Windows 10 Support Has Ended: What UK Businesses Should Do Now

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On July 21, 2026

Windows 10 support has ended for most business PCs. Microsoft ended support for version 22H2 on 14 October 2025. Those devices no longer receive operating system security updates, software updates or technical assistance through normal support.

The computer will still work, but the risk grows. The practical response is a managed plan: identify affected devices, upgrade or replace them, and use Extended Security Updates only where a short transition is genuinely necessary.

Last reviewed: 21 July 2026.

At a glance

Standard Windows 10 version 22H2 reached end of support on 14 October 2025.
Check each PC with Windows Update, Microsoft’s PC Health Check app and the Windows 11 system requirements before deciding whether to upgrade or replace it.
Do not make an unsupported Windows 11 installation your normal business solution.
Commercial Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) can provide a temporary, paid bridge, but they do not restore full support or add new features.
Some Windows 10 LTSC editions follow separate lifecycles, so confirm the exact edition and version rather than relying on the name “Windows 10”.

What Windows 10 end of support means

End of support is not the same as a shutdown. Staff can still sign in, open files and run applications. The important change is that the operating system is no longer maintained through the standard support channel. Newly discovered Windows vulnerabilities may therefore remain uncorrected on a device that is not covered by an applicable support programme.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) says there is no risk-free way to continue using an obsolete product. Antivirus and monitoring help, but cannot repair a vulnerability in an unsupported operating system. That matters on an internet-connected PC handling business data and cloud services.

Check for LTSC before acting

The headline date does not apply to every specialist release. Some Windows 10 Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) and IoT editions have their own lifecycle dates and are intended primarily for specialised devices, not ordinary office PCs.

Record the full edition and version, then check Microsoft’s current lifecycle information. Do not assume “LTSC” means indefinite support or use it simply to postpone migration.

Microsoft 365 Apps are a separate issue

Microsoft 365 Apps such as Word and Excel may continue to run on Windows 10. Microsoft currently says it will provide security updates for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 until 10 October 2028 while customers move to Windows 11. That does not extend support for the Windows 10 operating system itself. It also does not remove the possibility of performance, reliability or support limitations when Microsoft 365 Apps are used on an unsupported operating system.

Why UK businesses should address it now

Running unsupported Windows 10 is not automatically proof of a data protection breach, and there is no single technology that guarantees compliance. The ICO’s guidance is risk-based: organisations must use technical and organisational measures appropriate to the personal data they process and the risks involved. An unsupported, internet-connected operating system can become difficult to justify where a supported alternative is available.

Cyber Essentials also deserves attention. Its current requirements say that in-scope software must be licensed and supported, or placed in a defined subset that prevents all internet traffic to and from it. If you are certified or preparing for assessment, ask your Certification Body about the exact device, edition and ESU position. Do not assume ESU settles every scope or configuration question.

There are operational reasons to act too. Vendors can change their support for an older operating system. Waiting for failure or an urgent customer requirement is usually more disruptive than a planned, staged migration.

Choose the right route for each device

1. Upgrade eligible PCs to Windows 11

For a compatible, reliable PC with useful life remaining, an in-place upgrade may be economical. Use Windows Update or Microsoft’s PC Health Check app to assess eligibility. Requirements include supported hardware, UEFI Secure Boot capability and TPM 2.0. Also confirm support for business applications, printers, specialist peripherals, VPNs and security tools.

2. Replace devices that are unsuitable

Replacement is usually cleaner when a PC fails the requirements, is unreliable, lacks vendor support or has little useful life left. Standardising a few business models can simplify support. Plan secure data transfer and disposal too; do not leave old drives, profiles or browser credentials unmanaged.

3. Use ESU only as a temporary bridge

Microsoft’s commercial ESU programme can provide Critical and Important security updates for eligible Windows 10 PCs for up to three annual coverage periods after end of support. It is a paid, per-device route and is described by Microsoft as a last-resort bridge, not a long-term solution. ESU does not include new features, general bug fixes or normal technical support.

Licensing routes, eligibility and pricing can change, so obtain a current quotation and confirm deployment requirements before budgeting. Give every ESU device a named owner and a firm replacement or migration date. Otherwise, a temporary exception can quietly become the permanent estate.

Avoid bypassing the Windows 11 requirements

Unofficial workarounds can install Windows 11 on some ineligible PCs, but Microsoft does not recommend this. An unsupported installation may have compatibility problems and is not a sound baseline for ordinary business devices. If specialist hardware cannot yet be replaced, document the exception, restrict its connectivity and access, monitor it, and set a time-limited exit plan rather than treating a bypass as the migration.

A practical Windows 10 migration plan

Build an accurate inventory. Record the user, location, device model, serial number, Windows edition and version, warranty, age, applications, peripherals and whether the device accesses business or personal data.
Assess eligibility and condition. Run the supported compatibility checks, confirm firmware settings with the manufacturer, and note devices that are slow, damaged or already outside hardware support.
Classify each device. Assign one decision: upgrade, replace, ESU bridge, specialist isolated exception, or retire. Add an owner, target date and budget to every decision.
Check applications and dependencies. Ask software vendors to confirm Windows 11 support. Test line-of-business software, macros, add-ins, printers, scanners, payment devices, VPNs and remote access before a wider rollout.
Protect data and prepare recovery. Verify that business data is stored in the approved location, complete a tested backup, record encryption recovery keys, and confirm how the user will work if the migration must be rolled back.
Pilot with a representative group. Include different roles and one or two demanding workflows. Capture issues, update the build and support notes, then schedule the remaining users in manageable groups.
Secure and validate the result. Apply current updates, encryption, endpoint protection, standard-user access and your normal management policies. Confirm email, files, printing, backups and business applications before closing the task.
Retire the old device properly. Remove it from management and cloud accounts, preserve only records that must be retained, securely erase storage, and use an appropriate reuse or recycling route. Update the asset register.

Decision and action checklist

We know how many Windows 10 devices remain and who uses them.
We have verified the exact Windows edition and lifecycle for each exception.
Every device has an upgrade, replacement, ESU or retirement decision.
Critical applications and peripherals have been tested on Windows 11.
Backups and recovery keys have been checked before migration.
ESU and specialist exceptions have owners and expiry dates.
Cyber Essentials, customer and data-security requirements have been reviewed.
Old equipment will be securely erased, removed from accounts and recorded as retired.

Frequently asked questions

Will a Windows 10 PC stop working?

No. It can continue to start and run applications, but standard operating system security updates and Microsoft technical support have ended for Windows 10 version 22H2. Continued operation is not the same as continued support.

Is antivirus enough to make Windows 10 safe?

No. Endpoint protection is useful, but it cannot replace security fixes from the operating system vendor. The NCSC advises that mitigations reduce risk; they do not create a risk-free way to use an obsolete product.

Does the deadline apply to Windows 10 LTSC?

Not always. LTSC and IoT releases can have different lifecycle dates. Check the full product name and version in Microsoft’s lifecycle information. LTSC is designed for specialised use and should not be treated as a general workaround for office PCs.

Can we keep using Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10?

The apps may continue to work, and Microsoft currently plans Microsoft 365 Apps security updates on Windows 10 until 10 October 2028. However, the Windows 10 operating system remains unsupported unless the device has applicable coverage, and Microsoft warns of possible reliability and support limitations.

Does ESU solve our compliance position?

Not by itself. ESU can address part of the security-update risk for an eligible device, but compliance depends on scope, configuration, data, contracts and the organisation’s wider controls. Confirm Cyber Essentials questions with your Certification Body and seek appropriate legal or data-protection advice where needed.

Official sources and further guidance

Make the move without unnecessary disruption

If this migration is part of a wider technology backlog, our 12-month IT strategy roadmap can help you place it alongside access, backups, suppliers and planned investment.

EA IT Consultancy can help you identify affected devices, check Windows 11 readiness, plan replacements and manage a phased migration around your team. Explore our managed IT support and cybersecurity consultancy, or contact us to discuss a practical next step.

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