Windows 10 end of support: what should you do?

• Your PC keeps working, with your software and files.
• Windows Update no longer delivers security updates or fixes, except on PCs enrolled in the ESU program.
• Microsoft no longer provides technical assistance for Windows 10.
• Microsoft 365 apps keep working; Microsoft says it will provide security updates for these apps on Windows 10 until October 10, 2028.

Antivirus software is no substitute for security updates: without fixes, Microsoft points out, the operating system itself stays exposed to new threats.

The consumer ESU program only delivers critical and important security updates, with no new features and no technical support. According to the Microsoft page checked on October 26, 2026, you can enroll at any time and updates are provided until October 12, 2027, whenever you enroll.

• Windows 10 version 22H2 (Home, Pro, Pro Education or Pro for Workstations), fully updated.
• A Microsoft account that is an administrator on the PC and not a child account; the license is tied to that account and covers up to 10 devices.
• A personal PC: consumer enrollment is not offered on PCs joined to an Active Directory domain or to Microsoft Entra, or managed by MDM.

Terms vary by region. Microsoft's US page lists three ways to enroll: free if you sync your PC settings with Windows Backup, with 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or with a one-time purchase of $30 or the local currency equivalent (price checked on October 26, 2026). For the European Economic Area, Microsoft's French page offers free enrollment as long as you keep signing in to the PC with the Microsoft account used to enroll (otherwise updates pause after up to 60 days), or the one-time purchase, which lets you keep a local account.

1. Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
2. If the PC meets the requirements, select Enroll now and sign in to your Microsoft account if Windows asks.
3. Choose one of the options offered, then check your enrollment status in the same place.

ESU buys you time, not a lasting solution. Terms can change, so read the Microsoft page for your country before enrolling.

If your PC meets the minimum requirements, the upgrade is free and runs through Windows Update. The PC must be running Windows 10 version 2004 or later.

The processor is the most common blocker: Microsoft notes that its clock speed and number of cores cannot be upgraded. Memory or storage can sometimes be replaced; check with the manufacturer.

1. In the search box on the taskbar, type PC Health Check and open the app. If it is missing, download it from Microsoft.
2. In the Windows 11 banner, select Check now.
3. Read the result: the app tells you whether the PC is eligible and, if not, which requirement fails. It does not check the graphics card or the display.

If the PC is compatible, back up your important files, then start the upgrade:

1. Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, select Check for updates and install pending Windows 10 updates first.
2. When Windows 11 is shown as ready, select Download and install, then Accept and install.
3. Restart when Windows asks: the PC restarts several times before the Windows 11 sign-in screen.

If Windows 11 is not offered on a compatible PC, Microsoft recommends waiting: a known compatibility issue can delay the upgrade. The setup program's default option, Keep personal files and apps, keeps your files, apps and settings; a fresh install from bootable media wipes the whole drive.

If the processor, the TPM or Secure Boot blocks the upgrade, Microsoft recommends moving to a PC that ships with Windows 11. Plan for internet access and a Microsoft account during its initial setup with Home or Pro for personal use. For the old PC, Microsoft points to trade-in and recycling programs from manufacturers and retailers such as Best Buy, Currys or Fnac.

There are two approaches: Windows Backup, built in and free, and a profile transfer tool such as UserNest. The choice depends mostly on your Windows account and on what you use every day.

With a personal Microsoft account, mostly documents and photos, and a synced Edge, Windows Backup is often enough. With a local or work account, classic Outlook and PST files, network printers or several browsers, UserNest carries these items over from an external drive. Either way, software must be reinstalled. The comparison UserNest vs Windows tools explains the differences.

1. First, sync your browser passwords with the browser account or export them: Chrome, Edge and Brave encrypt them for the original Windows account, so they would be unreadable on the new PC.
2. On the old PC, plug in an external drive, tick the items to back up in UserNest, use Analyze to estimate the size, then start the backup.
3. On the new PC, reinstall your software, plug in the drive and restore the backup.
4. Read the final report (Done or Completed with errors) and its detailed log.

Keep the old PC and the drive for a few days while you check everything. For several computers, the Pro edition runs from a USB stick without installation. Full walkthrough: Transfer your Windows profile to a new PC.