Windows 10: end of support, extended updates and what to do with your PCs

By Ricardo Da Silva, RSCOM · 10 October 2026

Windows 10 has not been supported by Microsoft since 14 October 2025. Computers keep working, but they no longer receive new features or support, and security fixes are only delivered through a special programme: Extended Security Updates (ESU).

Where do things stand in October 2026?

• Consumers: Microsoft quietly extended the consumer ESU programme to 12 October 2027 (instead of October 2026). Devices already enrolled are extended automatically. Enrolment is done in Windows Update, under certain conditions (Windows 10 version 22H2, up to date).
• Businesses: the business ESU programme is paid, per device, for up to three years, with a price that rises every year. It is a stopgap, not a lasting solution.

What are the risks of keeping Windows 10 without ESU?

Every month, security flaws are discovered. Without fixes, a Windows 10 PC becomes an entry point for malware, and therefore for your whole network. Gradually, software (browsers, antivirus, business software) also stops being compatible. For a company, it is also a weak point in an audit or with cyber insurance.

Tutorial: check your computers

1. Which version? Press Windows + R, type winver, then Enter. The window shows Windows 10 or Windows 11.
2. Windows 11 compatible? Open Settings › Update & Security › Windows Update. If the PC is compatible, Windows offers the free upgrade. If not, Microsoft’s “PC Health Check” app shows what is missing (often the processor or the TPM 2.0 chip).
3. Enrolled in ESU? Still in Windows Update, a notice shows whether the device receives Extended Security Updates.

What to do? Three cases

• The PC is Windows 11 compatible: upgrade (free), after a full backup. First check that your business software and printers are compatible.
• The PC is not compatible but recent and powerful: ESU gives time to plan its replacement, without rushing.
• The PC is more than 5 to 6 years old: replacement is often the best choice: faster, safer, under warranty, and the data is transferred. Remember to wipe the old disk securely before recycling it.

For an SME, the most efficient approach is to inventory all computers at once and plan replacements over a few months (audit and life-cycle follow-up, pages in French).

Sources: Microsoft documentation on the Windows 10 ESU programme (updated June 2026) and specialised press.

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• Personal computers and external providers: how to protect company data

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