Windows 10 ends support on 14 October 2025 and so does Microsoft 365/Office on Win10 (mostly). Here’s a guide to ALL your choices, not just the ones Microsoft is pushing. Including the Microsoft 365 support policy change.
There’s a lot of advice around for the many people with Windows 10. Some of it is self-serving (e.g Microsoft or computer salesmen) or incomplete.
Ending support means there won’t be any updates for security or other bugs in Windows 10. Over time, that makes the computer increasingly vulnerable.
You’re not alone
Microsoft would like Windows 10 users to think they are a minority who are ‘behind the times’. The reality is VERY different.
Windows 10 users outnumber Windows 11, even though Win11 has been available for over three years. That’s a source of considerable annoyance to Microsoft.
In March 2025, 54% of Windows customers had Windows 10. Only 43% have Windows 11, that % is expected to rise this year. Source: Statcounter.com
Windows 10 for Microsoft Office users – our popular guide to Win10 has a chapter all about your choices before the end of support for Windows 10.
Microsoft Office
14 October 2025 also mostly means the end of support for any Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office software running on Windows 10.
That’s because Microsoft only supports Microsoft 365/Office on supported operating systems … from 14 October 2025 the only supported Windows will be Windows 11.
Affected software includes the Windows versions of:
- Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook etc.)
- Office 2024
- Office 2021
Office 2019 support ends for everyone on the same date as Windows 10, 14 October 2025.
See Microsoft Office support deadline checklist for more details.
Partial extension for Microsoft 365
Microsoft has quietly changed their policy about Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10.
Now there will be security updates only for Microsoft 365 apps running on Windows 10 until 10 October 2028 or about 3 years, 4 months from today.
Windows 10 is still considered ‘unsupported’ and there won’t be any non-security bug fixes. Microsoft warns that “… using an unsupported operating system can cause performance and reliability issues when running Microsoft 365 Apps“.
See Microsoft 365 on Windows 10 get partial extension for more info.
Your choices for the end of Windows 10
Here’s a simple breakdown of your options for any computer running Windows 10.
Start by knowing if your computer has the hardware compatible with Windows 11.
Do that using Microsoft’s PC Health Check app.
Most Windows 10 computers have CPU and memory sufficient for Window 11. However Windows 11 has stricter security requirements, mostly a TPM v2.0 chip, older machines might only have TPM 1.2. Also UEFI and Secure Boot.
Is computer Windows 11 compatible?
Yes – OK for Win11
Your options are:
- Switch to Windows 11
- Do that when you’re ready between now and October.
- Stick with Windows 10
- Continue to use without support
- Increasingly risky as time goes on.
- Buy extended support for a year
- US$30 for one year only (Home and individuals)
- Continue to use without support
Windows 11 for Microsoft Office users
The 2025 edition of our comprehensive Windows 11 guide has a complete, independent chapter on switching from Windows 10.
Step-by-step guide to migrating safely. Bypassing compatibility tests and whether you should do that or not.
Get Windows 11 for Microsoft Office users today
No – not compatible
Your choices are:
- Continue to use Windows 10
- Possible. Windows 10 won’t stop working on 14 October.
- Increasingly risky as time goes on.
- Buy extended support for a year
- US$30 for one year only (Home and individuals)
- Buy a replacement (compatible) computer with Windows 11.
- Microsoft would like you to subscribe to an online Windows Cloud computer.
- Switch to Windows 11 bypassing compatibility checks (NOT Recommended)
Installing older Office on Windows 10
