Windows 10 support ended on 14 October 2025, so a home PC on Windows 10 now gets security fixes only if it is enrolled in Microsoft's paid or free Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which ends on 12 October 2027. If your PC meets the hardware rules, the upgrade to Windows 11 is free and keeps your files and apps.
Disclosure: Msckey sells Windows 11 licences. We link to our products where they are relevant, but you do not need to buy anything to upgrade a genuine Windows 10 PC.
Windows 10 vs Windows 11 at a Glance
| Windows 10 | Windows 11 | |
| Support status | Ended 14 Oct 2025. Security fixes only through ESU | Supported. Monthly security updates plus a yearly feature update |
| Extended updates | Home users: consumer ESU to 12 Oct 2027. Organisations: paid ESU up to Oct 2028 | Not needed |
| Newest version | 22H2 (final version) | 26H2, released 29 Sep 2026 (build 26300) |
| Processor | 1 GHz or faster, 32-bit or 64-bit | 1 GHz, 2+ cores, on Microsoft's supported CPU list (64-bit only) |
| Security chip and firmware | No TPM needed | TPM 2.0 and UEFI with Secure Boot |
| RAM / storage | 1 to 2 GB / 16 to 32 GB | 4 GB / 64 GB |
| Interface | Left-aligned Start menu with Live Tiles; taskbar on any edge | Centred Start menu and taskbar; taskbar stays at the bottom |
| Multitasking | Snap Assist, Task View, virtual desktops | Snap Layouts, Snap Groups, better multi-monitor memory |
| Security features | Windows Security, BitLocker on Pro | Same, plus TPM 2.0, Secure Boot and virtualisation-based security that can run by default |
| Gaming | DirectX 12 | DirectX 12, Auto HDR, DirectStorage built for Windows 11 |
| Copilot and AI | No new features | Copilot app; extra Copilot+ PC features on PCs with a 40+ TOPS NPU |
| Android apps | Not available | Not available. Windows Subsystem for Android was removed from the Microsoft Store on 5 March 2025 |
Windows 10 vs Windows 11 Support Status: The Difference That Matters Most
A Windows 10 PC still turns on, runs your programs and stays activated. What it does not get is new security patches unless it is enrolled in ESU.
That risk grows each month. When Microsoft fixes a flaw in Windows 11, attackers can study the fix and look for the same hole in Windows 10.
For home users, consumer ESU is free if you sync your PC settings, costs 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or costs a one-time $30. It only works on Windows 10 version 22H2, and it ends on 12 October 2027. Businesses and schools can pay for ESU for up to three years after end of support, which takes them to October 2028, as explained on Microsoft Learn.
Treat ESU as time to plan your move, not as a long-term fix.
Windows 11 also has dates to watch. Support is tied to each version, not to "Windows 11" as a whole. Version 24H2 Home and Pro stopped getting updates on 13 October 2026. Version 25H2 is supported until October 2027, and version 26H2 is supported until October 2028.
To check your version, press Win + R, type winver, and press Enter. If you see 24H2 or older, update through Windows Update. You can also use our Microsoft lifecycle checker to look up any product.
What Actually Feels Different Day to Day
The two systems are closer than the new look suggests. These are the changes most people notice.
Interface
Windows 11 puts the Start menu and taskbar in the centre. You can move them to the left, but the taskbar cannot go to the top or sides. Live Tiles are gone, replaced by pinned apps and recommended files.
Multitasking
This is Windows 11's clearest everyday win. Hover over a window's maximise button and Snap Layouts lets you pick a grid. Windows 11 also remembers where your windows were on an external monitor. Unplug a laptop from its dock and plug it back in, and your windows return to where they were.
Gaming
Auto HDR adds HDR to many older DirectX 11 and 12 games on an HDR screen. DirectStorage helps supported games load faster from an NVMe SSD, and Microsoft built it with Windows 11 in mind. These help most on newer PCs, which are also the ones that pass the Windows 11 check.
Copilot and Android apps
Windows 11 includes the Copilot app. Some extra AI features only work on Copilot+ PCs, which need a chip (NPU) that can do 40 trillion operations per second or more.
If you used Android apps on Windows 11, note that Windows Subsystem for Android and the Amazon Appstore were discontinued in March 2025. Neither version runs Android apps from a store today.
What Windows 10 still does better
- Taskbar position: Windows 10 lets you put it on any edge of the screen.
- Live Tiles: Windows 11 has no direct replacement.
- Older hardware and drivers: Some scanners, audio interfaces and lab devices never got Windows 11 drivers. This is the most common reason a working PC stays on Windows 10.
Can my PC run Windows 11 OS?
Run Microsoft's free PC Health Check app. It tells you if your PC passes and, if not, why.
The main rules are:
- A supported 64-bit processor (roughly Intel 8th gen or AMD Ryzen 2000 and newer)
- TPM 2.0
- UEFI firmware with Secure Boot
- 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage
The processor rule surprises people. A powerful 2016 workstation can fail while a basic 2020 laptop passes, because Microsoft uses a list of supported chips, not a speed test.
TPM and Secure Boot failures are often just settings. Many PCs have TPM 2.0 but it is switched off in the firmware (BIOS/UEFI). Check your PC maker's support site for how to turn it on before you decide your PC can't upgrade.
What If My PC can't run Windows 11?
You have four real options. We do not recommend installing Windows 11 on hardware that fails the check. Microsoft does not support it, and those PCs may not get updates, which is the problem you were trying to solve.
- Enrol in ESU. This keeps a Windows 10 22H2 PC patched until 12 October 2027. Use that time to plan.
- Keep it offline. A PC that never connects to the internet, such as one that runs a machine or old lab gear, faces much less risk. You accept that risk if you do this.
- Switch to another system. Linux or Google's ChromeOS Flex can give older hardware a supported system for web and office work. Check that your apps run on it first.
- Replace the PC. Any new PC sold with Windows 11 meets the requirements.
How to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11
If your PC passes, the upgrade from a genuine, activated Windows 10 is free. Microsoft lists the official ways to install Windows 11.
- Back up your files. Use OneDrive, Windows Backup, or an external drive.
- Open Windows Update. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates. If the Windows 11 upgrade is offered, select Download and install.
- Or use the Installation Assistant. If Windows Update doesn't offer it yet, download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant from Microsoft's site.
- Let it finish. Your PC will restart a few times. Your files, apps and most settings come with you.
Your licence carries over. A Windows 10 Home licence becomes Windows 11 Home, and Pro becomes Pro. You do not need a new product key. For more on how keys and digital licences work, see our Windows 11 product key guide.
[SCREENSHOT: Windows Update showing the Windows 11 upgrade offer]
Changed your mind? You can go back to Windows 10 within 10 days. Our guide on how to roll back to Windows 10 walks you through it. After that, Windows 10 would need a clean install, and it still would not get updates without ESU.
Which Windows 11 Version Should You Be On?
The current version is Windows 11 26H2, released on 29 September 2026 (OS build 26300). Version 25H2 is still supported until October 2027. Version 24H2 Home and Pro is out of support since 13 October 2026, so update now if winver shows 24H2.
For what changed in the last release, read what's new in Windows 11 25H2.
Do You Need to Buy a Windows 11 License Key?
Most people upgrading a genuine Windows 10 PC do not. You may need a licence if you are:
- Building a new PC
- Doing a clean install on a PC that never had genuine Windows
- Moving from Home to Pro
If that is you, our Windows 11 collection includes:
- Windows 11 Pro OEM Key: $18.00, OEM licence (tied to the first PC it activates on)
- Windows 11 Home OEM Key: $25.99, OEM licence
- Microsoft Windows 11 Pro License Key: $29.99, Retail licence (can be moved to a new PC)
OEM is cheaper but stays with one PC. Retail costs more but can move with you when you replace your PC. Every Msckey licence comes with an activation guarantee and a 30-day replacement warranty. If you reinstall later, our guide to reformatting your PC and reusing your Windows 11 key shows how.
We don't recommend buying a Windows 10 licence now. Windows 10 is no longer supported, and new ones won't help you get updates after ESU ends.
FAQs
Is Windows 10 still safe to use in 2026?
Only with ESU. Without it, your PC gets no new security fixes, and the risk grows over time. Consumer ESU covers Windows 10 22H2 PCs until 12 October 2027. For the full story, read our post on Windows 10 end of support.
Is the Windows 11 upgrade still free?
Yes, if your Windows 10 is genuine and activated and your PC passes PC Health Check. The upgrade comes through Windows Update or the Installation Assistant.
Will I lose my files when I upgrade?
No, an in-place upgrade keeps your files, apps and most settings. Back up first anyway, in case something goes wrong.
Is Windows 11 faster than Windows 10?
On the same PC, the difference is small. Windows 11 gives more priority to the app you're using and wakes from sleep a bit faster, but don't expect a new-PC feeling.
Can I run Android apps on Windows 11?
Not from a store. Microsoft removed Windows Subsystem for Android and the Amazon Appstore from the Microsoft Store in March 2025.
The Bottom Line
In 2026, this is mostly a question of support, not features. Windows 11 gets security updates as standard. Windows 10 only gets them through ESU, and that ends in October 2027 for home users.
Run PC Health Check. If your PC passes, upgrade for free. If it doesn't, enrol in ESU and use the time to plan your next PC.
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