This article is for small business owners and office managers who still have one or more PCs running Windows 10. It explains what changed when support ended, what the real risks are, and the three sensible ways forward.
What actually happened
Microsoft stopped routine support for Windows 10 on 14 October 2025. Since then, a Windows 10 PC no longer receives free security updates, feature updates or technical help from Microsoft.
The PC does not stop working. It still starts up, runs your software and opens your files. That is exactly why so many are still in use. The problem is invisible: every month, new security weaknesses are found in Windows, and PCs on Windows 10 no longer get the fixes unless the business pays for them.
Why this matters for a small office
Most attacks on small businesses are not clever. They rely on known weaknesses that have already been fixed on up-to-date systems. An unsupported PC is the easiest way in, and once one machine is compromised, the shared files, email and saved passwords on it are exposed too.
There are practical problems as well. Newer versions of software, printers and banking tools gradually stop supporting Windows 10. Insurers and customers increasingly ask whether your systems are supported. Schemes such as Cyber Essentials expect the software you use to still receive security updates.
Option one: upgrade to Windows 11
If a PC meets the requirements, the upgrade to Windows 11 is usually free and keeps your files and most settings. The main requirements are a reasonably recent processor, a security chip called TPM 2.0 and a feature called secure boot.
Many PCs bought in the last few years qualify. Some older ones have the chip but it is switched off, which is a quick fix. Before upgrading, we always check that the business software you rely on works on Windows 11, and that there is a backup in case anything goes wrong.
Option two: pay for Extended Security Updates
Microsoft sells Extended Security Updates for businesses that need more time. They cover security fixes only, for up to three years, and the price rises each year. There is no new functionality and no general help from Microsoft.
This can make sense for a machine that runs specialist software which cannot move yet, or for a PC that will be replaced within a year anyway. It rarely makes sense across a whole office, because the money is usually better spent on new equipment.
Option three: replace the PC
If a PC is several years old and cannot run Windows 11, replacing it is usually the better choice. A new machine will be faster, more reliable and supported for years.
Replacing a PC is also a good moment to tidy up. Files that live only on the desktop can move to shared storage or OneDrive, old software can be removed, and the new machine can be set up properly from the start.
How to decide, machine by machine
- List every PC, including the one in the back office that nobody thinks about.
- Note which version of Windows each one runs.
- Check which can run Windows 11 as they are.
- Mark the ones that run software you cannot do without.
- Decide for each: upgrade, pay for more time, or replace.
Doing this as a short project, rather than one PC at a time when something breaks, avoids surprises and lets you spread the cost.
What not to do
Do not simply leave Windows 10 PCs in use and hope for the best. Do not download unofficial tools that promise to force Windows 11 onto unsupported hardware on business machines. And do not upgrade a PC without a backup: an upgrade usually goes smoothly, but not always.
The short version
If you still have Windows 10 in the office, you have three choices: upgrade the PCs that can, buy time for the few that must wait, and replace the rest. The worst choice is to do nothing.
A note on older servers
The same applies to servers. If your office still has a server running Windows Server 2016, Microsoft support for it ends on 12 January 2027. If your email runs on an Exchange 2016 or 2019 server, support ended alongside Windows 10 in October 2025. It is worth checking both while you are planning the PCs.
Not sure which of your PCs can move to Windows 11? See our Windows support or call us on 01252 686 513.
