How to prepare for Windows 10 end of support by moving to Windows 11 today – Windows Blog

As we approach the end of support for Windows 10 on Oct. 14, 2025¹, we want to ensure you are well-prepared for the transition to Windows 11. This milestone marks an important step in our mission to provide the most modern and secure computing experience possible for everyone whether at work, school, or home, and our commitment to continually improving Windows security as part of Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative (SFI). We are incredibly grateful for your loyalty and passion for Windows 10, and we are working hard to make it easy to move to Windows 11.
This blog post is intended to help you prepare for Windows 10 end of support by outlining considerations for moving to Windows 11 today. Including:
Windows 11 builds upon the strengths and familiarity of Windows, offering you a modern, secure and highly efficient computing experience that meets the current demands for heightened security by default and by design. With integrated and enhanced security features, high customer satisfaction and notable productivity improvements — be it for work, school or play — new Windows 11 PCs are more secure, more productive and higher performing than Windows 10 PCs.
And Copilot+ PCs, our fastest, most intelligent Windows PCs ever, take this capability a step further, embodying the ultimate Windows 11 experience with cutting-edge security measures, optimized performance and innovative AI-powered features that redefine what’s possible on a PC.
Windows 11 features include: 
Starting Oct. 14, 2025, Windows 10 will no longer receive security updates. As security threats evolve and adapt, so must our operating systems and hardware. Because of this, we designed Windows 11 to be the most secure version of Windows ever — by default and design — to help you stay ahead of those risks. Advanced security features include hardware-based protection through TPM 2.0, enhanced authentication methods and virtualization-based security fully enabled by default. Windows 11 also includes phishing protection, offering robust defense mechanisms, and provides an extra layer of security against common and persistent cyberattacks, like attempts to compromise login credentials or install malware.
Notable Windows 11 security benefits include: 
We’ve created a straightforward and secure migration process to Windows 11, beginning with checking whether your current Windows 10 PC can upgrade to Windows 11 or if a new, more secure PC is necessary.
Check if your PC can be upgraded to Windows 11 
If you determine you need a new Windows 11 PC, there are tools available to help you prepare for your next device:
Purchasing a new Windows 11 PC 
If you find your current Windows 10 PC is ineligible to upgrade to Windows 11, we have a broad array of choices in new PCs you can purchase.
With new Copilot+ PCs and continued innovation on Windows 11 at every price, we invite you to see what’s new from top brands like Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Surface and more.
Finding the right Windows 11 PC for you is easy with Help me Choose, a simple tool to help you find the right new PC for you.
When you are ready to purchase a new Windows 11 PC, we encourage you to leverage trade-in⁵ and recycling⁶ programs available at many of our Windows ecosystem partners including, OEMs such as Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung and global retailers like Best Buy, Boulanger, Costco, Currys, Elkjøp, Fnac, Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi, MediaMarkt & SATURN, officeworks, Sharaf DG and Walmart. Our business customers have access to programs available through resellers such as Bechtle, CDW, ComputaCenter, Connection, SHI and more. In addition, you can find your nearest Microsoft recycling program here.
For organizations of every size, Windows 11 is built for game-changing AI, faster performance and layers of security enabled by default – with a 250% return on investment². Designed to support any work environment and every employee, offering features that enhance multitasking and facilitate 50% faster workflows than Windows 10⁴. It also introduces a multitude of new management controls, making it easier for organizations to move away from older systems, like Group Policy as well as new tools and policies to enable more secure corporate environments reducing the number of IT helpdesk tickets⁷. Features like Windows Autopilot for device setup, Intune for device management with Config Refresh, and Windows Hello for Business and other MFA authentication methods supported by Entra ID are available to our commercial customers.
We invite our commercial customers to join us in-person in Chicago or remotely on Nov. 19 at Ignite to learn even more about how Windows is empowering organization of all sizes.
As we approach the end of support for Windows 10, we want to ensure organizations experience an easy and seamless transition to Windows 11. With 99.7% compatibility with Windows 10 apps⁸ the move is familiar to IT using the same tools and processes you use today which means organizations have been deploying Windows 11 25% faster². A range of tools are available and designed to support this upgrade, ensuring minimal disruption to their operations and maximizing the benefits of Windows 11.
We understand that some of you may require additional time while moving to a new Windows 11 PC or Copilot+ PC. During this period, you may wish to take steps to help secure your existing PC.  As previously announced, we will offer our Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. Enrolled PCs will continue to receive Critical and Important security updates for Windows 10; however, new features, bug fixes and technical support will no longer be available from Microsoft.
We are committed to protecting you and your PC with the most advanced security possible. With Windows 11 we took a significant step forward across silicon, hardware and software to significantly raise the security, performance and productivity of Windows PCs.  With the Windows 10 End of Support moment, now is the time to move to Windows 11 with confidence. We understand change is never easy, but we are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible. Thank you for your passion and loyalty for Windows.
Learn more about Windows 10 End of Support.
¹ Long Term Servicing Branch (LTSB) and Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) releases are subject to different lifecycle support policies. Check out the Microsoft lifecycle website for more information.
² Microsoft-commissioned study delivered by Forrester Consulting: “The Total Economic Impact™ of Windows 11 Pro Devices”, December 2022. Note, quantified benefits reflect results over three years combined into a single composite organization that generates $1 billion in annual revenue, has 2,000 employees, refreshes hardware on a four-year cycle and migrates the entirety of its workforce to Windows 11 devices.
³ Windows Copilot+ PC Performance Claims – May 2024 – Copilot+ PC performance details | Microsoft Learn.
⁴  Windows 11 Survey Report. Techaisle LLC, September 2024. Commissioned by Microsoft. Windows 11 results are in comparison with Windows 10 devices.
⁵ Trade-in available only through the Microsoft Store in the U.S. See site for details.
⁶ Available in select countries only. See site for details.
⁷ Microsoft-commissioned study: “Improve your day-to-day experience with Windows 11 Pro laptops,” Principled Technologies, February 2023.
⁸ Microsoft App Assure program data from October 2018 to February 2022.

source