If you’re still running Windows 10, you’ve probably had a nudge from Microsoft about upgrading, or heard someone mention that “support is ending.” It’s a fair thing to be confused about, since the messaging has changed more than once, and some of what did the rounds a few months back is already out of date. Here’s where things actually stand.
What already happened
Windows 10 reached the end of mainstream support in October 2025. In practice, that means no new features are being added, and for most people, routine security patches stopped arriving through the normal Windows Update channel. Nothing broke overnight, your computer keeps working exactly as it did the day before, it just stopped getting the quiet background fixes that patch up the holes hackers go looking for.
Why that matters, eventually
An unpatched computer keeps doing everything it did yesterday, right up until it doesn’t. As new vulnerabilities are found and never get fixed, an unsupported PC becomes a progressively easier target, particularly for the malware and scams that specifically hunt for known, unpatched weaknesses. It’s less “the sky is falling” and more a safety net being slowly removed.
The good news: free updates now run to October 2027
Microsoft has quietly extended the free consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program by a full year. It was due to close in October 2026, it now runs through 12 October 2027. If you already enrolled at some point, often via a pop-up prompt through 2025 and 2026, you don’t need to do anything, you’re automatically covered for the extra year.
If you haven’t enrolled yet
Enrolment is still open, and it’s genuinely easy to do: back up your Windows settings to a Microsoft account, redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or pay a one-off USD $30 that covers up to 10 devices linked to the same account. It’s worth being clear about what ESU is and isn’t, though, since it only keeps security patches flowing. It doesn’t add features, speed up an ageing PC, or fix hardware problems.
So what should you actually do?
Use the extra time well rather than letting it quietly run out again in 2027. Some PCs can upgrade to Windows 11 for free right now, we’ve covered exactly how to check that in a separate post. Others can’t, usually down to hardware requirements, and are better off with a new or custom-built machine when the time comes. Either way, it’s worth having an actual plan rather than waiting to see what happens.
Not sure whether you’re enrolled, whether your PC can upgrade, or just want a straight answer without any pressure? Give us a call on (07) 5227 8266 or get in touch through the contact page, at our standard flat rate of $150/hour with no surprise fees.