Windows 10 After Support Ended: What Your Business Should Do
Standard support for Windows 10 version 22H2 ended on 14 October 2025. In September 2026, businesses still using those machines need to know which are receiving extended security updates and which are running without that protection.
Find out what you actually have
Start with a list of your computers, their Windows versions and the software each person uses. Include the spare laptop, the reception PC and the machine that runs a label printer. Those are easy to miss when upgrades are discussed.
Check the exact Windows edition as well. Some specialist editions have different support dates, so a blanket instruction to replace every Windows 10 device could create unnecessary spending.
For each machine, confirm whether it meets Windows 11 requirements. Age alone does not answer that question. You also need to know whether the business applications and attached equipment will work after an upgrade.
Choose a route for each computer
A compatible PC may be suitable for an upgrade to Windows 11. Back up important information first and test essential software before scheduling the work.
Where the hardware cannot support Windows 11, replacement may be the sensible choice. Specify the new machine around the job it needs to do. Someone using browser-based applications has different needs from a colleague working with large drawings or design software.
Microsoft’s commercial Extended Security Updates programme can provide a temporary route for eligible Windows 10 devices. Enrolled business PCs can receive security updates for up to three years after the end of support. This does not restore normal product support or add new features.
Treat extended updates as time to complete a planned migration. Check licensing, activation and the relevant coverage period rather than assuming updates are arriving.
Avoid turning an upgrade into a lost working day
The awkward details often have little to do with Windows itself. A replacement machine may need access to shared folders, a particular printer tray, saved browser settings or a specialist application licence.
Ask the person using the PC what they need before the change. Agree a suitable time, confirm where their files are stored and allow for a check afterwards. Upgrading one representative machine first can reveal compatibility problems before they affect the whole office.
If you have several PCs to replace, put the work into a budget and schedule. Prioritise unsupported devices and business-critical roles, while keeping enough flexibility to deal with a machine that fails unexpectedly.
How Ashby can help with Windows upgrades
Ashby Computers provides business IT support in Northampton and across Northamptonshire. We can help assess your existing equipment, check upgrade options and plan replacements around the applications your staff rely on.
Our remote and onsite support gives you help with the setup as well as the purchase. That includes getting users back onto the resources they need and dealing with the practical questions that appear once they start working.
If Windows 10 is still part of your business, now is a good time to give every remaining machine a clear plan. Contact Ashby on 01604 790979 or enquiries@ashbycomputers.co.uk to discuss your next steps.
