Windows 10 End of Support Left Working PCs Without Patches
Microsoft's own support page says the same thing Bach tells customers. After October 14, 2025, Windows 10 computers "will still function," but Microsoft no longer provides technical support, software updates, or security fixes. Nothing locks you out. The operating system just stops being repaired. Microsoft puts it plainly: without those updates, "your PC will be at a greater risk for viruses and malware."
One correction to the column: it says Windows 10 did not "turn into a pumpkin on Oct. 15, 2025." The date Microsoft actually uses is October 14, 2025. That day's monthly security update, KB5066791, was the last regular patch for Windows 10 version 22H2 and for the Enterprise 2015 LTSB editions. The cutoff applied to Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Education. Some Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) editions have their own lifecycle schedules, so the consumer deadline doesn't apply to every Windows 10 SKU.
Microsoft also answers the "I have antivirus, so I'm fine" argument on its end-of-support page. It says Microsoft Defender or third-party antivirus helps but is "not enough on its own," because the operating system is still exposed to new vulnerabilities that only Microsoft can patch. In other words, antivirus scans what runs on your PC, but it can't fix holes in Windows itself.
Consumer ESU Now Runs to October 12, 2027
Of the three options the column covers, this one has changed most since last October. When consumer ESU launched, it was a one-year program ending in October 2026. In June 2026, Microsoft extended it to October 12, 2027. Help Net Security noticed that the change quietly appeared in updates to Microsoft's Windows 10 ESU documentation and as an editor's note added to a Windows Experience Blog post, instead of through a formal announcement. If you enrolled in the first year, you don't need to do anything. Microsoft says if you're already enrolled, your coverage will automatically continue through that date—no action needed.
Bach's description of the three ways to enroll matches Microsoft's list. You can enroll in ESU in one of the following three ways: At no additional cost if you are syncing your PC Settings. Redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points. One-time purchase of $30 USD or local currency equivalent plus applicable tax. Office Watch points out a detail that eases privacy worries about the free route: you do NOT have to backup Documents or other folders, just PC Settings. According to TechRepublic, one ESU license can cover up to 10 eligible devices, and enrollment remains open until Oct. 12, 2027.
Bach calls ESU "a band-aid, not a cure," and Microsoft's terms back him up. The program provides access to critical and important security updates as defined by the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) for devices running Windows 10, version 22H2. ESU enrollment does not provide other types of fixes, feature improvements, or product enhancements. It also does not come with technical support. The only support Microsoft does offer covers ESU license activation and installing the ESU updates themselves.
The patches are clearly still coming. Microsoft's Windows 10 release-health records show monthly ESU security updates all through 2026. The latest are KB5122878, released September 8, 2026, and an out-of-band update, KB5129236, released September 14, 2026, which brings Windows 10 22H2 to build 19045.7727. An enrolled PC that's up to date should show that build or later.
Who qualifies for consumer ESU, and who doesn't
The column doesn't cover eligibility, and eligibility is where enrollment most often goes wrong. Per TechRepublic, to qualify for consumer ESU, a device must run Windows 10 version 22H2 on Home, Professional, Pro Education, or Workstations edition. It must also have the latest Windows update installed and be enrolled with a Microsoft account that has administrator rights; child accounts cannot enroll. Microsoft's FAQ adds that consumer ESU is for personal-use devices. It excludes devices managed by an organization or enrolled in enterprise licensing programs, as Microsoft's eligibility wording puts it.
Enrollment options and timing may also differ in the European Economic Area. Microsoft notes regional variation but says the updates themselves roll out the same way everywhere they're offered.
Businesses have a separate commercial ESU program, bought through volume licensing, which Bach calls "much more expensive." Microsoft Learn lists the first year at $61 per device. The price doubles each following year, for up to three years. None of the consumer shortcuts apply to it: no free settings-sync route, no Rewards points, no $30 flat fee. A small office using personal Microsoft accounts on its PCs shouldn't treat the consumer program as a replacement for commercial ESU.
The Windows 11 Upgrade Path Depends on More Than TPM 2.0
Bach's first recommendation is to upgrade to Windows 11, which is free if the PC qualifies. Microsoft agrees it costs nothing, but only for PCs running Windows 10 version 22H2 that meet the minimum hardware specifications. The upgrade keeps your edition, so Windows 10 Home becomes Windows 11 Home and Windows 10 Pro becomes Windows 11 Pro.
The column says many computers made before roughly 2019 can't run Windows 11 because of the TPM 2.0 security chip. That's a reasonable rule of thumb, but Microsoft doesn't define any cutoff by year. Its published minimums include a compatible 64-bit processor with at least two cores running at 1 GHz or faster, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability, and TPM 2.0. A PC can fail on any one of these, and the processor-compatibility list is a common reason, so don't assume TPM is the problem on your machine.
Microsoft's PC Health Check app is the right way to find out, as Bach says. Search Windows for "PC Health Check," open it, and choose Check now. If the app isn't installed, download it from Microsoft's website, and only from there. The results tell you which requirement your PC fails. Microsoft doesn't promise the check takes 30 seconds, though it's usually quick.
A passing result doesn't mean the upgrade appears right away. To check for the offer, go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates. Microsoft may hold back the offer on some hardware while it works through compatibility problems, so an eligible PC that doesn't see it yet may just need more time.
For PCs that fail the check, Bach says forcing Windows 11 through workarounds is possible but "certainly is not the best choice." Microsoft's official advice for ineligible hardware is to ask the PC manufacturer or a local hardware expert what can be changed, or to replace the machine. There's no supported way to put Windows 11 on hardware that doesn't meet the requirements.
Replacing a Windows 10 PC and Moving Your Files
Bach's second option is replacing the PC. As an example, he says his shop moved a customer from a dead Windows 10 machine to a refurbished Lenovo laptop running Windows 11 for under $425, including file migration and Microsoft account setup. That's one shop's price for one job, not a market rate, but it shows a refurbished machine plus setup can cost well under what many people expect.
If you move yourself, Microsoft's tool is Windows Backup. Microsoft says it saves and transfers files, photos, settings, apps, and sign-in credentials to a new PC. On Windows 10 it only backs up, and the restore happens on the Windows 11 machine. Microsoft also suggests backing up to OneDrive now so that moving later is easier. The same settings-sync feature that qualifies you for free ESU also sets up that migration.
When you retire an old PC, Microsoft points to trade-in and recycling programs run by manufacturers such as Dell, HP, and Lenovo and retailers such as Best Buy and Costco, plus its own trade-in program in some markets.
Microsoft 365 and Office Have Their Own Deadlines
The column doesn't mention that Windows 10's end of support also changed support for Office apps. Microsoft 365 Apps no longer count as supported on Windows 10 as of October 14, 2025, though they keep running. Microsoft will still ship security updates for Microsoft 365 on Windows 10 until October 10, 2028. That arrangement covers the apps only. It does nothing to patch Windows itself.
Standalone Office versions are in a different position. Support for Office 2016 and Office 2019 has ended on every operating system. Office 2021 and Office 2024 still run on Windows 10 but aren't supported there. Even on Windows 11, Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021 are only supported through October 2026, which is next month. As Office Watch points out, this makes no difference to the support for Microsoft 365 or Office 2024/2021: the ESU extension doesn't change any of these Office dates.
The "Expired Windows 10" Calls Are a Scam
Bach says that since last October his shop has seen a new wave of fake "Microsoft" pop-ups and phone calls. They tell people their Windows 10 has "expired" and that they must pay to reactivate it or give someone remote access to fix it. We couldn't independently confirm how common these scams are. What we can confirm is that the claim itself is false. Microsoft's own documentation says Windows 10 keeps working after end of support. There is no reactivation fee, and all the real options, including paid ESU, are handled inside Windows Settings with your own Microsoft account.
Bach's advice is simple: close any pop-up that shows a phone number, and hang up on anyone who calls claiming to be from Microsoft. Real ESU enrollment never needs a phone call or a stranger connecting remotely to your PC.
What Windows 10 Holdouts Should Do Before October 2027
If you're still on Windows 10 without ESU, act now. Enrolling is free for most people, and Microsoft warns that devices will be more vulnerable and susceptible to viruses and malware before enrollment. Start by confirming the PC is on version 22H2: go to Settings > System > About and look under Windows specifications. If it's on an older version, open Windows Update and install available updates first. Then look for the ESU enrollment link on the Windows Update page and sign in with an administrator Microsoft account.
If the enrollment option doesn't appear, check your updates. Microsoft has released KB5126256, an ESU licensing preparation package for Windows 10 version 22H2 (the package title also lists 21H2). It goes on after a qualifying security update released on or after October 14, 2025, such as KB5066791. Installing KB5126256 does not enroll the PC by itself. You still have to finish ESU enrollment afterward.
Once ESU is in place, use the extra time to decide between Windows 11 and new hardware. Enrolling doesn't stop you from upgrading later if the PC qualifies.
- Windows 10 standard support ended on October 14, 2025. PCs still run, but they get no security patches without ESU.
- Consumer ESU covers eligible Windows 10 22H2 Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations PCs until October 12, 2027. You can enroll free with settings sync, with 1,000 Rewards points, or for $30.
- If you enrolled before the June 2026 extension, your coverage carries on to October 2027 automatically.
- Run PC Health Check to see which Windows 11 requirement your PC fails. TPM 2.0 is one requirement among several.
- Organization-managed PCs need commercial ESU, which starts at $61 per device in year one, not the consumer program.
- Treat any call or pop-up saying Windows 10 has "expired" and must be paid for or remotely fixed as a scam.
Bach's customer was right that her laptop still works. It will probably still work after October 12, 2027, but that's when the last free patches for home users stop. ESU has already been extended once, and Microsoft has now published a firm end date. The year left is enough time to check your hardware, back up your settings, and choose between an upgrade and a replacement without rushing.