Do You Really Have to Stop Using Windows 10?

The end is here—at least, it is for Windows 10. Microsoft officially stopped supporting the decade-old operating system on October 14, 2025.

There's one hiccup, though: Even though Windows 11 is a free update, more people still use Windows 10 than Windows 11, according to statcounter.com, a site that tracks operating system usage worldwide.

Plenty of people, it seems, either don't want to upgrade to Windows 11 or are using devices that aren't supported. This means millions of people could be using an operating system that’s no longer receiving security updates.

If you're one of them, it makes sense to learn what happens to your computer now—and what you should do about it. Here's a summary of what's happening with Windows 10 and four options you have to replace it.

Nothing in particular is going to happen after October 14. Your computer will keep working the way it has, and you're unlikely to run into issues. That doesn't mean it's a great idea to keep using Windows 10, though.

That's because the system will no longer receive security updates or patches from Microsoft. This won't matter much until a new Windows exploit is discovered. After that, though, your device will have vulnerabilities that will never be patched. At that point, you will be at increased risk of attacks like ransomware, where a virus encrypts all of your files and scammers demand a payment in order to decrypt them. Continuing to use Windows 10 long-term dramatically increases the odds of these and other attacks.

There are other potential annoyances. Third-party developers, meaning the companies that make the software you use and the games you play, tend to stop providing updates for operating systems that are no longer officially supported. So, if a game adds new features in an update, you might not be able to install it. The same goes for the software you rely on to do your work: Over time, the latest versions of your desktop apps won't run on Windows 10, meaning you'll miss out on features. There's also a security angle. In addition to no longer receiving security updates for your operating system, you'll also eventually stop getting security updates for the tools you use.

None of this will happen right away on October 14. But you can expect to start hearing about software makers dropping support for Windows 10 later on. It's a good idea, then, to be prepared.

Microsoft has two official recommendations: updating your computer to Windows 11, which is free provided your computer supports it. The other recommendation is to buy a new device, presumably one already running Windows 11. Those aren't your only choices, though. You could replace Windows with another operating system entirely, like ChromeOS or Linux. Let's talk through all four options.

The simplest thing, for most people, is to upgrade to Windows 11. Yes, this is annoying if you prefer Windows 10, but the good news is that Windows 11 is free, and the irritating AI features are easy to turn off.

Find out whether your computer supports Windows 11 by opening Settings. Head to Settings > Privacy and Security > Windows Update. If your computer is compatible you should see an Upgrade to Windows 11 option. From there, you can click it to start the update procedure. Note that it's generally a good idea to back up your computer before upgrading your operating system.

If you don't see the option to update, it's likely that your computer doesn't support Windows 11. Microsoft makes an app you can download to check and to get specific recommendations. In some cases you might be able to upgrade a component instead of your whole computer to make it compatible with Windows 11. But what if that's not the case?

Microsoft has only one piece of advice to give people whose computer can't run Windows 11: buy a new one. On one hand this isn't unreasonable. The Windows 11 system requirements aren't too onerous. You need 4 GB of memory, 64 GB of storage, a 720p display or higher, and a 1-gigahertz (GHz) processor or faster. Most computers sold in the past decade should hit those marks.

On the other hand, there's a good chance the global economy is entering a recession, and computer prices in particular are likely to go up in the United States because of certain political decisions.

So you might not have the money to buy a new computer at the moment. What can you do instead? Replace Windows with another operating system, and ideally one that will keep getting security updates. This is going to require some tech skills on your part, but don't worry: It's mostly a matter of following instructions.

Have you ever used a Chromebook? It's just a laptop that can only run Google's Chrome browser. Such devices tend to run well despite typically having substandard components, so it’s particularly useful for an older laptop. In the past few years Google launched ChromeOS Flex, which allows you to install ChromeOS on your own device. There's a good chance it can run on your old computer.

There are downsides here. If you rely on a particular piece of Windows software, you won't be able to use it in ChromeOS. You will only be able to run web apps that load in the browser. If you mostly just use the Chrome web browser, though, there's a good chance you won't miss Windows at all.

If you're curious, WIRED has a handy ChromeOS Flex guide, and Google offers instructions for home installation. Basically you need to check if your laptop is supported, put the operating system on a flash drive, and then boot from the flash drive. Note that installing a new operating system will delete everything currently on your computer, so make sure to back up photos and documents before doing this.

ChromeOS is easy to use, but not everyone can live their entire life in a browser window. If you want to replace Windows with a more feature-filled operating system, it's time to look into Linux. This is a completely free alternative to Windows, and it tends to run better on older devices than Windows.

Linux has a reputation for being fussy, and depending on which version of Linux you decide to use it really can be. But there are versions of Linux that treat ease-of-use as a marquee feature. Linux Mint is a solid starting point for most people, and it offers great step-by-step instructions for getting started. As with ChromeOS, you will need to download the operating system, load it to a flash drive, then boot from the flash drive, and finally install the operating system (which will delete everything currently on your computer).

If any of this is too much for you to figure out, there's an easier way: Ask all of your friends if any of them are Linux users. If they are, offer to buy them a 12-pack in exchange for helping you set up Linux—I promise you it will get done. They can also teach you the basics and show you how to navigate around your new system.

Because there will be an adjustment. We're talking about a brand-new operating system. If you want to get a few more years out of your computer, though, Linux is probably your best choice, even if it means a bit of a learning curve.

Update: October 14, 12 pm. This story, originally published in May 2025, was updated to reflect that support for Windows 10 has now officially ended.