This doesn't come as a surprise: Microsoft has a long-established Fixed Lifestyle Policy for many of its products. For each version of its OS, the company offers a minimum of 10 years of support (at least five years of mainstream support like security updates and no-charge incident support, followed by five years of extended support like paid troubleshooting).
Windows 10 was released in July 2015, so its 10-year life cycle will have come to a close by October 2025. Here's everything you need to know about the end of Windows 10 support.
Windows 10's days are numbered.
Josh Goldman/CNETDo I have to make the switch to Windows 11? Will my Windows 10 computer stop working after Microsoft pulls support?
You'll still be able to use your Windows 10 computer the same way you have been, just like a lot of people are still using Windows 7 or Windows 8, though Microsoft pulled support for both of those in recent years. However, once support ends, you won't get any security updates, which could leave your computer vulnerable -- many forms of malware target Windows devices.
If you don't want to stop using your Windows 10 machine after support ends in 2025, there are certain steps you can take to better secure it.
Will my computer be able to run Windows 11?
It depends. If you recently bought a new PC, that computer should be able to run Windows 11. To see if your current Windows 10 PC is eligible for the free upgrade to Windows 11, go to Microsoft's website for a list of requirements.
The easiest way to find out is to download the PC Health Check app to check if your machine is compatible. Alternatively, you can use another open-source app called WhyNotWin11 to see if your device is compatible. Plus, here's how to check some hardware compatibility with Windows 11 without either tool.
How do I upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11? How much will it cost me?
If you're already a Windows 10 user and have a compatible computer, Windows 11 will appear as a free upgrade for your machine once it becomes available for you. Microsoft's new OS is gradually rolling out between now and mid-2022.
Once Windows 11 becomes available for you, you'll download it the same way you would any new version of Windows. Most users will go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for Updates. If available, you'll see Feature update to Windows 11. Click Download and install. (Here's more information on how to download Windows 11. If you haven't yet upgraded to Windows 10, you may still be able to download Windows 10 free, too -- here's how.)
Windows 11 includes a new interface and lots of new features.
MicrosoftWhat's the difference between Windows 10 and Windows 11, anyway?
Windows 11 gets a new visual design and several new features that aim to make navigating your computer easier, whether for personal use, work or both. Here are some of the biggest changes in Windows 11:
***Join the hot discussion for Windows 11 cumulative update failed to download and install
Stay longer till the Windows 10 support ended in 2025, or engage yourself in the overwhelmingly refreshed Windows 11? Is it a question for you?
On the day 24 June, Microsoft unveiled the next OS generation Windows 11, which comes with an overhaul new UI, Start Menu arrangements and solid security requirements of a TPM 2.0 chip and UEFI secure boot. The overall security improvement in Windows 11 is optimistically estimated to be a 40% increase than Windows 10! Microsoft hopes that all the modern computers and laptops get the Windows 11 free upgrade from Windows 10 since they meet the minimum system requirements as below.
For machines within 4-6 years, they're most likely to be able to meet the hardware and system requirements and hopefully get the free upgrade. If you're not sure about your computer's age or specific configurations like the mentioned processor, graphics card or system firmware settings, use a Windows 11 upgrade checker to help measure the compatibility for you.
Step 1. Download EaseUS Windows 11 Upgrade Checker.
Step 2. Click the Check Now button to start.
Step 3. The Windows 11 compatibility result window will soon appear. All the incompatible and compatible configuration items will be listed.
Do You Need Any System Tweaks Before Upgrading to Windows 11?
Since the CPU, processor, or TPM are the components you cannot change or do an in-place replacement, for those old-fashioned computers we suggest they stay with Windows 10, which is stable enough and unlikely to be outdated in the long run. Meanwhile, according to the returned checking results, even some modern computers don't get a 100 score in each required section. Despite that imperfect testing result, they can do some system tweaks to make the PC competent. And here, we mainly talk about the failed test in UEFI secure boot.
As for now, the UEFI mode is the trending firmware setting that is gradually replacing the aging Legacy BIOS mode, due to its security and flexibility enhancement. To be able to boot your computer from the UEFI firmware settings, the hard disk must be built in the GPT style. Shortly, Legacy BIOS is on an MBR basis while UEFI is on a GPT basis. To enable UEFI secure boot on a support computer, you'll need to convert MBR to GPT on a system hard disk in advance.
Download EaseUS Partition Master and follow the guide to convert MBR to GPT on a Windows 10 hard drive without losing partitions or data.
Step 1. Download and launch EaseUS Partition Master on your computer.
Step 2. Go to Disk Converter, select "Convert MBR to GPT" and click "Next" to continue.
Step 3. Select the target MBR disk that you tend to convert to GPT, and click "Convert" to start the conversion.
You can do more with EaseUS Partition Master to set up your computer eligible with Windows 11. If your Windows 10 system C drive is running low disk space, less than 64GB free space on the hard drive, try to transfer some free space from D to C with the Allocate Space function.
How to Download Windows 11 ISO to Install Windows 11 for Free
Are you interested in a free, fast and simple method to get Windows 11 free upgrade from Windows 10? EaseUS Win11builder can help achieve the goal. It saves your time by directly offering the downloadable ISO image for you so you can start with one click. Follow the below guide to download and install Windows 10 without any hassle.
Step 1. The Windows11 builder is integrated with the EaseUS OS2Go software. Click the download button and launch the program after installation.
Step 2. Switch WinToGo Creator to Windows Install Drive Creator. The obtained system information is available on the home screen, and it keeps updating all the time. Apart from Windows 11, Win11 builder also supports you to download Windows 10/8.1.
Step 3. Connect your USB flash drive to the computer. Win11 builder will automatically detect your USB device, so all you need to do is click the Create button.
Step 4. The software will empty your USB drive data if it's a used one. Once the downloading process begins, wait there until it finished or leave for a while to do you own job.
Step 5. After successfully downloading the Windows 11 iso image file on the USB drive, start to install Windows 11 from the bootable USB drive on your computer by following the installation wizard step by step.
How to Automatically Upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 for Free
Windows 11 is not finished yet and Microsoft said that the full release will soon come later this year and many devices can receive the update at the beginning of 2022, but members of the Windows Insider Program can get the Windows 11 preview at the moment.
The most direct way to get the Windows 11 preview build is via the Dev channel (for developers)from Windows Update in settings. Here, we'll present you how to get the Windows 11 free upgrade in the Windows 10 system settings.
ImportantYou won't expect Windows 11 upgrade messing around your computer, right? Then do it with a secure backup of everything you care about. It's definitely a wise decision to back up Windows 10 before upgrading to Windows 11, in case you need a system rollback after a 10-day period.
Besides, to ensure a smooth and trouble-free Windows 11 upgrade on your computer, do some prior work in the following:
- Check if the Internet/wifi connection is stable, and disconnect any unnecessary external devices from your computer if possible.
- Keep your laptop battery charging during the Windows 11 update download and install.
- Keep your Windows 10 build the most up-to-date (19043, May 2022 Update)
Step 1. Press Windows + S to open Settings and choose Update & Security.
Step 2. Navigate to Windows Insiders Program and click Get Started. You'll need the Microsoft account to continue.
Step 3. Follow the instructions to choose the experience and channel you want to get the early Windows 11 preview build on your computer. Choose Dev channel.
Step 4. Confirm the Privacy Statement and terms and click Restart Now.
Step 5. After restarting, go to Settings > Privacy > Diagnostics & feedback to check if the Optional Diagnostic Data switch is On. Finally, return to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for updates. There you should be able to see the latest Insider Preview build for Windows 11.
Step 6. Wait for the Windows 11 automatic download and install on your computer.
* When the Windows 11 official version is generally available to download, none Insiders users can directly go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click the Check for updates button for a full Windows 10 to Windows 11 upgrade.
FAQs About Upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11
Here in this part, we also listed some interesting topics about upgrading Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free. If you are interested, follow and find answers to the listed questions below:
1. Can I upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11?
Yes, you can. Microsoft has given all Windows 10 users multiple free access to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11, for example: upgraded o Windows 11 through settings, upgrade to Windows 11 by downloading Windows 11 creation media, or upgrade to Windows 11 by fresh installing the OS, etc.
2. How do I get my free upgrade to Windows 11?
Go to Windows 10 settings, click "Update & security", click "Windows update" > and click "Check for updates".