06/03/2025
From 14 October 2025, Microsoft will stop providing free security updates for Windows 10. Windows 10 will still work beyond October, however security updates and fixes will no longer be provided, so it will become less safe to use them. Options for computers running on Windows 10 beyond October 2025 include:-
(1) Check to see if Microsoft will allow your computer to update to Windows 11, starting with the PC Health Check - https://aka.ms/GetPCHealthCheckApp If allowed, consider upgrading to Windows 11. It is estimated that 240 million computers will go to landfill because Microsoft is very prescriptive about which computers are eligible to update.
(2) Pay Microsoft US$61 for a year of security updates to Windows 10 from October - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/extended-security-updates
(3) Buy a new computer loaded with Windows 11, move all of your software and information (photos, documents, email etc) from the old computer to the new computer. Caution - some printers which work with Windows 10 will not work with Windows 11. You may need to subscribe to or purchase Microsoft Office also. As October approaches, the demand for new computers is likely to rise, possibly resulting in higher computer prices.
(4) Install Google’s no-cost chromeOS Flex operating system on your current Windows 10 computer. If you use Google’s no-cost equivalent applications instead of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) you can bid Microsoft farewell.
(5) If you only use your Windows 10 computer for email and no internet banking, share trading, or use of credit cards, Paypal etc you could continue to use Windows 10 and take the risk that comes with using an unsupported operating system. After some time, some websites, particularly banking and websites offering internet purchases e.g. eBay, Amazon etc will no longer allow access to Windows 10 computers for security reasons.
If you would like further information or help dealing with Windows 10 being unsupported, please phone 0414 482 542 or email cam@technologyconnections.com.au
