Find out everything about the end of support for Windows 10!

Support for Windows 10 ends on October 14, 2025. After that date, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates, bug fixes, or technical support. Your PC will continue to work, but without updates, the risk of security vulnerabilities and incompatibilities with new software increases.

Yes, after October 14, 2025, your PC will become increasingly less secure because Microsoft will no longer provide security updates. New security vulnerabilities remain unpatched, making it easier for hackers to spread malware or steal data. This is particularly dangerous for computers that are connected to the Internet or are used for sensitive tasks such as online banking.

A good antivirus program can continue to protect your system from known threats after Windows 10 support ends, but it does not replace security updates from Microsoft. Without regular Windows updates, newly discovered vulnerabilities in the operating system remain, making it easier for attackers to compromise your PC.

Current browser updates are important because many attacks occur over the Internet. As long as browsers such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge continue to provide updates for Windows 10, you can protect yourself from known online threats. But there is also a risk here: At some point, these programs will also stop supporting Windows 10, leaving security gaps open.

After Windows 10 support ends on October 14, 2025, Windows Defender (Microsoft's built-in security solution) will continue to be present on your PC, but will no longer receive regular updates for new threats.

What that means:

• Windows Defender can still detect known viruses and malware
• However, new threats remain undetected because the detection patterns are no longer updated
• Microsoft is also no longer providing new features or improvements for Defender on Windows 10

For the best possible protection, you should therefore use an up-to-date third-party antivirus program after support ends or switch to a modern, supported operating system.

If your computer stays offline and you only use it for local tasks (e.g. older programs, office documents or media playback), the security risk is significantly lower. Without internet access, there is hardly any attack surface for hackers or malware that is spread via websites or emails.

If you do not use online banking and only use trustworthy software, the risk is also reduced.

However, some dangers remain:

• Infections via external devices (e.g. USB sticks or external hard drives with malware)
• Reading of personal data and sensitive documents by malware
• Compatibility issues with new software that Windows 10 no longer supports
• Missing updates for programs such as Office or drivers that may no longer work at some point

As long as you use Windows 10 carefully and consciously after support ends, it can still be useful for many tasks for a while. But for maximum security and future-proofing, switching to a current system is the better choice in the long term.

Yes, upgrading to Windows 11 is free with a valid Windows 10 license, as long as your PC meets the system requirements. Microsoft allows direct upgrade via Windows Update or the installation tool from the official Microsoft website.

Requirements for the upgrade:

• CPU: At least 1 GHz, 2 cores, 64-bit, compatible with Windows 11
• RAM: At least 4 GB
• Storage: At least 64 GB of free storage space
• TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot: Must be enabled in BIOS
• Graphics & Display: DirectX 12 compatible graphics card, at least 720p resolution

Microsoft offers the free PC Health Check tool, which you can use to quickly find out if your computer is suitable for Windows 11.

If your PC is not compatible, you have the following options:

• Buying a new PC with Windows 11
• Continue using Windows 10 at your own risk
• Install Windows 11 with tricks on unsupported devices (not recommended as no official updates are guaranteed)
• Installing another operating system such as Linux Mint, which, however, involves some adjustment and where not all the software you are used to will work

Microsoft justifies the high hardware requirements of Windows 11 primarily with security, stability and performance. In particular, the requirements for TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module) and Secure Boot are intended to better protect PCs against attacks.

Here are the main reasons:

1. Increased security

   • TPM 2.0 protects against malware, identity theft and rootkits
   • Secure Boot prevents manipulated or unsafe software from loading at startup
   • Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) and Windows Hello require modern hardware to improve identity and storage protection

2. More stable system performance

   • Newer processors have better driver and power management features
   • According to Microsoft, systems with Windows 11 should have fewer crashes and better response times

3. Optimized performance for modern software

   • Windows 11 is optimized for current hardware, especially for SSD storage and modern graphics chips
   • New features such as DirectStorage for faster game loading or AutoHDR require newer hardware

For Windows users considering switching to Linux, there are several distributions that offer a familiar interface and ease of use.

• Linux Mint, for example, is known for its user-friendliness and the Cinnamon edition offers an interface that is very reminiscent of Windows
• Zorin OS was developed specifically for Windows users and enables an easy transition through customizable layouts
• MakuluLinux LinDoz aims to mimic the look and feel of Windows to make the transition as smooth as possible
• Q4OS uses the Trinity Desktop Environment, which is visually reminiscent of older versions of Windows and is resource-efficient, making it ideal for older hardware
• Feren OS is based on Ubuntu and offers a customizable user interface with layouts similar to Windows or macOS, as well as a transfer tool to transfer data from the old operating system

Microsoft has made it clear that the hardware requirements for Windows 11 will not be lowered. In particular, the requirement for TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module) remains, as it is considered essential for the security and future viability of the operating system. This decision means that many older PCs are not officially supported for Windows 11.