Windows 10 Security Upgrades: Can We Stop Using Windows 10 in the Year of the Windows Update Rejuvenation? An Expert’s Report on Microsoft

While support will end for Office apps on Windows 10 in October, it doesn’t mean the apps will suddenly stop working. Microsoft notes in a support document that was updated in December that “the applications will continue to function as before” after Windows 10 support ends, but that there could be “performance and reliability issues over time.”

The year of the Windows 11 PC refresh is what Microsoft wants people to stop using this year. The software maker declared at CES last week that refreshing an old Windows 10 PC will be more important than buying a new TV or phone this year.

Windows 11 adoption is still lagging behind Windows 10, and millions of machines simply can’t upgrade to the latest OS due to Microsoft’s strict hardware requirements. Microsoft said that the Trusted Platform Module 2.0 requirements for Windows 11 is “non-negotiable” and closed the door on older hardware. Microsoft wants users of the Windows 10 OS to buy a new PC with a full-screen prompt.

Microsoft is offering the first ever security update for consumers on top of their Windows 10 support. Businesses will be able to purchase up to 3 years of extended updates for $30 more than consumers.

If this is your tactic, it might be worth considering Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates, which are being offered to consumers for the first time. Users can pay $30 to keep their PC secure with updates for a year, while businesses can protect their machines for up to three. It won’t stop your apps from being old, but it will help to keep the bad stuff out of your future plans.