"Can I still use Windows 10 after 2025?" Many users ask this question, as Microsoft will officially end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Read on to learn more and decide if upgrading to Windows 11 is right for you.
Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, as officially announced on its website. After that date, there will be no more security updates, feature updates, or technical support. If your PC still runs Windows 10, Microsoft recommends upgrading to Windows 11, which continues to receive full support.
If your device can't run Windows 11, you have 3 main options:
Upgrading is free if your current PC meets Windows 11’s system requirements. If not, and you’re not ready to switch devices yet, the ESU program can help keep your system protected—but only with critical security fixes, not new features or full tech support.
For businesses, ESU pricing starts at $61 per device and doubles each year for up to 3 years. Education users pay less. More details will be available closer to the support end date.
Using Windows 10 after October 14, 2025, is not recommended unless extra precautions are taken. After this date, Microsoft will stop providing free security updates, bug fixes, and support. This means your system could be exposed to viruses, malware, and hacking risks.
Some users can get one free year of security updates (until October 2026) by using Microsoft Rewards points or turning on Windows Backup. After that, home users can pay $30 per year for one more year of updates. Businesses can pay more for extended support, but only until 2028.
Microsoft 365 apps will stop official support on Windows 10 after 2025, and over time, other software and hardware may no longer work well with the system. If you can’t upgrade to Windows 11 right away, use strong offline protection like Microsoft Defender (supported until 2028), avoid risky activities like online banking, or consider switching to Linux or cloud-based Windows.
In short, Windows 10 will still work after 2025, but it will become less secure. The free extended support gives a short-term solution, but upgrading to Windows 11 or changing to a new system is the safest choice. Use Microsoft’s PC Health Tool to check if your device can run Windows 11, and plan ahead if it can’t.
It’s better not to use Windows 10 after support ends. You can upgrade to Windows 11, convert your system to meet its requirements, or buy a new PC.
Microsoft will end support for Windows 10, so it's better to upgrade to Windows 11 if your device meets the hardware requirements, which is the most direct and cost-effective method. However, Windows 11 has stricter system demands, and if your current disk is outdated, the system may not run smoothly—you might face boot problems, freezing, or other issues. To improve performance, it's often necessary to upgrade to a faster NVMe SSD. You can use AOMEI Partition Assistant to clone everything to the new SSD. This simplifies the upgrade by transferring all your data, apps, and settings without the need to reinstall everything from scratch. If you’ve already installed Windows 11 on your PC but found it doesn’t run properly, you can also use AOMEI Partition Assistant to migrate the OS to the new disk.
The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer
Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, click "Clone" in the main interface, and select "Clone Disk".
Step 2. Choose the hard disk that you need to clone as the source disk and click "Next".
Step 3. Select another drive as the destination disk, and then click "Next".
Step 4. Then, you can check the source and destination disk in the next window or change to "Sector to Sector clone", and click the "Confirm" button to continue if there is no problem.
Here, you can also click the "Settings" button to adjust the partition size on the destination disk or tick "4k alignment" to improve the reading and writing speed of the SSD.
Step 6. You can preview the disk cloning operation by viewing the "Pending Operations". To commit the "Pending Operations", please click "Apply" and "Proceed".
After cloning Windows disk to SSD or HDD, you need to change boot order in BIOS setup to boot computer from destination disk.
Step 1. Start the computer and press ESC, F1, F2, F8 or F10 during the initial startup screen. Depending on the BIOS manufacturer, a menu may appear.
Step 2. Choose to enter BIOS setup. Use the arrow keys to select the BOOT tab. System devices appear in order of priority. To give the destination hard drive boot sequence priority over other disks, move it to the first position in the list.
Step 3. Save and exit the BIOS setup utility. The computer will restart with the changed settings.
Windows 11 brings a new interface and improved features but requires UEFI boot mode and a GPT system disk. If your current Windows 10 setup uses the older MBR partition style, you must convert it to GPT before upgrading. MBR works with BIOS, supports up to 2TB disks, and has limited partitions, while GPT supports larger drives, more partitions, and works with UEFI.
To check compatibility, use the PC Health Check tool. If your disk is MBR, convert it to GPT before switching from Legacy BIOS to UEFI. This is essential for meeting Windows 11’s requirements. AOMEI Partition Assistant is a reliable tool for converting MBR to GPT without losing data. It simplifies the process and ensures a safe upgrade path. With proper conversion and setup, your system will be ready for Windows 11.
The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer
Step 1. Install and run AOMEI Partition Assistant. Right-click the disk (take the system disk as an example) and choose “Convert to GPT”.
Step 2. Click “OK” to confirm your operation.
Step 3. Click “Apply” to commit the pending operation.
Since Microsoft will end support for Windows 10, one smart option is to buy a new PC that comes with Windows 11. If the system is already installed, you just need to turn on the computer and follow the steps on the screen to complete the setup. If your new PC doesn’t come with a system, you can install Windows 11 using a USB flash drive.
No matter which situation you are in, there are several things you should do after setting up the system to make sure your new PC runs smoothly:
Check for the latest Windows updates to make sure your system is up to date. Go to Settings > Update & Security, then click Check for Updates.
Many new PCs come with pre-installed software (called bloatware) that you don’t need. Removing them can help your PC run faster. Go to Settings > Apps, find the ones you don’t want, and uninstall them. Then, install the software you actually need from the Microsoft Store or official websites. Or you can move the installed apps from C drive to another drive to enhance performance. AOMEI Partition Assistant also offers this feature.
Use Windows Security or install antivirus software to protect your system from viruses and malware. You can also run a PC cleaner regularly to remove harmful files.
Make sure all your device drivers are working properly. Open Device Manager from the Start menu and check for missing or outdated drivers.
Even a new PC can run into problems. It's a good idea to back up your system and important files early. You can create a full system backup and restore it easily if something goes wrong.
Once you complete these steps, your new Windows 11 PC will be ready for daily use.
"Can I still use Windows 10 after 2025?" Windows 10 will still work after support ends in October 2025, but it will no longer receive free security updates or feature improvements, making it less safe over time. If your PC supports it, upgrading to Windows 11 is the best option. If not, you can join Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates program or consider switching to a new Windows 11 PC. Tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant can help make the upgrade or disk conversion process easier. Planning ahead ensures better security, performance, and long-term usability.
The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer