Windows 10 Exits Support Tuesday
I’ve had a lot of questions lately on Windows 10 support ending this coming week. Many of us are still updating those last few machines from Windows 10 to Windows 11 before the deadline for the end of mainstream support. Here’s a quick look at what happens Tuesday:
Will my Windows 10 PC fail to boot on Tuesday?
No. Your Windows 10 PC does not have some time bomb in it to prevent it from booting. It will act as though Tuesday is just another day. This is also not a Y2K situation, it simply means Microsoft has moved on from Windows 10 much like previous versions of Windows in the past.
Why Tuesday?
Windows 10 is getting one last patch before it exits “Mainstream Support”. Patch Tuesday is always the second Tuesday of the month.
What if I like my Windows 10 , can I keep it?
Yes you actually can but for business users this will begin to incur an annual cost that ramps up with each year for the next 3 years. For home users you may use Windows Backup to backup your files to OneDrive or use Microsoft Rewards to extend support for up to a year.
Do I need a new PC?
Maybe. Your PC will need to meet the Windows 11 hardware requirements in order to upgrade to Windows 11. Most PCs in the last few years are eligible, and the upgrade is free. For older PCs you will need to upgrade to new hardware.
I’ve been living under a rock, is Windows 11 that much different?
Windows 11 is a very similar OS to Windows 10. The biggest changes are visual, and for the most part what gets people right away is the “Centered” Start button. We’ve had several users request the original look- which is available via Taskbar settings.
What happens if I do absolutely nothing?
If you choose to do nothing you run the risk of running software with no security patches. In the short term it won’t necessarily mean much but in the long term you run the risk of having your PC compromised. As time passes vendors will stop supporting Windows 10 completely, from browser makers to application vendors.
Why are they doing this?
It’s simply a retirement of software. Microsoft offers 10 years of mainstream support which is more than Apple or Google does with their OSes. With the modern requirements for Windows 11 we are seeing more features and a more secure OS. Windows 10 was the bridge that helped get us there.
Where can I go for more information?
Microsoft has an FAQ here and links to more resources- Windows 10 support ends on October 14, 2025 – Microsoft Support
