Start planning now to update or upgrade your Windows 10 PCs
Windows 10 reaches the end of free support from Microsoft on October 14, 2025. While that might seem like a long time from now, for businesses that have several PCs in use, getting out in front of a change like this is important. The move to Windows 11 or Windows 12, which is due out later this year, requires that your computer hardware is compatible with the newer operating system.
How to determine if your computer is compatible with Windows 11
A quick way to determine if your PC has a compatible processor is to look at your system settings. To find those go to your Start button>Settings>System>About. Look for the processor description to find out what processor you have. Intel is the most common processor brand so most likely it will say something like “Intel® Core™ i5, 8265U.” Those last few numbers are the key. If your processor starts with an 8, it is an 8th generation of this model. Windows 11 requires at least a 7th-generation Intel processor. Here is a link to a list of compatible processors from both Intel and AMD.
If your PC does not have a compatible processor, now is the time to start planning for a new computer. If the processor is compatible with Windows 11, you can upgrade Windows 10 for free by visiting this Microsoft website. Download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant and follow the instructions.
What will happen if I don’t upgrade to Windows 11 by October 14, 2025?
Once Microsoft stops supporting Windows, 10 no more new free security updates will be released. Security updates to Windows close security holes in the software. These are discovered over time and Microsoft releases updates or “patches” to close those holes. When you are asked to perform updates, most of the time it is to apply a new patch to a security issue in Windows. It is important to complete these updates to keep your system secure from cyber threats.
One thing to remember is that cybercriminals also know the date when Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10. The crooks are likely looking for security holes that can be exploited right now. Once support ends, those issues will not be addressed and any computer running Windows 10 on October 15, 2025, will have vulnerabilities to cyber-attacks.
Are there any other options besides upgrading?
Microsoft does continue to offer paid updates for unsupported operating systems after they end support for them. However, this should only be considered as a last resort. The price is usually pretty high and goes up exponentially each year until support is completely severed (usually 3 years). If you only have to budget to buy this extended, paid support, it can buy you some time. However, it will be better in the long run to upgrade your system to Windows 11 sooner than later.
Having an IT plan and budget
IT spending can be unpredictable. However, in most business settings, it is absolutely mission-critical. That’s why developing a plan and budget for IT needs is so vital to the success of your business or organization.
Our business serves many non-profit organizations and they often run on a very tight budget. Because of this, it is often more important to plan and budget for technology needs than other businesses. Technology can help make your staff operate more efficiently, or it can create inefficiencies that strangle the efforts of your team.
To get started, try our free IT Planning and Budgeting tool found here. It will help you identify your current IT-related costs and plan for what’s next. When you get out in front of your IT spending, managing changes like computer updates will just be part of the plan.
