The Windows 10 logo over a PC running the Windows 10 desktop OS.
Sarah Chaney / Assessment Geek

Microsoft will proceed supporting Home windows 10 till October 14th, 2025. Past that time, you shouldn’t use Home windows 10.

The Home windows 11 working system is a number of years outdated, and it now comes customary in most laptops and desktops. However you don’t want to switch your Home windows 10 PC simply but. Microsoft nonetheless helps Home windows 10 with common software program updates, and Home windows 11 is usually only a design improve.

Home windows 10 Assist Ends in 2025

Microsoft plans to help Home windows 10 till October 14th of 2025, in line with its lifecycle timeline. When help ends, Home windows 10 House and Professional editions will cease receiving safety updates and bug fixes.

With out safety updates, remaining Home windows 10 customers will likely be susceptible to malware and hackers. Microsoft might push an emergency replace each few years (because it’s carried out with Windows XP and Windows 7), although such updates aren’t assured and will solely repair choose vulnerabilities.

After all, the October 2025 deadline continues to be a number of years away. And Microsoft has a behavior of extending these deadlines, because it’s not unusual for companies and people to stay with outdated working programs. (That mentioned, the Home windows 11 replace is pretty widespread, so the retirement of Home windows 10 could also be smoother than anticipated).

We propose that you simply cease utilizing Home windows 10 by the top of 2025. Past that time, the Home windows 10 working system will likely be a safety danger. Should you’re involved about safety, verify your Windows 10 settings to make sure that you’re getting all the newest updates.

Home windows 11 Gives Some Unique Options

An example of File Explorer tabs in Windows 11.
The tabbed File Explorer in Home windows 11. Microsoft

Together with its redesigned interface, Home windows 11 packs some unique options. Most of those options enhance the working system’s day-to-day usability, whereas others are far more significant.

Essentially the most notable Home windows 11 function is Android app support. Due to the brand new Home windows Subsystem for Android (and a partnership with Amazon), you’ll be able to set up Android apps and video games from the Microsoft Retailer and use them in your PC.

After all, utilizing Android apps on a PC is usually a celebration trick. Our favourite Home windows 11 function is a bit much less stunning—an upgraded “Snap” interface that allows you to shortly rearrange apps onscreen. No extra dragging stuff round; on Home windows 11, you’ll be able to rearrange apps by hovering over the “maximize” button in a window’s title bar.

We additionally love Home windows 11’s tabbed File Explorer, which saves you from opening a bunch of particular person File Explorer home windows. And the brand new working system provides a ton of small enhancements, like a world media management panel, clipboard sharing between units, improved touchscreen help, and auto-HDR for gaming.

Will the Home windows 11 Replace Velocity Up Your PC?

A Windows 11 PC on a desk.
Hannah Stryker / Assessment Geek

In case your PC meets the {hardware} necessities for Home windows 11, you could obtain a notification prompting you to put in the brand new working system. Nonetheless, you is probably not occupied with Home windows 11—it’s a considerable redesign, and it comes with a slight studying curve.

Fortunately for you, the Home windows 11 replace is usually a paint job. It performs nearly identically to Home windows 10 in benchmark assessments (by way of PCWorld). Sure, there are some conditions the place Home windows 11 outperforms its predecessor, however the distinction is negligible. (That mentioned, Home windows 11’s desktop animations are retooled to really feel a bit snappier.)

Software program incompatibility isn’t an issue, both. Usually talking, something that works on Home windows 11 will even work on Home windows 10.

That mentioned, these items will change as Home windows 11 grows extra widespread. Microsoft is continually pushing to optimize its new working system, and it ought to (ultimately) present a snappier expertise than Home windows 10. Additionally, new software program could also be unique to Home windows 11, particularly first-party software program from Microsoft.

When Ought to You Retire Your Home windows 10 PC?

The Lenovo Slim 7i Pro X laptop on a desk.
Cianna Garrison / Assessment Geek

No one’s forcing you to switch your Home windows 10 PC. However you must improve to Home windows 11 earlier than October 14th of 2025. After that date, Microsoft will finish help for the Home windows 10 working system, leaving it susceptible to malware and hackers.

In case your PC is eligible for the Home windows 11 replace, then this isn’t a lot of an issue. You possibly can set up the replace free of charge at any time. However the majority of Home windows 10 machines are incompatible with Home windows 11 and should be changed (or taken offline) by the top of 2025.

Everytime you resolve to switch your PC, just remember to’re shopping for a Home windows 11 machine. New laptops and desktops run the Home windows 11 OS by default (or ask you to put in it throughout setup), however used or refurbished PCs could also be ineligible for the Home windows 11 replace.


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