Windows 10 End of Support: What It Means If You’re Still Running It
Windows 10 End of Support Already Happened
Windows 10 end of support arrived on October 14, 2025, and a lot of small businesses are still running it a year later. The computers still turn on, the programs still open, and nothing looks any different, which makes it easy to assume everything’s fine. The catch is that Microsoft stopped sending regular security updates to Windows 10 on that date, and the only way to keep getting them now is through a paid program that gets more expensive every year.
If you’re not sure which of your computers are still on Windows 10, this is a good week to find out, because the first year of that paid coverage is wrapping up.
What Windows 10 End of Support Actually Means
When an operating system reaches end of support, Microsoft stops fixing the security holes that get discovered in it. New vulnerabilities in Windows 10 keep turning up, and many of them are the same flaws that get patched in Windows 11, so attackers know exactly what to look for on machines that aren’t getting fixes. An unpatched Windows 10 computer on your network is an open door that gets a little wider every month.
It also creates practical headaches over time. Software vendors gradually drop support for older operating systems, cyber insurance applications often ask whether you’re running supported software, and businesses that handle sensitive client data can have a harder time showing they’re protecting it properly when their computers are out of support.
Extended Security Updates and Why the Price Keeps Climbing
Microsoft offers businesses a paid Extended Security Updates program, usually called ESU, that keeps critical security patches coming to Windows 10 for up to three more years. It’s sold one year at a time, and the price doubles each year by design to push organizations toward upgrading. For businesses, the first year ran about $61 per computer, the second year is about $122, and the third is about $244, and the program is cumulative, so a business that signs up late still has to pay for the years it missed.
The first year of coverage ends October 13, 2026, and the second year runs through October 12, 2027. ESU only delivers security fixes, with no new features or general support, so it’s best thought of as a bridge to buy time for an upgrade. You can find the details on Microsoft’s Windows 10 end of support page.
Paying for Updates Versus Replacing the Computer
Once you add up a couple of years of ESU, the math starts favoring replacement pretty quickly, especially for older machines. Many Windows 10 computers can’t run Windows 11 at all because of its hardware requirements, so paying to keep them patched just delays a purchase you’ll have to make anyway. Spending that money on a replacement that’s supported for years usually makes more sense.
Newer computers that meet the requirements can often be upgraded to Windows 11 for free, which is the easiest path when it’s available. ESU still has its place for a machine running specialized software that isn’t ready for Windows 11 yet, or for spreading replacements out over a few months instead of buying everything at once.
Planning Your Move Past Windows 10 End of Support
The first step is a simple inventory of every computer in your office, what version of Windows it’s running, how old it is, and whether it can handle Windows 11. From there, each machine falls into one of three groups: upgrade it, replace it, or cover it with ESU for a short, defined period while you plan the rest. Doing this on your own timeline is much cheaper and less disruptive than reacting after an incident.
Glitch Technology tracks hardware and operating system lifecycles for every client, so Windows 10 end of support is something we plan for well ahead of time. If you aren’t sure where your computers stand, reach out for a free assessment and we’ll help you put together a plan that fits your budget.
A computer can run perfectly well for years after it stops getting the updates that keep it safe. Glitch Technology provides managed IT services and computer support in Jacksonville, IL. We take full ownership of IT environments for small businesses and municipal organizations through proactive monitoring, preventative maintenance, and strategic planning.