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Microsoft has ended support for the Windows 10 operating system. This means that if your computer is running Windows 10, you will no longer receive any software updates. Any Windows 10 machine will still be operational after the end of support, but it is much more vulnerable.
Software updates, among other things, are a way for Microsoft to keep your computer safe from hackers. If Microsoft finds out that someone has discovered a security flaw, they can send a set of instructions to your computer through updates on how to fix the flaw. When support for Windows 10 ends, Microsoft will not be monitoring security flaws or sending out fixes to machines other than those running Windows 11. While it is possible that you will still be completely fine continuing to use Windows 10, security risks are not something to take lightly.
The best way to protect your computer is upgrading to Windows 11 if possible. Windows 10 machines can upgrade to 11 for free. However, they can only upgrade if they meet the minimum hardware requirements to run Windows 11. If your computer does not have the right hardware, it will not be able to upgrade and you may have to buy a new one.
If your computer has already been prompting you about upgrading to 11, it has determined that your hardware is strong enough to run it. If not, you can run the PC Health Check app from Microsoft (see article Can I Upgrade to Windows 11?), which will tell you if your computer has the proper hardware.
Although upgrading from 10 to 11 should not affect the files stored on your computer, Microsoft recommends backing them up before just in case (see article Getting Ready for the Windows 11 Upgrade).
If you need assistance with upgrading to Windows 11, running a PC Health Check, or backing up your files- sign up for an Open Lab class at the Lawrence Headquarters branch to talk to a Technology Instructor! If your computer is portable (i.e. a laptop) please bring it with you along with its charging cable. Click here to view upcoming Open Lab sessions
The following articles from the Microsoft website detail what Windows 11 is, how to upgrade to it, and questions that may come up about the operating system.
In recognition that there are still so many people on Windows 10, Microsoft has released the Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU). Enrolling in this program allows a Windows 10 machine to receive security updates at the critical and important levels (see here for an explanation of the update levels) until October 13, 2026. The two highest level security updates are the only things an enrolled machine will receive.
There are a few ways to redeem the ESU program
View the article from Microsoft about the Extended Security Updates here