Windows 10 has been powering hundreds of millions of computers around the globe. In fact, it’s the most used desktop operating system. As of December 2023, Windows 10 has about 65% of market share among Windows versions.
About two years ago, Microsoft announced that the end of support date for Windows 10 is October 14, 2025, and urged Windows 10 users to upgrade to Windows 11 as Windows 11 is being offered as a free upgrade to Windows 10 users.
As you likely know, many Windows 10 PCs do not meet the system requirement set for Windows 11. Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot technologies, among other hardware requirements.
Millions of PC users running Windows 10 are unable to upgrade to Windows 11 due to hardware requirements. Now that 2024 is fast approaching, many users are wondering what happens to Windows 10 after October 14, 2025.
What happens to my Windows 10 installation after October 14 2025?
Well, Windows 10’s end of support date is October 14, 2025. This means that Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10 PCs after the date. What this essentially means is that Microsoft will not release new security updates to fix vulnerabilities found in Windows 10.
However, Microsoft recently announced that Windows 10 users can opt for paid updates after October 2025. While it has not revealed the price yet, it might not be very cheap.
Does Windows 10 get deactivated after October 14, 2025?
No, Windows 10 installation will continue to function as it used to, even after the end of support date. You can continue using Windows 10 and all features without any issues. It’s just that it will not receive new updates.
Can I install Windows 11 on my unsupported Windows 10 computer?
While installing Windows 11 on an unsupported PC is not recommended, it is possible to install Windows 11 on an unsupported computer. You can refer to our how to install Windows 11 on unsupported computer guide for step-by-step directions.
What is the latest version of Windows 10?
Windows 10 22H2 is the latest version of Windows 10. You can update to the newest version by navigating to Windows 10 Settings > Update & security > Windows Update page and then clicking the Check for updates button.
