Microsoft has announced that support for Windows 10 will officially end on 14th October 2025. This means that Microsoft will no longer provide updates, security patches, or technical support for the operating system. While your computer will still function after this date, using an unsupported operating system comes with increased risks and potential compatibility issues.
For businesses and individuals relying on Windows 10, it’s important to understand how this change will impact your system and what steps you can take to remain secure and up to date. Below, we explain what happens when support ends, the risks involved, and what your options are moving forward.
What Does “End of Support” Mean?
When an operating system reaches the end of its support lifecycle, Microsoft stops releasing updates for it. While Windows 10 will still run on your computer, the lack of ongoing support presents several issues that could impact security, performance, and usability.
How will no More Security Updates Effect my PC?
The most significant consequence of Windows 10 reaching end-of-life is the absence of security updates. Cyber threats evolve constantly, and Microsoft regularly patches vulnerabilities to keep users protected. Without security updates, any newly discovered weaknesses in Windows 10 will remain unpatched, making your system more susceptible to viruses, ransomware, and other cyber threats. Hackers often target outdated operating systems because they know they contain vulnerabilities that will never be fixed.
For businesses handling sensitive data, this is especially concerning. Without security updates, compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR could be at risk, and the chances of a data breach increase significantly.
What About New Features and Performance Updates?
In addition to security updates, Windows 10 will stop receiving any new features, performance improvements, or bug fixes. This means that any issues that arise after October 2025 will not be addressed, leading to potential software bugs, system slowdowns, and overall reduced efficiency.
Over time, as new technologies emerge, Windows 10 users will miss out on improvements designed to enhance speed, stability, and usability. This could make your computer feel sluggish or outdated compared to systems running newer operating systems like Windows 11.
Compatibility with Other Software and Hardware
Another major issue is that third-party software developers and hardware manufacturers will gradually phase out support for Windows 10. This means that newer applications may not run properly, and updates for existing software might stop being released.
Similarly, hardware manufacturers will focus on developing drivers for newer operating systems, meaning that if you buy a new printer, graphics card, or other peripherals, they may not work with Windows 10. Over time, this could make it difficult to expand or upgrade your system without moving to a supported OS.