Windows 10 support has ended: what now?

Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 10 on 14 October 2025. No new security patches, no bug fixes and no official assistance. If you have a Windows 10 computer, it is not the end of the world—but it is time to decide what to do next.

This page will help you make that decision calmly and according to your circumstances. No panic (“you must buy a new PC immediately!”) and no complacency (“but it still works”).

What actually stopped working on 14 October 2025

Windows 10 still starts and runs just as it did before. However, Microsoft no longer:

• Releases security patches for newly discovered vulnerabilities
• Adds new features
• Provides technical support through Microsoft Support
• Improves compatibility with new hardware or software

The effects will become apparent gradually. Antivirus companies will continue supporting Windows 10 for some time, but Microsoft Defender will no longer receive new malware definitions—only the existing ones. Banks and software providers will start pushing users towards a newer system. Most importantly, any new vulnerability discovered in Windows 10 will remain unpatched forever.

Microsoft confirmed the end of support on 14 October 2025 on the official Windows 10 lifecycle page. As a temporary measure, it offers the Extended Security Updates programme—free of charge for households in the EEA using a Microsoft account until 12 October 2027, and as a paid licence for businesses (see below).

Three realistic options in Brno

The right choice depends entirely on your computer and budget. Here are three sensible options.

1. Upgrade to Windows 11 if the hardware is compatible

Who it is for: PCs and laptops less than about five years old (roughly from 2018–2019 onwards).

Windows 11 requires:

• A CPU on Microsoft’s approved list—typically an 8th-generation Intel or newer, or an AMD Ryzen 2000 series or newer
• TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module)—a security chip or firmware
• Secure Boot enabled in the BIOS
• At least 4 GB of RAM (in practice, we recommend 8–16 GB)
• At least 64 GB of storage
• A DirectX 12-compatible graphics card

You can check compatibility using Microsoft’s PC Health Check app. If your computer passes, the upgrade is free.

Be careful: Microsoft did not include some older processors, such as 7th-generation Intel chips and Ryzen 1000 series processors, on its official compatibility list even though they are powerful enough. There are ways to install Windows 11 on them, but unsupported installations may not receive updates—which merely moves the Windows 10 problem to Windows 11.

→ Service details: Windows reinstallation in Brno

2. ESU—Extended Security Updates

Who it is for: computers that cannot realistically run Windows 11, whose owners are not yet ready to buy a replacement.

Microsoft offers the Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme, which provides security patches for Windows 10 after the end of support. The terms differ for households and businesses.

Households (consumer ESU):

• The programme runs until 12 October 2027. Microsoft extended it by one year on 25 June 2026; it was originally due to end on 13 October 2026.
• In the EEA, including Czechia, you enrol using a Microsoft account. It is free of charge as long as you continue signing in to Windows with that account. If you stop doing so, updates will be disabled within 60 days and you will need to enrol again.
• The second option is a one-off payment of USD 30, which allows you to continue using a local account.
• Requirements: Windows 10 version 22H2, sign-in with an administrator account rather than a child account, one licence for up to 10 devices, and personal devices only.

Businesses: a paid licence is required for each device through volume licensing. The first year costs USD 61, with the price doubling each year for a maximum of three years. Licences are cumulative, so businesses joining later must also pay for the preceding years.

ESU buys time; it is not a permanent solution. For households it ends on 12 October 2027, while business coverage ends after no more than three years. After that, support is definitively over.

Current ESU terms and enrolment details are available on Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates page (verified on 2 October 2026). The rules have already changed once, so we recommend checking them directly with Microsoft before enrolling—or calling us.

3. Buy a new or refurbished computer

Who it is for: PCs more than seven or eight years old, slow laptops with an HDD instead of an SSD, and computers that can no longer handle today’s workloads.

In 2025–2026, refurbished ThinkPads, Latitudes and EliteBooks are readily available in Brno and often offer better value than a new consumer-grade model with a plastic chassis and 8 GB of soldered RAM.

What to do now:

1. Assess the current condition—what can the computer no longer handle?
2. Calculate the cost of an upgrade, including an SSD, RAM, a Windows licence and a technician’s time.
3. Compare it with the price of a used ThinkPad or a new entry-level computer.

At our service centre, we generally recommend an upgrade only when the computer has a solid foundation—a reasonable processor, enough RAM and merely an outdated drive. If it has a motherboard from 2014, an upgrade will only prolong the agony.

→ Service details: Buying a PC or laptop in Brno

SSD prices in 2025–2026—what has changed

The standard advice that “an SSD upgrade will fix an old PC” still holds, but SSD prices rose significantly in 2025–2026 because of a global shortage of NAND flash memory. Sources including Tom’s Hardware and AnandTech reported several-fold increases in wholesale prices over the course of the year, driven by long-term contracts from data centres building AI infrastructure.

In practice, this means the following in Brno:

• A 1 TB NVMe SSD costs significantly more in 2026 than it did in 2024 (check current prices with your retailer)
• SATA SSDs for older laptops have risen in price as well
• Drives with capacities of 2 TB or more have been affected most severely

The takeaway: an SSD upgrade can still make sense, but the prices you remember from 2023 are no longer a reliable guide. Contact us and we will give you a current price—and tell you whether the upgrade makes financial sense compared with a refurbished computer that already has an SSD.

→ Service details: SSD replacement in Brno

How to decide—a short checklist

Before calling us, consider the following:

1. When was the PC or laptop manufactured? If it is from 2018–2019 or later, it will usually support Windows 11. If it is from 2014 or earlier, it is generally better to plan for a replacement.
2. Does it have an SSD or HDD? An HDD is a major bottleneck regardless of the computer’s age. It should be the first component to replace.
3. How much RAM does it have? In 2026, 4 GB is no longer enough, 8 GB is the minimum and 16 GB is comfortable.
4. What do you actually use the computer for? An older machine can still handle Office and web browsing. Photo or video editing, CAD and games require newer hardware.
5. Do you work with sensitive data? If so, security—and therefore an up-to-date operating system—must take priority over “but it still runs”.

What to do if upgrading to Windows 11 is not an option

We have encountered this many times at our service centre. The laptop is fast, everything works, but Microsoft says, “This CPU is not supported.” There are three sensible options:

• Enrol in ESU—free of charge for an EEA household using a Microsoft account, or as a paid service for a business—to buy time while planning a replacement
• Switch to Linux (Linux Mint or Ubuntu)—it works well for everyday office tasks and web browsing, but some Windows-only applications, including Czech accounting software and specialised CAD tools, will not run on it
• Buy a refurbished Windows 11 computer—this is often cheaper than upgrading an old system

At our service centre in Brno-Židenice, we can provide a pre-arranged diagnostic assessment of a specific laptop or PC and tell you plainly whether it is worth repairing, upgrading or replacing. There is no pressure to buy anything.

What not to do

• Do not ignore the issue—the risk of ransomware attacks against unpatched Windows systems is rising sharply in 2026, while banks and antivirus vendors will gradually stop fully supporting Windows 10.
• Do not use an “unofficial” Windows 11 installation on old hardware without a plan. Without updates, you may end up in a worse position than with Windows 10 covered by ESU.
• Do not buy a new high-end PC if you only use Office and a web browser. A refurbished ThinkPad will do the job at a fraction of the price.
• Do not panic about 14 October 2025—your PC did not stop working on that date. You have time to make a considered decision.

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep using Windows 10 and ignore the issue? You can, but you do so at your own risk. Without updates, every new Windows 10 vulnerability remains open forever. That is not sensible for a computer used for accounting, online banking or sensitive documents. It may be acceptable for a backup machine used only for offline gaming.

Is ESU worth it for me? It depends on whether you are a household or a business. Households in the EEA, including Czechia, can receive ESU free of charge with a Microsoft account, or make a one-off payment of USD 30 to keep using a local account. If your PC cannot run Windows 11, this is a sensible way to receive patches until 12 October 2027 and plan a replacement without rushing. Businesses pay for each device, with the price doubling every year. This only makes sense as a one- or two-year bridge while replacing the computers. If the machine is old and due for replacement anyway, it is better to put the money directly towards a new one.

My laptop cannot run Windows 11—what should I do with it? First, check whether it really is incompatible. PC Health Check will test the TPM, Secure Boot and CPU. If it genuinely cannot run Windows 11, the options are ESU, Linux or replacement. Contact us and we will assess your specific situation.

Will I lose my data if you replace Windows? No, provided we know about it in advance. Before reinstalling Windows, we normally agree on a data backup covering documents, photos, email, browser bookmarks and passwords. We then install a clean copy of Windows 11 and restore the data.

Before you call—what to find out

1. The year of manufacture of the PC or laptop
2. The processor model (Win-R → dxdiag → System tab → Processor)
3. The amount of RAM and type of drive (HDD or SSD)
4. What you use it for (Office, gaming, photos, accounting, etc.)
5. Your budget—would you prefer an upgrade costing a few thousand Czech crowns, or would buying a new computer make more sense?

We can often estimate the best option within ten minutes over the phone, saving you an unnecessary service visit.

Call: +420 774 777 774 (Mon–Fri, 10:00–16:00)—we will tell you what to do with your PC now that Windows 10 support has ended. We always agree on the price in advance, with no surprises.

For an urgent security issue such as ransomware, a compromised email account or encrypted data, call our 24/7 emergency line on 775 556 063.