Overview

• Microsoft will end free Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025, but private users can now activate free extended security updates until October 13, 2026 through a built-in Settings wizard.
• The free ESU extension replaces earlier plans that offered only paid options for private customers and follows Microsoft’s June decision to reverse its paid-only stance.
• A ControlUp analysis shows 13 percent of enterprise Windows PCs and one in four consumer devices lack the CPU, TPM or Secure Boot requirements needed for a direct upgrade to Windows 11.
• Users without compatible hardware have turned to community tools such as Rufus and FlyBy11 to bypass Microsoft’s upgrade checks, though these solutions do not support every system.
• Germany’s BSI warns that Windows 10 machines left unpatched after support ends will become prime targets for cyberattacks and urges users to upgrade or apply security measures.