Microsoft will no longer support Windows 10 after October 14, 2025

Are you one of the many Windows users who are still using the Windows 10 operating system? You’re certainly not alone. StatCounter, a web traffic analysis company, consistently shows Windows 10 as the dominant operating system, with around 60% of the worldwide market share. Windows 11 has around 35%.

What Are the Benefits of Windows 11?

Windows 11 is the most technologically advanced version of Windows yet. Take a look at some of its most compelling new features for users.

Built-In Generative AI

Microsoft’s Copilot generative AI tool combines the smarts of ChatGPT with Bing web-scraping for up-to-the-minute data. While you can get an optional basic version of it in Windows 10 as an installable app, Copilot in Windows 11 can do more, such as change settings and organize windows using Snap Assist. The Windows 11 version of Paint also includes AI image generation from text prompts in styles like oil paint, photorealistic, ink sketch, and anime. That’s more than the art styles that you get with Apple Intelligence, which is limited to cartoons and sketches.

Improved Apps

The included apps in Windows 11 are better than those in Windows 10. An all-new Media Player app makes watching videos and listening to music and podcasts a better experience. The Windows 11 Clock app includes a useful Focus Sessions feature that help you concentrate on projects, and the Photos app includes generative erase for removing objects or backgrounds. The Notepad, Paint, and Calculator apps have all been updated as well.

A Better Screenshot Tool

Taking screenshots in Windows 11 is even better, with many good options in the updated Snipping Tool, including the ability to record screen video and copy or redact text from images. The Snipping Tool lets you select rectangular or freehand areas, program windows, or the whole desktop. It then opens a mini editor for cropping and markup.

Snap Layouts for an Organized Desktop

In Windows, you have always been able to arrange windows on the desktop just the way you want them. Just when you thought it wasn’t possible to improve the already great capabilities in Windows 10 – which lets you snap a window to the side to fill exactly half the screen or to a corner for an exact quarter of screen real estate – Microsoft comes up with another window layout trick called Snap Layouts.

Widgets for Quick Access to Updates

New for Windows 11, widgets will help you stay up to date with all the things you need to keep tabs on, like schedules, weather, stocks, sports – even celebrity gossip.

Advanced Network Security

Windows 11 provides more secure and reliable connection methods and advanced network security. Included are encryption and firewall protection and built-in Virtual Private Network (VPN) protocols.

Security Risks of Continuing to Use Windows 10

Are you tempted to just stick with Windows 10 and take your chances? You may want to think again. Without critical security updates and patches from Microsoft, devices running Windows 10 after its End of Life (EOL) date of October 14, 2025, will become increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks, malware, and data breaches. Here are the risks:

Unpatched Vulnerabilities

Any newly discovered vulnerabilities or security flaws will remain unpatched, as Microsoft will no longer provide security updates. This means that if you continue using Windows 10, the lack of security updates and patches will leave your operating system with weaknesses that hackers can easily exploit. Cybercriminals actively seek out and target unprotected systems, so even if you use antivirus software and a firewall, the lack of official security updates to Windows 10 significantly increases the risk of successful attacks.

Increased Malware Threats

As Windows 10 becomes more widely unsupported, it will become a prime target for malware authors. Without regular security updates, malware can easily infiltrate systems and spread to other devices on the network, which can lead to data theft and system disruptions.

Lack of Technical Support

After the EOL date, Microsoft will no longer provide technical support for Windows 10. This means that if you encounter any issues or need assistance troubleshooting security-related problems, you will not be able to rely on Microsoft’s expertise and resources.

System Performance and Reliability Issues

Ultimately, the lack of security and technical support may affect your ability to rely on a stable system for tackling everyday tasks. When an operating system stops receiving support and updates from the manufacturer to optimize the environment, it degrades system performance. That degradation leads to a significantly diminished user experience, thanks to slower processing speeds, more system crashes, and potential data loss.

Compatibility Challenges

As software developers focus their efforts on newer operating systems, such as Windows 11, compatibility issues may arise with Windows 10. Over time, more applications and services may drop support for older versions of Windows, limiting the functionality and security of systems running Windows 10 after its EOL.