On October 14, 2025, Microsoft will officially stop supporting Windows 10. While your PC won’t suddenly stop working after this date, the risks of using an unsupported OS will grow over time. In this post, we will explore the risks of staying with Windows 10 after it reaches End of Life.
Windows 10 is the most popular Windows desktop operating system, holding a market share of around 60.37% as of January 2025. Despite having the highest user base worldwide (following Windows 11), it is soon reaching its End of Life. If you are an existing Windows 10 user, you might already be receiving notifications about the upcoming end of support. These notifications are meant to encourage you to upgrade to Windows 11, since after October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide technical support, feature updates, and quality updates (including security and reliability fixes) for Windows 10.
The risks of staying with Windows 10 after End Of Life
Windows 10 has been the dominant operating system for nearly a decade, but its time is coming to an end. In April 2023, Microsoft confirmed that Windows 10, version 22H2, would be the final version of Windows 10.
If you are still using Windows 10, you may continue using it without any updates, or upgrade to Windows 11 if you have compatible hardware.
Read: Windows 10 End of Support and Life – What you need to know
Windows 10 End of Life risks
Security risks: Without security updates, Windows 10 will become increasingly vulnerable to new malware, ransomware, and zero-day exploits. Older operating systems are prime targets for cyberattacks since attackers know that security holes will never be patched. Even if you use third-party antivirus software, it won’t be enough to protect you from system-level vulnerabilities that Microsoft would have fixed.
No support from Microsoft: If you run into errors or system crashes, you will not be able to seek support from Microsoft. You’ll have to rely on online forums, outdated documentation, or third-party support services, which may not provide reliable fixes.
Software and Hardware compatibility issues: As time passes, new software and hardware will be designed for Windows 11 and later versions, leaving Windows 10 users behind. You may find that essential applications stop working or that new hardware (such as printers, GPUs, or peripherals) lacks proper driver support for Windows 10.
Extended Security Updates (ESU) won’t be for everyone: Microsoft is offering an annual subscription service (worth USD 30) called Extended Security Updates for organizations and individual users. It allows customers to extend the use of Windows 10 devices past the end-of-support date in a more secure manner. If you are still not ready to upgrade to Windows 11 for any reason, you may opt for the service. However, ESUs are expensive and only delay the inevitable transition to a newer OS.
Reasons to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11
Windows 11 brings several new features and improvements that are not available in Windows 10. Here are the reasons why you should upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 and keep using the latest software:
- A more consistent interface
- Improved Security
- Improved performance and efficiency
- Gaming performance and HDR improvements
- Built-In Generative AI
- New features
1] A more consistent interface
Windows 11 offers a sleek, redesigned UI with a centered Start Menu, compact Taskbar, rounded window corners, and new icons. It provides a cleaner and more modern look compared to Windows 10.
2] Improved Security
Windows 11 is significantly more secure than Windows 10. It requires TPM 2.0, a special security chip that helps protect devices from cyber threats. According to Microsoft, secured-core PCs (PCs equipped with TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and advanced hardware-based security features) offer twice the protection against malware compared to standard PCs.
3] Improved performance and efficiency
Windows 11 offers better memory management, faster wake times, and optimized performance for modern hardware, making it more efficient than Windows 10.
4] Gaming performance and HDR improvements
Windows 11 brings several gaming improvements over Windows 10. You can now use high dynamic range (HDR) color on your compatible display via a toggle button in the Windows Game Bar. Also, the DirectStorage feature lets games load directly into video memory, bypassing the CPU for much faster game loading times.
5] Built-in generative AI
Windows 11 offers a more integrated and powerful AI experience than Windows 10. While a basic version of Microsoft Copilot is available as an installable app on Windows 10, Windows 11’s Copilot can do much more. It helps you adjust system settings and organize windows with Snap Assist.
6] New features
Windows 11 brings several new features. Also, there are so many things that Windows 11 can do, but Windows 10 can’t. These improvements make Windows 11 a smarter and more intuitive OS.
How to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11
There are a couple of ways to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11.
- If you have an older PC, you can upgrade by buying a new PC.
- If you are running the most current version of Windows 10 and have a valid Windows 10 license, you can upgrade to Windows 11 for free directly through Windows Update. Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Windows Update. If your PC meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 11, you should see an option to upgrade to Windows 11.
- Windows 10 22H2 users will see an offer to upgrade to Windows 11 on the OOBE screen.
- If you are having trouble with Windows Update, use the Media Creation Tool to create installation media or upgrade your PC.
Read: What to know about Windows 11 before upgrading from Windows 10.
Is it safe to use Windows 10 after EOL?
It is not safe to continue using an operating system once it reaches End of Life (EOL) due to the several security and compatibility risks involved. While you may continue using Windows 10 after End of Life, upgrading to Windows 11 is strongly recommended for long-term security and stability.
Can I stay on Windows 10 forever?
You can stay on Windows 10 forever, but it is not recommended. If you plan to continue using it, keep all installed software up to date, run Windows 10 offline or in a controlled environment, or use a strong third-party antivirus (though it won’t replace OS security updates). You may also take a few other steps to secure Windows 10 after End Of Life on October 14, 2025.
