The Windows 10 operating system, which was first introduced in July of 2015, will reach end of life on October 14, 2025. This is the case for all editions: Home, Pro, Pro Education and Pro for Workstations. The last version of Windows 10, Version 22H2, was released in October 2022. There will be no further versions. All versions will continue to receive the monthly security updates until October 2025.
As with any unsupported operating system, if you continue to use Windows 10 after October 14, 2025, your computer will continue to function, however, you will no longer receive security patches. This will make your computer and any network it is connected to more vulnerable to attack.
While October 2025 is more than two years away, we recommend planning ahead. Better to start budgeting for your Windows 10 computer replacements now. Don’t get caught in 2025 with a significant computer replacement requirement that you don’t have the budget for.
Upgrading to Windows 11
Some of your Windows 10 computers may qualify for an upgrade to Windows 11 rather than having to replace them. The upgrade is currently free, however, you must have the most recent updates for Windows 10 and your computer must meet the hardware requirements for Windows 11.
Your device must be running Windows 10, version 2004 or later to upgrade, plus the following hardware:
Processor – 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC)
RAM – 4 gigabyte (GB)
Storage – 64 GB or larger storage device Note: We recommend 500GB or larger hard drive storage. System firmware – UEFI, Secure Boot capable.
TPM – Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.
Graphics card – Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver.
Display – High definition (720p) display that is greater than 9” diagonally, 8 bits per color channel.
Click here to learn more: Windows 11 Specs and System Requirements | Microsoft
Some New Features of Windows 11
The initial screen looks different but it’s still easy to navigate. The taskbar icons are in the centre with the Start button to the left of the others.
Widgets are back with weather, news, sports, traffic, stock market updates and more, personalized to what’s important to you.
There is a new Photos app for editing and organizing photos. You can even have it auto-generate albums and integrate maps where photos have location information. Video editing is another feature, including adding titles, effects, transitions and more.
Windows 11 offers greatly increased security. One example is that it requires PCs to have a certain security chip installed called Trusted Platform Module 2.0. They must also have secure boot capability. These two requirements prevent a whole category of malware attacks. According to Microsoft this makes PCs “twice as resistant to malware infection.” They are, however, also the reason why some PCs won’t be able to upgrade.
BSC Solutions Group provides Managed IT Services, which includes lifecycle management of our clients’ computer PCs, Servers and network equipment. Reach out to us today to learn more.
