You need to upgrade. Here’s the summary.
- Windows 10 support officially ended on 14 October 2025 — no more security updates, ever
- Six months on, unpatched vulnerabilities are being actively exploited by attackers
- Windows 11 Home costs £34 and Windows 11 Pro costs £38 — instant delivery, lifetime licence
- Most PCs from 2018 onwards are compatible — we’ll show you how to check in under two minutes
Windows 10 support ended six months ago. If you’re still running it, you haven’t received a single security update since October 2025 — and that gap is now being exploited. Here’s a clear, no-jargon guide to what’s actually at risk, whether your PC can make the jump, and how to upgrade for less than £40.
What Actually Happened When Windows 10 Support Ended
On 14 October 2025, Microsoft ended mainstream support for Windows 10. This wasn’t a sudden death — the OS still runs, your files are still there, and nothing immediately breaks. But from that date, Microsoft stopped issuing security patches, bug fixes, and feature updates for Windows 10.
That matters because the security threat landscape doesn’t stand still. New vulnerabilities in operating systems are discovered constantly — some minor, some serious. Before October 2025, Microsoft would patch those within days. Now, they won’t patch them at all. Every new vulnerability discovered in Windows 10 from this point forward is a permanent, unfixed hole.
What happens when Windows 10 support ends — full breakdownThe Real Risks of Staying on Windows 10 in 2026
This isn’t theoretical. When Microsoft ends support for an OS, it becomes a documented, known target. Attackers specifically look for machines still running unsupported software because they know those machines won’t receive patches for whatever they find.
- Ransomware — increasingly targeting SMEs and home workers on older OS versions
- Browser exploits that use OS-level vulnerabilities to escalate access
- Remote code execution via unpatched Windows components
- Data theft through credential harvesting tools designed for legacy systems
There’s also a practical business angle. If you handle any client data, financial records, or sensitive documents, running an unsupported OS is increasingly incompatible with GDPR obligations and cyber insurance policy requirements. Several UK insurers now require that business machines run a supported OS as a basic condition of cover.
A common misconception is that keeping your antivirus up to date compensates for an unsupported OS. It doesn’t. Antivirus operates at the application layer. OS-level vulnerabilities sit beneath it — your antivirus can’t patch a hole in the kernel it’s running on top of.
Is Your PC Compatible With Windows 11?
Most PCs manufactured from 2018 onwards will pass the Windows 11 compatibility check. The hard requirement is TPM 2.0, which trips up some older machines — but most modern motherboards have had it enabled by default since 2017.
Check in under two minutes
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1Press Windows key + R, type
whatsapp— actually, typewinverand press Enter. This confirms your current Windows version and build. -
2Download the PC Health Check app from Microsoft’s website. It runs a 30-second compatibility scan and tells you precisely whether your PC meets Windows 11 requirements — and if not, exactly which requirement it fails.
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3If TPM 2.0 is the only issue, check your BIOS/UEFI settings — on many machines it’s present but disabled. Enabling it takes two minutes and resolves the block entirely.
- CPU: 1 GHz or faster, 64-bit, 2+ cores (most CPUs from Intel 8th gen / AMD Ryzen 2000 onwards)
- RAM: 4 GB minimum (8 GB recommended)
- Storage: 64 GB free
- TPM: Version 2.0 (check BIOS if flagged)
- Firmware: UEFI with Secure Boot capable
Your Options in 2026
How to install Windows 11 via USB — step-by-step guideWindows 11 Home or Pro — Which Do You Actually Need?
For most home users and students, Windows 11 Home at £34 is the right choice. It covers everything you need for everyday use, web browsing, Microsoft 365, creative apps, and gaming.
Windows 11 Pro at £38 — just £4 more — is the right choice if you work from home, manage a small business, handle sensitive data, or need any of the following:
Not sure? Use our free Windows 11 licence advisor tool — answer three questions and get a personalised recommendation.
Windows 11 Home vs Pro — detailed comparisonHow to Get Windows 11 Today
Every Windows 11 licence key from Software Supplies UK is a genuine full retail licence — the same type Microsoft sells directly, at a fraction of the price. Retail licences are fully transferable if you upgrade your hardware, and covered by a lifetime warranty.
- Genuine Microsoft retail licence key — activates directly against Microsoft’s servers
- Instant email delivery — typically under one minute after payment
- Lifetime validity — no subscription, no renewal, no expiry
- Lifetime warranty — if it ever stops working, we replace it free of charge
- UK-based customer support, 7 days a week, 9am–6pm
- PDF VAT invoice included
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Windows 10 still safe to use in 2026?
No — not by any reasonable security standard. Microsoft stopped issuing security patches for Windows 10 in October 2025. Any vulnerability discovered after that date is a permanent, unfixed hole in your system. Antivirus helps but cannot compensate for unpatched OS-level vulnerabilities. If you’re handling any sensitive data, storing financial records, or running a business, staying on Windows 10 in 2026 represents a significant and unnecessary risk.
Will Windows 10 stop working after support ended?
No — Windows 10 will continue to run after support ended. Your files, applications, and settings are unchanged. The difference is that you will no longer receive security updates, bug fixes, or feature improvements. The OS itself doesn’t stop functioning; it just stops being protected.
Can I upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free?
Microsoft offered a free upgrade path from Windows 10 to Windows 11 for eligible devices during the initial rollout period, but this offer has since ended. To upgrade to Windows 11 now, you need a valid Windows 11 licence key. A genuine retail licence from Software Supplies UK costs from £34 for Windows 11 Home — significantly less than buying directly from Microsoft.
What if my PC doesn’t meet Windows 11 requirements?
First, check whether TPM 2.0 is disabled in your BIOS — this is a common reason for failing the compatibility check that’s easily resolved. If your hardware genuinely can’t run Windows 11, your practical options are: extended security updates for Windows 10 (available through Microsoft at a cost for business users), new hardware that meets the requirements, or a refurbished business PC from a reputable supplier. Running an unprotected Windows 10 machine indefinitely is not a viable long-term option.
Will I lose my files when upgrading to Windows 11?
No — upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 using the in-place upgrade method preserves your files, applications, and settings. As with any OS change, we recommend backing up your important data before you start, but the standard upgrade process does not delete your files. If you choose to do a clean install instead, your files will be erased — make sure to back up first in that case.
Should I get Windows 11 Home or Pro?
For most home users and students, Windows 11 Home at £34 is the right choice — it covers everything needed for everyday computing, Microsoft 365, creative apps, and gaming. Windows 11 Pro at £38 is worth the extra £4 if you work from home and need Remote Desktop, handle sensitive data and need BitLocker encryption, manage multiple users or work PCs with Group Policy, run virtual machines with Hyper-V, or connect to business networks via Azure AD. If you’re unsure, use our free licence advisor tool.
How quickly will I receive my Windows 11 licence key?
Instantly — your Windows 11 licence key is emailed to you within seconds of payment being processed, typically under one minute. It’s also saved in your Software Supplies UK account for access at any time. If it doesn’t arrive, check your spam folder or contact our UK support team and we’ll resend immediately.
Stop putting it off — upgrade for £34 today
A genuine Windows 11 licence key, delivered to your inbox in under a minute. Lifetime validity, lifetime warranty, and real UK support 7 days a week.
Gary Walsh is the Head of Tech Support at Software Supplies, with more than 20 years in the IT industry. Fully Microsoft-certified and experienced across the full business software stack — from Windows and Office to cloud infrastructure and device management — Gary delivers practical, no-nonsense advice that helps users and businesses get the most from their technology.
