options.

1. Completely ignore the end of support period

There’s nothing you can do — just keep running your unsupported operating system and hope for the best. It’s a bad idea that puts you at the very real risk that you’ll fall victim to a security vulnerability.

I have heard some people believe that using third-party antivirus software will protect them from harm. I wouldn’t bet my business on that strategy.

Also: Stop paying for antivirus software. Here’s why you don’t need it

If you intend to do so, consider installing Free 0patch agent to address any security issues not addressed by Microsoft. The free personal plan includes patches for known vulnerabilities in 0 days, but if you want all Windows 10 or PC patches used for business or enterprise work, you’ll have to pay money for the Pro plan for the equivalent of a few dollars a month.

2. Buy a new PC

Microsoft and its partners want you to replace that unsupported hardware a new PC. You might even be tempted by one of these Shiny new Copilot+ computerwith their custom neural processing units, or maybe one Powerful gaming PC. However, throwing away a perfectly good computer seems wasteful, and it’s not an option if you continue to use Windows 10 because you have important software that’s incompatible with Windows 11.

You also have the option to rent a new virtual PC by registering Windows 365allows you to remotely connect to your own Windows 11 virtual PC in the Microsoft cloud. A Windows 365 subscription works on Windows 10 and includes extended security updates for the host PC for up to three years. Windows 365 isn’t cheap, but it costs less than a new PC.

3. Completely remove Windows

You can keep your old hardware and replace Windows 10 with the Linux version you like. If you have the technical know-how and experience to manage the transition, then that option is worth considering.

Also: How to replace Windows with Linux Mint on your PC

You can also switch to Google’s free ChromeOS Flex, although the compatibility requirements for that alternative may also hold you back. I wrote about my experience here: “Install ChromeOS Flex? 5 things you need to do first to avoid headaches.” As I pointed out: “If you have an old PC or Mac and are thinking of installing ChromeOS Flex on it, don’t do anything until you check Google’s official page. List of ChromeOS Flex certified models.”

Also: Yes, you can upgrade that old PC to Windows 11, even if Microsoft refuses. These readers have proven it

And pay special attention to the End of Support date for the PC you’re thinking of upgrading. It wouldn’t make sense to replace Windows 10 with a ChromeOS Flex release that’s also set to end support in 2025 or sooner.

Switching to Linux or some Linux derivative can be a good way to reuse a system. old computer. However, for most consumers and businesses that have now invested in Windows software, this is not a realistic alternative.

The last two options are more attractive.

4. Pay Microsoft for security updates

Remember the official support document I cited earlier? Who says there will be “no new security updates” after Windows 10 reaches its end of support date? That’s not necessarily true.

Microsoft will indeed continue to develop security updates for Windows 10, but they won’t be free. Microsoft announced in December 2023 that it will offer Extended Security Options (ESU) for Windows 10; These subscription-based updates will be available for up to three years.

Also: Microsoft will start charging for Windows 10 updates next year. How much is this?

How much will these paid updates cost? Microsoft Reveal the price list for business and education customers in April 2024. If you’re an administrator at an educational institution deploying Windows 10 Education edition, you’re in luck. Those extended updates will cost one dollar per machine for the first year, $2 for the second year, and $4 for the third and final year, taking you all the way to 2028.

IT professionals who manage a fleet of business PCs are not so lucky:

Business customers will have to pay a hefty price to stick with Windows 10. Licenses for the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program are sold as a subscription. For the first year, the cost is $61. In the second year, the price doubles and doubles again in the third year. The blog post doesn’t calculate those, perhaps because the total is uncomfortably high. A three-year ESU subscription will cost $61 + $122 + $244, for a total of $427.

Consumers have more limited choices. For $30, you can get an additional year of security updates, with support extending through October 2026. That’s a big discount compared to what business customers have to pay. payment, but the consumer agreement is only valid for one year. At the end of that subscription, you again lose support.

5. Upgrade your “incompatible” hardware to Windows 11

That pesky compatibility checker may insist that you can’t upgrade your Windows 10 PC to Windows 11, but there are actually officially supported ways to get around those limitations. You just need to jump through a few technical hoops.

Also: Why ‘debugging’ Windows is a bad idea (and what to do instead)

You can find all the details in this article: “How to upgrade an ‘incompatible’ Windows 10 PC to Windows 11.” This is the short version.

For PCs originally designed for Windows 10, you need to make a small registry edit, then make sure your PC is configured to use Secure Boot with Trusted Platform Module. Trust (TPM) is enabled. Even the old TPM 1.2 chip will do. EQUAL Many readers have confirmed via emailThis process works smoothly as long as you have set up those configuration details properly.

For older PCs originally designed for Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, you may need to use a third-party tool called Rufus to overcome installation challenges. That’s especially true on PCs that use old BIOS instead of UEFI firmware, and for PCs that don’t have TPM access. Make sure you have the latest version of Rufus (4.6 beta or later) to ensure that you can handle Microsoft’s latest compatibility checks.

Also: This hidden Windows 11 setting lets you kill unresponsive apps right from the taskbar

And don’t be alarmed by the alarming message you may see when trying to perform an unsupported upgrade: “If you continue installing Windows 11, your PC is no longer supported and will not be right to receive updates. Damage to your PC due to lack of compatibility is not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.”

That is intentionally misleading language. As I noted before, that warning doesn’t actually say that Microsoft will cut off your access to updates; it simply says that your PC is no longer supported and you are no longer “entitled” to receive those updates. That word is Microsoft’s word, denying liability without actually stating what they will do.

Also: How to screen records in Windows 10 or 11 using built-in tools

If you don’t want to mess with the registry and are willing to do a clean install, simply use Rufus to create a bootable Windows 11 installation drive, bypassing the compatibility checker entirely. You’ll need to restore your data files from a backup or from the cloud, and you’ll also need to install your software from scratch, but that’s no more difficult than setting up a new PC.

This article was originally published on November 15, 2021 and last updated on November 3, 2024.