Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Larger updates will be deleted immediately.

The current version, Windows 10 22H2, is the last new version that Microsoft will release. From now on, users shouldn’t expect any feature updates and the software giant will only focus on security updates. These will run until October 14, 2025, after which the official support for Windows 10 will end. It is currently unclear whether companies can purchase additional years of security updates, as with Windows 7. Those details are expected to become clear closer to the deadline.

It goes without saying that with this announcement, Microsoft is urging everyone to upgrade to Windows 11 for free to continue working safely after this deadline. Windows 11 has now been available for a year and a half and almost all bugs in the introductory period have been fixed.

Windows 10 licenses have not been available to purchase since January 31st. This announcement was a clear sign that Microsoft would be pushing the operating system to phase out.

Important nuance: you need to update to the latest version of Windows 10 to enjoy support until October 14, 2025. Anyone still using Windows 10 21H2 is at risk today as that version is no longer supported.

Anyone who uses Windows 10 within the organization with an LTSC license (Long-Term Servicing Channel) can expect security updates beyond the announced date.

What is an LTSC license?

An LTSC license is intended for devices that do not benefit from new functions and require the same specific tasks over a long period of time. Think, for example, of medical devices (MRI or CAT scans), industrial systems or air navigation. Each LTSC version receives 10 years of support.

Throughout the lifetime of Windows 10, Microsoft has released four different LTSC versions:

Depending on which version your organization is using, you may need to add 10 years to the start date. Until then, you can rest assured that devices with such a license will continue to receive security updates.

The only exception is Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021. This version only enjoys five years of support, as Microsoft now wants each new LTSC version to coincide with an Office LTSC version that is supported during the same period.

Each LTSC version of Windows 11 is also now only supported for five years. With this change, Microsoft hopes to push customers who “abuse” LTSC licenses on non-mission-critical PCs to classic Windows 11 licenses.

In the same announcement that Windows 10 will be supported until October 14, 2025, Microsoft says that the second LTSC version of Windows 11 will be released in the second half of 2024.

Update to Windows 11

What might keep many users from upgrading to Windows 11 are the strict system requirements. Mainly the requirement of a TPM 2.0 compatible PC and a slightly newer AMD or Intel CPU prevents upgrading Windows 10 machines that are 4 to 8 years old.

Late last year, a survey of 30 million Windows devices found that 42 percent of professional PCs are not compatible with Windows 11. An unsupported CPU was the cause for 57.26 percent of the computers.

Windows 10 was launched on July 29, 2015 to quickly end the confusing Windows 8 years. Everyone could count on a free upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10. Later, the same rule was extended to a free upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Since February this year, Windows 10 users have received an unsubtle message that they can upgrade for free. The notification will only appear on compatible devices.