Windows 10 End of Support: What to Do Now (2026)

Still on Windows 10? So are a lot of computers here in Saskatoon. It's been a year since Windows 10 end of support, and the PC on your desk still turns on and still opens your email. So it's fair to ask whether any of this actually matters.

It does, but you have more time and more choices than the warnings suggest. This guide covers where things stand today, the five things you can do about it, and what each one costs. If you'd rather hand it off, our Windows installation and upgrade service is a flat $49.

Short version: Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Home PCs enrolled in Microsoft's Extended Security Updates program keep getting security fixes until October 12, 2027. If your PC isn't enrolled, it has been unpatched for a year and that's the first thing to fix.

Where Windows 10 Stands Right Now

"End of support" doesn't mean Windows 10 stopped working. It means Microsoft stopped sending it free fixes. No more security patches, no bug fixes, and no technical support.

That matters because new security holes are found in Windows every month. On a supported system they get patched. On an unsupported one they stay open, and the list gets longer every month you stay.

Microsoft left one door open: Extended Security Updates (ESU). It's a program that keeps security patches coming to Windows 10 after the cutoff. You get security fixes only, with no new features and no support line.

Here are the dates worth knowing:

• October 14, 2025: Windows 10 support ended.
• October 12, 2027: the ESU program for home users ends.
• October 10, 2028: Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, Outlook) stop getting security updates on Windows 10.

First, Check Two Things on Your PC

Before you pick an option, spend five minutes finding out what you're working with.

1. Are you enrolled in ESU?

Open Settings, then Update & Security, then Windows Update. If your PC is eligible and not yet enrolled, you'll see an enrollment link there. Home users have three ways to enroll:

• Free: sync your PC settings with a Microsoft account
• Rewards: redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points
• Paid: a one-time $30 USD, or the local equivalent plus tax

Your PC needs to be on Windows 10 version 22H2 with the latest updates installed, and you need to sign in with a Microsoft account that's an administrator on the computer.

2. Can your PC run Windows 11?

Download Microsoft's free PC Health Check app and run it. It tells you yes or no, and if it's no, it tells you why. Windows 11 needs:

• A supported processor, roughly Intel 8th generation or AMD Ryzen 2000 series and newer
• TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot
• 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage

A "no" isn't always final. On plenty of PCs from 2018 onward, TPM and Secure Boot are present but switched off in the firmware settings. Turning them on takes a few minutes. A processor that's too old is a different story, and no setting fixes that.

Your 5 Options, Compared

Every Windows 10 PC ends up on one of these five paths.

Upgrade to Windows 11

If PC Health Check says yes, this is the answer. The upgrade is free, your files and programs stay where they are, and you're back on a supported system. Not sure you'll like it? Our Windows 11 vs Windows 10 comparison covers what actually changes day to day.

Enroll in ESU and buy time

ESU is a bridge, not a destination. It keeps an older PC patched until October 12, 2027, which is a reasonable runway to save for a replacement. Just don't treat it as the plan itself, because the same decision will be waiting for you next fall.

Upgrade the hardware

This only helps when the thing blocking Windows 11 is fixable: too little RAM, a full or failing drive, or TPM turned off. If the processor isn't on Microsoft's list, an upgrade won't get you there, especially on a laptop.

You'll find guides online for forcing Windows 11 onto hardware that doesn't qualify. We don't do that. Microsoft doesn't promise updates for those PCs, so you can end up right back where you started.

Switch to Linux

If the computer is mostly a web browser with a keyboard, Linux is a real option. It's free, it runs well on older hardware, and it gets security updates for years. Our Linux Mint guide shows what it looks like. It's a poor fit if you depend on Windows-only software.

Replace the PC

If the computer was already slow, runs hot, or has a battery that lasts 40 minutes, putting money into it rarely makes sense. Replace it, move your files over, and deal with the old one properly. We have a guide on what to do with your old computer, including how to wipe it first.

Which Option Fits Your Situation

• PC passes the Windows 11 check: upgrade now. There's no reason to wait.
• PC fails, but works fine otherwise: enroll in ESU today, and plan to replace it or move to Linux before October 2027.
• PC fails and is already slow: replace it. ESU only delays the same purchase.
• PC fails and you only browse and email: try Linux before you spend money on a new computer.
• Not sure why it fails: bring it in. A free diagnosis at our Stonebridge shop will tell you whether it's a setting, a part, or the processor.

Windows 10 in a Small Office

Office computers follow different rules, and this catches a lot of small businesses out.

The free home ESU option isn't available on PCs that are joined to a company domain or managed through Microsoft Entra or a device management tool. Those PCs need the business version of ESU. It starts at $61 USD per device for the first year and the price doubles every year, for up to three years. It's also cumulative, so starting in year two means paying for year one as well.

Do the math on five computers and replacing them starts to look cheap. There's a second cost too: cyber insurance applications and client security questionnaires usually ask whether you run supported software, and an unpatched Windows 10 PC makes that an awkward question.

For a Saskatoon office with a handful of computers, the practical plan looks like this:

1. List every PC and run PC Health Check on each one.
2. Upgrade the ones that pass. It's free and takes about an hour per machine.
3. Put the rest on ESU so nothing sits unpatched.
4. Replace those PCs one or two at a time instead of all at once.

This kind of inventory and update work is part of our small business IT support plan. TechYXE Business Care is $199 per month for up to 5 users or computers, and it includes Windows update management and a monthly health check. Hardware and bigger projects are quoted and approved first. For a wider look at pricing, see what IT support costs a Saskatoon small business.

Before You Change Anything, Back Up

Upgrades usually go smoothly. "Usually" is the word to pay attention to. A power flicker or a failing drive in the middle of an upgrade can leave you with a computer that won't start.

Copy your documents, photos, and browser bookmarks to an external drive or cloud storage before you start. Our backup guide walks through it step by step.

If the PC has felt sluggish for a while, this is also a good moment to start clean instead of carrying years of clutter into Windows 11. We explain the trade-offs in is a clean Windows installation worth it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Windows 10 still safe to use in 2026?

Only if the PC is enrolled in Extended Security Updates (ESU). Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, and a PC that is not enrolled has had no security fixes since. Enrolled home PCs keep getting security updates until October 12, 2027.

How long can I keep getting Windows 10 security updates?

Home users enrolled in the consumer ESU program are covered until October 12, 2027. Businesses can buy ESU for up to three years after end of support, which takes them to October 2028.

How much do Windows 10 Extended Security Updates cost?

For home users it is free if you sync your PC settings with a Microsoft account, or you can redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points or pay a one-time $30 USD. For businesses it starts at $61 USD per device for the first year and the price doubles each year after.

Can my old computer run Windows 11?

It needs a supported processor (roughly Intel 8th generation or AMD Ryzen 2000 series and newer), TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of storage. Microsoft's free PC Health Check app gives you a yes or no in about a minute.

How much does a Windows 11 upgrade cost in Saskatoon?

The Windows 11 upgrade itself is free from Microsoft on a compatible PC. If you would rather have it done for you, TechYXE charges a flat $49 for a Windows installation or upgrade, with your files backed up first and restored after.

Windows 10 Upgrade Help in Saskatoon

Don't want to spend a Saturday on this? TechYXE is a small computer shop in Stonebridge, and Windows upgrades are everyday work here. Drop the PC off and we'll tell you which of the five options makes sense before you spend anything.

• Flat $49 for a Windows 11 upgrade or a clean install, drivers and updates included
• Files backed up first and put back after
• Free diagnosis if your PC fails the Windows 11 check and you want to know why
• Linux installs for the same $49 if Windows 11 isn't an option
• New PC setup for $49, with data transfer from the old one for $39
• Pickup and delivery anywhere in Saskatoon for $20

Contact us or call (639) 525-6426 and tell us what you have. We'll give you a straight answer on whether it's worth upgrading.

Related Articles

• Windows 11 vs Windows 10: Should You Upgrade? — What changes, and what stays the same
• Linux Mint Cinnamon: Fast Windows Alternative — A second life for a PC that can't run Windows 11
• Clean Windows Installation: Is a Fresh Start Worth It? — When to upgrade in place and when to start over
• What to Do With Your Old Computer — Wiping, donating, and recycling safely