Choose what to do with a Windows 10 PC after support ended
Confirm Windows 11 eligibility, separate an unsupported operating system from a broken computer, and compare upgrade, ESU, replacement, and limited offline reuse.
Direct answer
The shortest reliable path.
Windows 10 support ended October 14, 2025. The PC still works, but Microsoft no longer provides normal technical assistance, feature updates, or security updates. First run Microsoft’s PC Health Check or Windows Update eligibility check. Upgrade eligible hardware to Windows 11; if it is not eligible, use the Windows 10 Consumer Extended Security Updates program only as a time-limited bridge through October 12, 2027, replace the PC, or retire it from internet-facing and sensitive work.
System view
Check the whole path.
- 01Windows 10 installation
- 02Windows 11 eligibility check
- 03App and peripheral compatibility
- 04Upgrade, ESU, or replacement path
- 05Verified backup and recovery plan
Scope before steps.
Personally owned PCs still running Windows 10 after October 14, 2025, including systems whose Windows 11 eligibility is not yet known.
Business or education ESU licensing, unsupported Windows 11 bypass methods, Linux migration instructions, hardware repair, or whether one specific application remains supported.
Procedure
Do this in order.
- 01
Check Windows 11 eligibility officially
Run PC Health Check and also inspect Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update for Microsoft’s eligibility result.
- 02
Audit the complete working setup
Check the Windows 11 support position for every essential application, driver, printer, scanner, and assistive device before changing the OS.
- 03
Upgrade an eligible PC through Windows Update
If Microsoft marks the PC eligible and the workflow is compatible, install Windows 11 through the supported offer after backing up and connecting stable power.
- 04
Use ESU only as a bridge
If the PC is ineligible and cannot be replaced immediately, review Microsoft’s current Consumer ESU enrollment and end date, then set a replacement or migration deadline before October 12, 2027.
- 05
Retire sensitive use when no supported path exists
Replace the PC for banking, work, identity, or other sensitive online activity, or repurpose it only where isolation and limited offline use are acceptable.
Diagnostic matrix
Read the result, not the guess.
| What you see | Check next | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| PC Health Check says eligible | Confirm Windows Update offers Windows 11 and verify critical app compatibility. | Hardware eligibility is necessary but not the whole migration decision. |
| PC Health Check says ineligible | Read the specific failed requirement before buying parts. | Some requirements are upgradeable; processor eligibility and security features may not be practical to change. |
| Windows 10 still receives Microsoft 365 security updates | Do not confuse app updates with Windows operating-system support. | A supported application does not restore OS security fixes. |
| Consumer ESU is active | Record its displayed enrollment state and the October 12, 2027 endpoint. | The bridge has a defined end and still needs a migration plan. |
Stop conditions
Know when not to keep changing things.
- Do not force Windows 11 onto hardware Microsoft marks unsupported and then describe it as a supported upgrade.
- Do not erase or trade in the old PC until files, licenses, accounts, encryption recovery keys, and authentication methods are verified elsewhere.
- Remove an unsupported Windows 10 PC from sensitive internet use when neither Windows 11 nor active ESU coverage is available.