Methods to prolong Windows 10 help free of charge immediately

Like many individuals proper now, Westchester resident Pat Simon is stressing over her Windows 10 pc.

“The thing is, it’s not that old… I don’t know why it wouldn’t upgrade to 11,” she mentioned.

After 10 years, Microsoft will formally finish help for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025.

“It’s a big deal that Windows 10 is coming to its end of life, end of support. It’s been 10 years, and that’s the lifespan that Microsoft usually gives to operating systems,” mentioned Dan Ackerman, editor in chief of MicroCenter News.

Without updates, computer systems may be left weak.

“That means that going forward, bad actors will start to look for new vulnerabilities and try to exploit them. So if you’re not getting these security updates, your system is going to be more vulnerable,” he mentioned.

The excellent news? You have choices.

The first – and best – is to improve to Windows 11. Microsoft provides a free PC Health Check app that reveals in case your pc qualifies.

“You’re not going to load up Windows 11 and go, I don’t know what’s happening here. It’s going to feel very familiar. So I think that if you’ve been holding off, there’s no reason not to,” mentioned Ackerman.

If your PC can’t run Windows 11, otherwise you’re prepared for one thing new, Dan recommends shopping for a brand new machine. Some of his most popular choices embrace Microsoft’s Surface Laptop or Lenovo’s extra reasonably priced IdeaPad line.

“Even if it’s an inexpensive budget machine, that’s going to be a lot more powerful than a mid-range machine was five or six or seven years ago, or however old your current computer is,” he mentioned.

There’s additionally an alternative choice: Extended Security Updates. This enables you to preserve Windows 10 protected for yet another 12 months.

To enroll, go to Start Menu > Settings > Update & Security (scroll right down to see it) > Windows Update. Look for the Enroll Now hyperlink beneath the place it says Check for Updates.

You can again up your settings to OneDrive, redeem Microsoft Rewards factors, or pay a one-time charge of $30.

“This is so easy… but yet I couldn’t find where to get started,” mentioned Simon.

We discovered the enrollment hyperlink proper on the Windows Update display screen. With only a few clicks, her pc is now protected by means of October 2026.

“The anxiety’s gone and I don’t have to panic… which is what I was doing,” she concluded with amusing.