Windows 10 hit end of support on October 14, 2025, and the consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program now runs until October 12, 2027. Microsoft pushed the date back from October 13, 2026. A Windows 10 PC is therefore still patched today, but only with security fixes. If your hardware passes the Windows 11 checks, the upgrade is free and takes about 30 minutes. If it fails, you have a hard deadline to plan around.
Verify before you act: Microsoft has changed ESU dates once already. Confirm the current end date on the Windows 10 ESU page in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update before you commit to a plan.
Quick Takeaways
- Eligible hardware: Upgrade. Windows 11 gets full servicing, driver updates and new features. Windows 10 gets security patches only.
- Ineligible hardware: Enroll in consumer ESU and budget for a replacement PC or a Linux migration before October 2027.
- Enrollment cost: ESU enrollment costs $30, or 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or a Windows Backup sync to OneDrive. Rules vary by market.
- Adoption: StatCounter put Windows 11 at roughly 72% of Windows PCs and Windows 10 at about 26% in May 2026.
| Factor | Windows 10 (22H2 + ESU) | Windows 11 (24H2/25H2) |
|---|---|---|
| Support status | Ended Oct 2025; ESU to Oct 12, 2027 | Fully supported |
| Updates | Security-only (critical/important) | Security, quality, features, drivers |
| Hardware requirement | Broad (legacy BIOS, any 64-bit CPU) | TPM 2.0, UEFI, Secure Boot, modern CPU |
| Security architecture | Optional VBS/HVCI | VBS/HVCI default on supported hardware |
| Cost | Free or $30 for ESU | Free upgrade on eligible PCs |
| Long-term viability | Dead end | Active platform |
Prerequisites: What Windows 11 Actually Requires
Windows 11 blocks installation unless the machine meets a fixed baseline.
| Requirement | Minimum | Common failure point |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 1 GHz, 2+ cores, 64-bit, on the supported list | Intel 7th gen and older; Ryzen 1000 series |
| RAM | 4 GB | 32-bit-era budget laptops |
| Storage | 64 GB | Small eMMC drives |
| Firmware | UEFI with Secure Boot capable | Legacy BIOS/CSM boot, MBR disks |
| TPM | TPM 2.0 | TPM disabled in firmware, or only 1.2 present |
| Instruction sets | POPCNT, SSE4.2 (24H2 and later) | Pre-2010 CPUs |
Check Your PC From PowerShell
Open PowerShell as Administrator and run these checks.
Get-Tpm
Returns TPM presence and state. You need TpmPresent : True and TpmReady : True.
(Get-CimInstance Win32_Tpm -Namespace root\cimv2\Security\MicrosoftTpm).SpecVersion
Prints the spec version. Look for 2.0 in the output.
Confirm-SecureBootUEFI
Returns True if Secure Boot is active. An error such as “Cmdlet not supported on this platform” means the PC boots in legacy BIOS mode.
Get-Disk | Select-Object Number, PartitionStyle
GPT is required for UEFI boot. MBR means you must convert the disk first.
Convert MBR to GPT Without Reinstalling
Run this from an elevated Command Prompt. It validates first, then converts.
mbr2gpt /validate /allowFullOS
mbr2gpt /convert /allowFullOS
/validatechecks that the disk layout can convert safely./convertrewrites the partition table in place./allowFullOSlets the tool run from the live OS instead of WinPE.
After conversion, enter firmware setup and switch the boot mode from Legacy/CSM to UEFI. Then enable TPM (labeled fTPM on AMD or PTT on Intel) and Secure Boot.
Performance and Architecture: What Changes Under the Hood
Windows 11 shares the NT kernel with Windows 10. The differences that affect you are scheduling, security defaults and storage.
- Thread scheduling: Windows 11 uses the Intel Thread Director hints on 12th-gen and newer hybrid CPUs. Windows 10 treats P-cores and E-cores less intelligently, so heavy workloads can land on slow cores.
- Virtualization-Based Security (VBS): Windows 11 enables VBS and HVCI (Memory Integrity) by default on supported hardware. This isolates kernel code integrity checks in a hypervisor-protected region. It blocks many driver-based attacks. The cost is a small performance hit on older CPUs.
- Storage stack: Windows 11 adds DirectStorage support and a refreshed NVMe path. Gamers on fast SSDs see shorter load times in supporting titles.
- Memory handling: Windows 11 trims background working sets for inactive apps more aggressively. Systems with 8 GB of RAM often feel smoother than the same machine on Windows 10.
- Gaming: Auto HDR, DirectStorage and modern scheduler behavior only exist on Windows 11.
Some users report Windows 10 feeling lighter on very old hardware. Hardware that old usually fails the Windows 11 checks anyway.
Security: ESU Versus a Fully Supported OS
ESU delivers critical and important security patches for Windows 10 version 22H2 and nothing else. It excludes new features, quality fixes and most non-security driver updates.
| Security Aspect | Windows 10 + ESU | Windows 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Kernel patches | Yes (security only) | Yes |
| Hardware-rooted trust (TPM 2.0) | Optional | Required |
| Memory Integrity (HVCI) | Manual, driver-dependent | On by default (new installs) |
| Smart App Control | No | Yes (clean installs) |
| Credential Guard | Enterprise only, manual | Enabled by default on Enterprise/Education |
| New mitigations | Rare | Continuous |
| Third-party support | Vendors are dropping Windows 10 | Primary target |
Application vendors are also moving on. Browser, antivirus and driver makers will phase out Windows 10 builds over the ESU window. A patched OS running unsupported software is still exposed.
Step-by-Step: Upgrade From Windows 10 to Windows 11
Step 1: Back Up and Prepare
Create a restore point and a full backup before touching the OS.
Checkpoint-Computer -Description "Pre-Win11-Upgrade" -RestorePointType MODIFY_SETTINGS
Run Windows Update until nothing is pending. Then repair component store corruption, which causes most failed upgrades.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow
DISM /RestoreHealthrepairs the component store from Windows Update.sfc /scannowverifies and replaces damaged system files.
Step 2: Upgrade Through Windows Update
Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. If the PC qualifies, a Windows 11 banner appears. Select Download and install. Your apps, files and settings carry over.
Step 3: Upgrade With the Installation Assistant (Alternative)
If Windows Update does not offer the upgrade, download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant from Microsoft. Run it as administrator and follow the prompts.
Step 4: Upgrade From ISO (Most Control)
Mount the ISO and run setup silently with logging:
setup.exe /auto upgrade /dynamicupdate enable /compat scanonly
/auto upgradeperforms an in-place upgrade./dynamicupdate enablefetches the latest setup fixes first./compat scanonlyruns the compatibility check without installing. Remove it for the real run.
Step 5: Verify
winver
Confirm the build reads Windows 11. Then check the update history in Settings > Windows Update > Update history.
Enrolling in Windows 10 ESU (If You Cannot Upgrade)
- Update to Windows 10 version 22H2 and install all pending updates.
- Sign in with a Microsoft account that has administrator rights. Local accounts cannot enroll.
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Enroll now.
- Choose a method: sync PC settings to OneDrive through Windows Backup, redeem 1,000 Rewards points, or pay $30.
- Restart and confirm the enrollment shows as active.
Supported editions are Home, Pro, Pro Education and Workstations. Enrolling does not block a later upgrade to Windows 11.
Troubleshooting Failed Upgrades
Fixing “This PC Can’t Run Windows 11”
Run the compatibility checks above. Nine times out of ten the cause is a disabled TPM or Secure Boot setting in firmware. Enable them and retry.
Error 0xC1900101 (Driver or Rollback Failure)
This code signals a driver conflict during a boot phase. The fix sequence:
- Disconnect external USB devices, docks and secondary drives.
- Uninstall third-party antivirus and disk encryption tools.
- Update the GPU, storage controller and chipset drivers from the OEM.
- Run
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthand retry.
Error 0x800F0922 (System Reserved Partition Too Small)
The EFI/System Reserved partition lacks free space, or a VPN is interfering. Disconnect the VPN first. If the error persists, free space on the partition with a partition tool, or expand it to at least 100 MB.
Error 0xC1900208 (Incompatible App)
Windows found software it blocks. Check C:$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther\setupact.log for the named application. Uninstall it and retry.
Unsupported Hardware Workaround (Use With Caution)
Microsoft documents a registry value that allows upgrades on machines with TPM 1.2 or an unlisted CPU. It does not bypass the TPM requirement entirely.
reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup /v AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
Microsoft states that such PCs are unsupported and may not receive updates. Treat this as a stopgap, not a fix. Keep a tested backup.
Real-World Scenarios
Scenario 1: A 2018 Laptop With an 8th-Gen Intel CPU
It meets the CPU list and usually has TPM 2.0 in firmware. Enable PTT and Secure Boot, convert to GPT if needed, and upgrade. This is the most common success case.
Scenario 2: A 2015 Desktop With a 4th-Gen Core i5
It fails the CPU requirement and often lacks TPM 2.0. Enroll in ESU. Plan a hardware refresh or a Linux migration before October 2027. A lightweight distribution such as Linux Mint runs well on this class of hardware.
Scenario 3: A Business Fleet
Commercial ESU is billed per device with escalating annual pricing. Inventory devices with Intune or Configuration Manager hardware readiness reports. Migrate eligible machines first and pay ESU only for the remainder.
Windows 10 vs Windows 11: The Verdict
| Your Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| PC meets Windows 11 requirements | Upgrade now. It is free and restores full support. |
| PC fails requirements, under 5 years old | Check firmware settings; TPM may be disabled. |
| PC fails requirements, 7+ years old | Enroll in ESU; budget for replacement by Oct 2027. |
| Specialized legacy software | Test in a VM or on a spare PC before migrating. |
| Gaming or hybrid-CPU workloads | Windows 11 offers measurable scheduler gains. |
FAQ
Is Windows 11 faster than Windows 10?
On modern hardware, usually yes by a small margin. Hybrid-CPU scheduling, memory trimming and DirectStorage give Windows 11 an edge. On older, supported hardware the two perform within a few percent of each other.
Is it safe to keep using Windows 10 in 2026?
It is safe for a limited time if you are enrolled in ESU and keep your software patched. ESU covers security fixes only. Vendors are phasing out Windows 10 support, so risk grows each month.
Can I upgrade to Windows 11 for free?
Yes. If your PC meets the requirements, the in-place upgrade through Windows Update costs nothing, and your Windows 10 license carries over.
What happens when Windows 10 ESU ends?
Windows 10 keeps running, but Microsoft stops issuing security patches. New vulnerabilities stay open. Expect growing browser, app and driver incompatibility.
