This isn’t really a “should I?” article anymore. Windows 10 officially reached end of support on 14 October 2025 — Microsoft stopped providing security updates, bug fixes, and technical support for it. If you’re one of the many Australians still running Windows 10, here’s what’s actually changed, what your options are right now, and how to move across safely.

Upgrading to Windows 11

Quick summary

  • Windows 10 support ended on 14 October 2025 — it still runs, but it’s no longer getting security patches.
  • A free Extended Security Updates (ESU) option exists for consumers, but it’s time-limited and about to run out.
  • Upgrading to Windows 11 is free, but your PC must meet minimum hardware requirements, including TPM 2.0.
  • You can no longer revert to Windows 10 after ten days the way you once could — Windows 10 doesn’t offer the same safety net now that it’s unsupported.

Windows 10’s support has actually ended — here’s what that means

As of October 2025, PCs still running Windows 10 continue to work, but Microsoft no longer supplies feature updates, security fixes, or technical support for them. That leaves the operating system increasingly exposed: any new vulnerability discovered in Windows 10 from that date onward simply doesn’t get patched, which makes an unsupported PC a materially easier target for malware and ransomware.

Microsoft has offered a bridge: the Windows 10 Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which can be joined for free (by syncing your PC settings with a Microsoft account) or for a small one-off fee. It extends critical and important security patches for consumer devices through 13 October 2026 — which, depending on when you’re reading this, may only be weeks away. Business and enterprise devices can extend further under a separate paid ESU program, but for home users the free runway is genuinely running out.

In short: if you’re still on Windows 10, this is the year to actually make the move.

Can your PC even run Windows 11? Check first

Upgrading to Windows 11 is free via Windows Update, but only for hardware that meets Microsoft’s minimum requirements. The current specifications are:

Processor 1GHz or faster, 2+ cores, compatible 64-bit processor or SoC
RAM 4GB minimum
Storage 64GB or larger
System firmware UEFI, Secure Boot capable
TPM Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0 — Microsoft treats this as non-negotiable
Graphics DirectX 12 or later, WDDM 2.0 driver
Display 720p HD, larger than 9″ diagonally
Internet Required for setup, plus a Microsoft account

TPM 2.0 is the requirement that catches most people out — it’s a security chip on the motherboard, and while most PCs bought in the last five to six years have one, it’s sometimes switched off in the UEFI/BIOS by default. The easiest way to check your PC’s eligibility is Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app, or you can go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for updates directly.

If your PC doesn’t meet these requirements, installing Windows 11 anyway (via unofficial workarounds) can cause instability, driver issues, or missing updates down the line — not something we’d recommend for a machine you rely on.

What’s actually different in Windows 11

Visual layout: The Start Menu and Taskbar are centred by default (though you can move them back to the left), and the Start Menu itself is simpler — all your apps are one click away via the “All Apps” button, and pinning works the same way it did in Windows 10.

Security by design: The TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requirements aren’t arbitrary — they’re there to give Windows 11 stronger built-in protection against the kind of malware that tries to hijack a PC during startup, which is exactly the class of attack unsupported Windows 10 machines are now more exposed to.

App changes: Cortana is no longer built in (it’s still downloadable separately if you want it), and the Microsoft Store has been expanded considerably, including support for running Android apps on some configurations.

Performance: Windows 11 handles background processes and memory more efficiently across open apps and browser tabs, and sleep mode has been tuned so your PC wakes noticeably faster than it did on Windows 10.

Ongoing updates: Windows 11 continues to receive regular feature updates (the current release cycle includes the 25H2 and 26H2 updates), so the operating system itself keeps evolving rather than being frozen in time.

What if I’ve upgraded and want to go back?

Windows 11 still keeps a rollback copy of your previous installation for ten days after upgrading, so a short-term revert is possible if something’s gone wrong. Beyond that window, going back to Windows 10 means a clean reinstall — and given Windows 10 is now unsupported, we’d only recommend that as a genuinely temporary measure while you sort out a Windows 11-capable setup, not a long-term home.

Getting help with the move

Whether you need a hand checking if your PC is eligible, want the upgrade itself done properly (with your files and settings intact), or you’re dealing with a PC that’s too old to make the jump and need advice on a replacement, Computer Cures can help. Our team handles:

And if it turns out your PC genuinely can’t make the jump to Windows 11, our custom-build PC service and computer recycling and disposal service can help you replace and responsibly retire the old machine at the same time.

Not sure where to start? Get in touch with our team or call us on 13 0055 3166, and we’ll talk you through the best option for your setup.