When support for Windows 10 ends in October of next year, this is what will happen.
The development of Windows 10 is nearing its conclusion as Microsoft's deadline of October 14, 2025, draws near. Existing users are becoming more and more perplexed about what will happen to their devices when support expires and how to prevent or lessen these consequences. Microsoft is making every effort to compel users to discontinue using Windows 10, as we previously disclosed in an article. Although the company has previously discontinued support for Windows versions 8, 7, Vista, and XP, this is the first time it has done so with Windows 10. Let's take a proactive look at what might occur next if you're looking ahead to the operating system's future.
The Windows 10
Windows 10 is regarded as one of Microsoft's most successful Windows releases to date, having been formally released in July 2015. However, when the company released Windows 11 on October 5, 2021, a few years ago, it encouraged its customers to stop using older versions of the operating system and provided them with a free upgrade to the new version of Windows via its official website on computers that were compatible with the Windows 11 operating system.
However, many current users of older versions of Windows, including Windows 10, are still unable to upgrade because of Microsoft's stringent compatibility requirements for devices supporting Windows 11. When the system shuts down on October 14, 2025, this will put them in a challenging position. If you're wondering what Windows 10 end of life means, here's what will happen to Windows 10 computers starting on that date, along with the most significant fixes that have been suggested to deal with the issue.
Security updates for Windows 10
When an outdated version of Windows reaches the end of its support, some people may assume that computers running that version will stop functioning right away and cannot be started until a supported version of Windows is installed. Although some devices may eventually suffer this fate if they continue to use an unsupported version of Windows, this isn't exactly what happens.
But first, let's make it clear why Microsoft stops supporting some older versions of Windows after a certain amount of time, before we find out what happens to our devices after support ends.
Microsoft pledges to support every new version of Windows it releases for a full decade. This implies that, like a computer's hardware parts, every version of Windows has a lifespan. When a corporation such as Microsoft releases a new version of Windows, hackers immediately search for security flaws that they can use to gain access to users' devices and data.
In order to identify security flaws and address software bugs as soon as they are found, before they endanger millions of users, Microsoft must thus continue to work hard to develop and update its system for many years. Device manufacturers, meanwhile, create hardware components, necessitating the creation of new operating systems that satisfy the devices' operational requirements and are compatible with their updated capabilities.
Devices built on older versions eventually become very antiquated and have very limited functionality. Developing and updating versions that are compatible with devices that have better specifications and more capabilities becomes a waste of the company's resources as well as the time and energy of the researchers and developers who are working on them. Consequently, it would be more advantageous for the business to discontinue support for them and concentrate on creating and maintaining updated versions.
If Windows 10 users do not update to Windows 11 before support expires on October 14, 2025, their computers will still function normally and won't stop working, but they will experience the following problems:
Updates for security
Microsoft offers a way for Windows versions that are supported to apply security updates as soon as vulnerabilities in system files are found. Computers will no longer be able to receive these crucial updates if Microsoft discontinues support for a version, like Windows 10, making them susceptible to security risks like ransomware and data breaches.
Computers are still more susceptible to security risks than others, even when antivirus software is installed. These risks have the potential to harm the computer in different ways, from decreased speed to data loss or leakage, including private and sensitive information like bank account and credit card numbers. As with ransomware attacks, they may even result in the encryption or corruption of system files. After support has ended, Windows 10 users can opt out of free security updates and receive paid security updates by paying a monthly subscription fee to Microsoft's Extended Security Updates (ESUs).
Security updates for Windows 10
In addition, Windows updates seek to fix bugs and technical problems found in system files. Your computer is more prone to crashes, error messages, and gradual performance degradation if you use unsupported operating systems. You won't be able to get help or technical support from Microsoft if you run into any technical problems with your system; instead, you'll need to figure out the right technical solutions on your own or with the help of third-party, paid troubleshooting tools.
Updates to Features
Users of Windows 10 will no longer be able to install any newly released features or enhancements from Microsoft as of October 14, 2025. As a result, system performance will not change, but users will not be able to access any future features or improved functionality that the company develops.
Update for Google Chrome
Additionally, it is anticipated that developers of software and applications will cease releasing updates for their programs to make them compatible with Windows 10 and will no longer release any future versions of programs or applications that support Windows 10. They will concentrate on creating applications and programs that satisfy the compatibility standards of updated versions. As a result, incompatibility problems may cause program failure when you try to update or install any program or application on your device. Additionally, some contemporary gadgets and accessories might stop working with a Windows 10 computer.
Before older versions of Windows expire, Microsoft constantly tries to persuade its users and customers to upgrade to the latest versions. Microsoft has been offering Windows 10 users a free upgrade to Windows 11 if their computer meets the requirements to run Windows 11 since the beginning, which is the best way to prevent issues brought on by the end of support. We covered a number of options in our article "4 Solutions for Using Your Computer After Windows 10 Support Ends!" for users of computers that don't pass Windows 11 compatibility tests or who just don't want to upgrade to Windows 11.