Overview

• Windows 10 PCs will keep running, but only customers with an Extended Security Updates subscription will receive new security fixes, with Enterprise LTSC editions supported on separate timelines into 2026–2029.
• Microsoft advises that eligible devices can move to Windows 11 at no cost via Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update by selecting Check for updates.
• ZDNET reports that Windows 11’s stricter hardware requirements block many older systems from upgrading through official channels.
• Valve’s September 2025 Steam survey shows 32.18% of players still on Windows 10, which remains the platform’s second most used operating system.
• Security specialists caution that unpatched Windows 10 machines will be prime targets for ransomware and scams, including fake upgrade offers and spoofed support calls.