On 14th October 14 2025, Microsoft will officially end free updates for Windows 10. From that date, millions of laptops and desktops will stop receiving security patches. The timing couldn’t be more symbolic: it comes just days before International Repair Day (18th October).
Why does this matter? Around 400 million devices worldwide still run Windows 10. Without support, many people may feel pressured to replace perfectly working machines. This could lead to 700 million kg of unnecessary, avoidable e-waste.
But it does not have to be that way – and at The Repair Finder we want to make sure you know your options.
Fundamentally, there are five practical paths forward:
- Do nothing and hope for the best. Your device will not be protected if there is a security vulnerability discovered. You can sign up for (paid) Extended Security Updates for 1 year if you need more time to decide.
- Upgrade to Windows 11, if your hardware supports it. Run PC Health Check to find out. In some cases, you might be able to upgrade your hardware in order to be able to upgrade to Windows 11.
- Install an alternative operating system. This will wipe your entire hard drive – make sure you have a backup first! The most recommended options for older hardware are Linux Mint (you retain a fully working laptop) or ChromeOS Flex (you turn it into a Chromebook; check device compatibility), though alternative Linux distributions are possible (e.g. ElementaryOS, ZorinOS). This is not for everyone or easily done by everyone, so pop in to your local computer shop or Repair Café for advice or assistance.
- Get a “new” laptop or computer that can run Windows 11. Microsoft’s most recommended option – though it does not have to be new hardware, you can buy refurbished or returned hardware. Don’t bin your old machine, though! A local school, computer shop or Repair Café might be able to repurpose it with option 3!
If you want to read more (nuanced and complicated) options, you can look at this list from The Restart Project.
At The Repair Finder, our mission is to make repair accessible to anyone, anywhere. Instead of jumping to a new device and throwing away the old one, we encourage you to explore repair and reuse first. By doing so, you’ll save money, protect the planet, and stand up against unnecessary obsolescence. If you have issues, a spare device or are not sure what to do, please contact us.
