Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025. That does not stop an existing computer from operating, but it does end Microsoft technical support, feature updates and security updates for the standard supported release. The practical issue is not whether an old PC can still switch on. It is whether its next use has been considered against the growing exposure of a system that no longer receives fixes.
In brief
- Windows 10 support ended on 14 October 2025, while installed systems continue to run.
- Eligible version 22H2 PCs can move to Windows 11 through the supported upgrade path.
- Consumer ESU can protect enrolled Windows 10 devices until 12 October 2027.
- Isolation is a compensating measure when migration to a supported system cannot happen immediately.
Microsoft recommends moving eligible devices to Windows 11, enrolling in consumer Extended Security Updates, or replacing hardware that cannot meet Windows 11 requirements. The French national CERT warns that vulnerabilities found after support ends may remain unpatched, and that Internet connectivity can worsen the resulting risk. Those facts make preparation more useful than a rushed upgrade.
Start with the machine you actually have
Before choosing a route, identify the version of Windows, the device’s important software, its connected equipment and the files that need to survive the transition. This is especially important where a computer relies on an older printer, driver or specialist application. A system that looks ready for retirement may still contain the only working setup for a routine task.
For Windows 10 version 22H2 devices, Microsoft says the upgrade to Windows 11 is free when the PC meets the minimum hardware specifications. Eligibility can be checked through Windows Update. A compatibility result should be the beginning of the assessment, not its end. The supplied guidance also notes that older hardware or drivers may create compatibility issues, so critical equipment deserves attention before a migration date is set.
Back up files before making a major change. Microsoft presents Windows Backup as a way to save and transfer files, photos, settings, applications and sign-in credentials to a new PC. Whether that tool or another backup process is used, the useful discipline is to make sure the information needed after the move is available before changing the old installation.
Three routes, each with a different purpose
A compatible PC can move to Windows 11 and remain within a supported Windows environment. Microsoft describes that as the principal route for an eligible device. The upgrade may be attractive when the existing computer, its applications and its peripherals continue to meet the owner’s needs.
If the machine is not eligible, Microsoft recommends either its consumer ESU programme or a new Windows 11 device. Consumer ESU can protect a Windows 10 device until 12 October 2027, according to Microsoft. It is a bridge for people who need more time, not a reason to treat unsupported Windows 10 as a permanent destination. Check the current enrolment conditions before relying on it.
Replacing the device creates a clearer break with the unsupported system, but it still requires preparation. Files, photos, settings and access details need to be moved, then checked on the new computer. Microsoft also points users towards trade-in and recycling programmes once an old device is ready to leave service. Keeping the former machine until the new setup has been verified avoids turning a simple transfer into a recovery problem.
Linux is another option identified by Le Crabe Info’s guide to older PCs. Its examples include Ubuntu and Linux Mint. The same guide notes that the transition can require adaptation and that some Windows software or games may not be available. It is therefore a route to test against the real workload, rather than a universal substitute for Windows.
When migration cannot happen immediately
Certain systems cannot move quickly because they depend on a particular application, peripheral or workflow. The CERT-FR says isolation from the wider information system is a compensating measure when migration to a supported system is impossible, and says it should be carried out as soon as possible. The aim is to limit the impact if the obsolete system is compromised.
That advice matters most for a computer connected to other devices or to the Internet. An unsupported PC should not be treated as though its security position were unchanged. For a work device, the decision belongs with the responsible IT and security team, especially where the machine forms part of a larger information system.
The CERT-FR also distinguishes the continuously developed Windows 10 version 22H2 from LTSC editions with fixed lifecycles and systems covered by ESU. An edition name alone is not a migration plan. Support status should be established for the actual edition and coverage in use.
Make the transition testable
A useful plan has a date and a short list of checks: essential files are present, required applications open, connected equipment works and the new sign-in details are available. Those checks turn a broad choice into a manageable sequence. They also help determine whether the old PC can be recycled, retained briefly, or isolated while a remaining dependency is resolved.
For more practical technology reading, browse our technology guides section. The key decision is not to find a single answer for every Windows 10 machine. It is to choose a supported route where possible and use temporary protection or isolation only while a defined next step is completed.
Verified references
- Windows 10 support a pris fin le 14 octobre 2025: options de mise a niveau
- Fin de support de Windows 10 en octobre 2025: bulletin d’actualite du CERT-FR
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