Windows 10 will stop receiving free security fixes on October 14, 2025 — and if your PC can’t take the free Windows 11 upgrade, you have five realistic paths forward: enroll in Extended Security Updates (ESU), buy or rent a new Windows 11 PC (including cloud PCs), perform an unsupported upgrade...
22h2
active directory
admin rights
ai-capable-hardware
alternative operating systems
avd
azure
azure virtual desktop
backmarket
backup
backup and migration
backup strategy
budgeting
business continuity
business it
canalys
certifiedmodels
channel-management
chromebook
chromebooks
chromeos
chromeos flex
chromeos-flex
chromeosflex
cloud desktops
cloud migration
cloud pc
cloud pc migration
cloud pcs
cloud sync
commercial-refresh
compliance
compliance risk
consumer advocacy
consumer esu
consumer esu program
consumer it
consumer protection
consumer reports
consumer tech
consumer-demand
copilot plus
copilot plus hardware
cost affordability
cpu upgrade
cpus
cybersecurity
cybersecurity risk
data backup
data backup best practices
data protection
data security
data-backup
databackup
ddr ram
deployment roadmap
device eligibility
device migration planning
device upgrade
digital equity
digital inclusion
digital privacy
digital sustainability
diy pcs
do nothing
e waste
e waste environmental impact
e waste policy
e-waste
edge webview2
electronic waste
end of life
end of life policy
end of support
end-of-support
endofsupport
endpoint manager
endpoint security
enrollment
enterprise
enterprise esu
enterprise it
enterprise security compliance
enterprise-it
environmental impact
environmental impact e waste
esearch
esu
esu enrollment
esu pricing enrollment
esu program
esu security updates
esu-enrollment
esu-program
esu-windows-10
ewaste
extended security updates
extended security updates esu
extended-security-updates
fedora
firmware-updates
free enrollment
gaming hardware
gpus
hardware compatibility
hardware refresh
hardware refresh planning
hardware replacement
hardware requirements
hardware upgrade
hardware upgrade planning
hardware-requirements
hardwarelifecycle
hipaa
idaho cybersecurity risk
intune
inventory risk
inventory-management
it admin
it governance
it leadership
it migration
it planning
it risk management
it security
it strategy
itadmin
jon peddie research
jpr
kaspersky telemetry
kb5063709
legacy devices
licensing cost
lifecycle
lifecycle policy
linux
linux desktop
linux distributions
linux gaming
linux migration
ltsb
ltsc
market growth
market outlook
market share windows 10
mdm
mfa
micropatches 0patch
microsoft
microsoft 365
microsoft 365 apps
microsoft account
microsoft account esu
microsoft policy
microsoft rewards
microsoft store
microsoft-account
microsoft-rewards
migration
migration and hardware refresh
migration options
migration plan
migration planning
migration-plan
migration-tactics
motherboard upgrade
msp
october 2025
oem partners
oems
onedrive
onedrive backup
os compatibility
os lifecycle
os migration
os security updates
os upgrade
os upgrade guide
os-migration
os-switch
os-upgrade
patch management
patching
pc components
pc gaming
pc gaming hardware
pc hardware
pc health check
pc upgrade cycle
pc-market
pc-shipments
pc-upgrade
pci-dss
phase rollout
phased rollout
pilot testing
policy privacy debate
prebuilt pcs
privacy
privacy concerns
privacy tradeoffs
recycling
refurbished
regulatory compliance
retail-slowdown
risk management
sccm
secure boot
secure-boot
security
security and compliance
security patch
security risk
security risks
security updates
security-updates
servicing-stack
small business
small organizations
smb it
software lifecycle
software support policy
statcounter
steam hardware survey
steamos
stranded pcs
supply chain
supply-chain
support lifecycle
sustainability
tariff-uncertainty
tariffs
testusb
tpm
tpm 2.0
tpm 2.0 secure boot
tpm-2.0
trade in program
trade-in
ubuntu
uefi secure boot
update policy
upgrade
upgrade options
upgrade path
upgrade strategy
upgrade-path
vbs
vdi
vendor compatibility
vendor strategy
version-22h2
virtualization
webapps
windows
windows 10
windows 10 22h2
windows 10 end of life
windows 10 end of support
windows 10 end updates
windows 10 eol
windows 10 eos
windows 10 esu
windows 10 lifecycle
windows 10 sunset
windows 11
windows 11 adoption
windows 11 eligibility
windows 11 migration
windows 11 readiness
windows 11 requirements
windows 11 security
windows 11 upgrade
windows 11 upgrade eligibility
windows 11 upgrade path
windows 22h2
windows 365
windows 365 cloud pcs
windows backup
windows ecosystem
windows eleven upgrade
windows end of life
windows end of support
windows lifecycle
windows security updates
windows ten end of life
windows ten sunset
windows update
windows-10
windows-10-end-of-support
windows-11
windows-11-upgrade
windows-endpoints
windows-lifecycle
windows-update
windows10
windows11
windowsapps
wsus
zero trust
Microsoft has set a hard cutoff for Windows 10: free mainstream support and monthly security updates stop on October 14, 2025, but a one‑year safety net — the consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program — gives eligible Windows 10 users a bridge until October 13, 2026.
Background /...
