Microsoft recently announced that free updates for Windows 10 will end in October 2025. After that, users will have to either stick with the last supported version or upgrade to a newer release. This isn’t surprising—older operating systems are phased out eventually—but it does force us to make a decision. Security patches will still be available for those who choose extended support, though it will come at a cost. For users with older hardware, the upgrade path might not be straightforward. What’s your plan when the clock runs out? Stick with what you have, look for a budget-friendly alternative, or bite the bullet and upgrade?
Microsoft has ended updates for Windows 10—so what's next?
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Well, yes, I read that last week and it reminded me of a problem I had last year with a stubborn client who insisted on keeping Windows 7 on a production machine. We convinced them to migrate to Windows 10 just before EOL, but now with Microsoft's latest announcement, it looks like the party will be over in October 2025. I think ending support is fine in the end—you have to move with the times—but I know there will be users stuck in the past due to comfort or budget.
In my case, I've been pushing the teams I work with to transition to Windows 11 in controlled environments for a few months now. The truth is, the transition has been smoother than expected, especially when we set up group policies to enforce automatic updates. That said, the issue of extended support costs gives me a bad feeling, especially for SMEs. Hasn’t someone signed one of those deals and then gotten a nasty surprise with the bill?