Windows 10 End of Support: What you need to know now
Support for Windows 10 ends on October 14, 2025. We explain what this means and what options you have.
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Short answer: Regular support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025. Since then, there have been no more free security updates. Anyone still using Windows 10 should act now: either switch to Windows 11 or, at least temporarily, purchase security updates through the ESU program.
What applies since the end of support
Windows 10 still functions technically but is becoming increasingly vulnerable to security gaps because newly discovered weaknesses are no longer patched. The longer this goes on, the greater the gap between known attack vectors and the actual protection of your system.
What options are still available?
Microsoft offers a paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. For private users, the first ESU year ends in October 2026 – it is explicitly intended as a transitional solution, not a permanent state. Details and the exact cost calculation can be found in the article Windows 10 ESU.
The more sustainable solution is to upgrade to Windows 11, provided the hardware is compatible.
„The ESU year bought us time to plan the transition properly – but it was clear from the start that it was only a transition, not a permanent solution." This is how an IT manager describes how her company deliberately used the time until the ESU expiration to plan an orderly migration to Windows 11.
What if my PC doesn't support Windows 11?
Without TPM 2.0, the official path is to upgrade to newer hardware. For devices with older TPM 1.2, there is a Microsoft-documented method explained in the article Windows 11 without TPM 2.0.
And in companies?
Those who operate devices whose functional status should remain unchanged for years – POS systems, machine controls, specialized equipment – are better off with Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 than with the regular Pro edition. The LTSC edition only receives security updates, no feature changes, and is supported until 2029.
Conclusion
The end of support is already behind us – anyone still using Windows 10 should not delay the switch any longer. Windows 11 Pro costs €85.99 from us; all editions can be found in the Windows overview.
