Microsoft has officially pulled the plug on Windows 10, and if you have an older PC, you have a few options available to you. What are they, and what’s next?
Much like the 3G shutdown back in 2024, the end of Microsoft’s support for Windows 10 had been talked about by readers and listeners for months.
It was easily one of the most called up things on the regular ABC Adelaide segments this journalist spoke on, and Australians with a totally fine but slightly older Windows PC were understandably concerned about what happens when Microsoft kills support for a perfectly fine computer operating system.
Launched a good ten years ago back in 2015, Windows 10 has had a long history, and many of the computers that ran the operating system won’t be able to run its replacement in Windows 11 in 2021. That even includes some of the Surface laptops Microsoft made, including one sitting in this journalist’s old computer cupboard.
Hopefully, that’s not your computer, but regardless, you need to think of your options, especially now that Microsoft has officially pulled the plug on Windows 10 as of October 14, 2025.
We’re publishing this piece the day after (October 15, 2025), and if you’re still running Windows 10 today, these are your options.
You can upgrade to Windows 11
The most obvious thing you can do is upgrade to Windows 11, which is a free process provided your Windows computer supports the upgrade.
That’s clearly a bit of a catch and a caveat, because to get the free Windows 11 upgrade, your computer needs to be somewhat recent, likely made, constructed, released, or upgraded in the past few years.
Some computers will be fine, and can definitely get the Windows 11 upgrade for free. If you’re in this boat, grab some external storage, back up your critical files, and then let Microsoft do its thing and update your computer. Voila, you’ll be on the new operating system with little to worry about.
But if you can’t upgrade your PC to Windows 11, you have a different situation. It could be that your computer is just that little bit more out of date and doesn’t support the hardware and environment needed for Microsoft’s more recent operating system.
Your computer could otherwise be totally fine, and perfectly suitable for your needs. But you still need to think about what’s next, because an operating system that’s no longer supported for updates gets risky quickly, especially when threats and faults occur regularly.
And if you can’t upgrade your PC to Windows 11, you’re probably going to have to pay a little bit of money. It’s more just a question of how much money you end up paying, simply because of the next options.
You can join the ESU
The first option is to pay Microsoft $30 USD for the privilege of joining what it calls the “Extended Security Updates” program, a one year extension of Microsoft updates to Windows 10 until it stops the program in October 2026.
Alternatively, you can choose to sign in with a Microsoft account and sync your settings online to overcome the $30 USD cost, which feels like a way for the company to encourage people to not only join its platform, but eventually pay money for that since Microsoft only provides 5GB of backup for free and charges for more.
We’re not entirely sure we understand why this program costs money at all, and have put the question to Microsoft Australia (no response was had at the time of publication). An extension of updates to an older operating system doesn’t seem like the sort of thing that should incur cost, particularly when it’s just an extra year of support, but that’s the way the ESU has been pitched.
Some parts of the world have reportedly seen the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates program provided for free, specifically in Europe, though Australians can negate the cost with the online back up component. You do need to take your computer out of local mode and make it a Microsoft-connected Windows 10 PC to do this, however, so if you want to keep having a local-only PC, you likely need to pay the $30 USD.
However, regardless of whether you pay up for the ESU or get it free, the point remains: Microsoft’s extra updates are provided for one year, and will end in October 2026.
Microsoft’s extended security updates are basically just a bit of breathing room for a grand total of a year, and you’ll either need to an option to upgrade to Windows 11, or be comfortable sitting it out on an older operating system.
You can buy a new computer
The most obvious option is clearly the one that will cost you the most: buying a new computer.
Every new Windows computer comes with Windows 11, and clearly every new Mac comes with macOS. While both of these are options for new computers, it needs to be noted that they too will eventually come with “end of life” dates for their respective operating systems, and you might find yourself in the same predicament a good 5 to 10 years from now.
That is, unfortunately, just part and parcel with life with any major piece of technology.
But thinking about the “now” stage of the updates, purchasing a new PC with Windows 11 means you have a new computer ready to take over from the old one, and getting security and feature updates until it doesn’t. Which is a better place to be in than a computer that has no chance of getting updates at all.
You can keep your computer and up the digital hygiene ASAP
If you can’t upgrade your PC and you’re okay with an older operating system, what you immediately need is to invest in internet security and a regular backup system. Ideally, you should anyway, but it becomes doubly important when the maker of your operating system suddenly stops making updates for your operating system.
It’s the technical equivalent to saying “you’re on your own”.
In a digital world, having no backup and protection is one of the greatest risks. Imagine coming home to a computer that not only stops working, but all your critical files are locked down and blocked by a form of internet security. You may as well be starting from scratch at that point, and your day will not be a fun one.
Moving forward in a world where you’re fully aware there’s no support coming (because the operating system has reached end of life), a current internet security subscription at least provides some protection from the nasties lurking on the internet, while a regular backup process to either external or cloud storage (or both) offers peace of mind in case the worst happens.
Do both, and life gets a little easier, though you should definitely consider upgrading to a new machine when you can later on down the track.
