The End of an Era

Windows 10 will be killed off this year and you now have three tough choices to make.

2025 is finally the year when Windows 10 will be sent to the history books.

If you still have a love affair with Windows 10 there's bad news on the horizon. Despite its popularity and still leading the charts as the most-installed operating system on the planet, Microsoft remains fully committed to killing Windows 10 later this year. October 14 2025, is the date that's been assigned for the end of its life, and it's definitely not something you want to ignore if your PC is still running this ageing software.

Once the deadline hits, devices will no longer get free updates or security patches and that could leave them open to attack from cyber crooks and PC-breaking bugs.

As Microsoft explains, "Once a Microsoft operating system (OS) reaches the end of support, customers will no longer receive technical assistance, software updates, or security fixes. We recommend upgrading to a version of Windows that is still supported,"

So, how do you avoid this impending nightmare? There are three options.

One option is that if your PC doesn't support Windows 10, you can take the suggestion of purchasing a desktop with Windows 11 installed. This will guarantee that all upcoming games or software will operate fully without the security vulnerabilities that Windows 10 might permit.

Another option is if you bought your Windows 10 desktop within the last three years or so, you might be able to upgrade your system components. Depending on your needs, this option could be a more cost-effective route.

If those options are unavailable, Microsoft has announced that consumers will have the opportunity to enroll in Extended Security Updates (ESUs) later this year.

Microsoft says it will charge $30 USD per year with enrolled PCs then enable then to receive "Critical and Important security updates" for Windows 10. These releases, which will last for three years, will mean PCs stay protected against cyber attacks and worrying bugs, but they won't offer any new features.