Your Computer Still Switches On — But Is It Still Safe?
If your computer runs Windows 10, here is something that may have slipped quietly past you: as of 14 October 2025, Microsoft stopped looking after it.
The machine still turns on. It still opens your email, your photos, your favourite websites. Nothing looks any different. And that is exactly why this matters — because the change you cannot see is the one worth understanding.
Here is what it means, in plain terms — and the sensible, affordable thing to do about it. No panic, no pressure.
What "End of Support" Actually Means
When Microsoft "supports" a version of Windows, it sends out regular security updates — small, free fixes that quietly patch up weaknesses before criminals can use them. Think of them as a locksmith popping round each month to check your locks still hold.
Windows 10 hasn't stopped working — it has stopped being protected. From October 2025, no more security updates arrive. Each month that passes, a few more weaknesses are left unlocked, and they are never fixed.
For a while you could pay Microsoft for a year of extra security updates (a stopgap called "Extended Security Updates"), but that is a temporary plaster, not a cure — and it is already winding down. So what? A Windows 10 computer is still fine for today, but it grows a little less safe every month you keep using it online.
First, Find Out What You're Actually Running
Before doing anything, it is worth two minutes to check what you have. You may not even be on Windows 10.
- Click the Start button (the Windows symbol, bottom-left)
- Click Settings (the little cog/gear icon)
- Choose System, then scroll down and click About
- Look for "Edition" — it will say Windows 10 or Windows 11
If it says Windows 11, you can relax — you are fully supported and protected, and there is nothing to do. If it says Windows 10, read on. So what? A two-minute check tells you whether this affects you at all.
Your Four Options — Honestly Compared
There is no single right answer, so here are all four, with the plain truth about each.
| Option | The reality |
|---|---|
| Carry on with Windows 10 | Works today, but grows less safe each month. Fine for a machine never used online; risky for email, banking or shopping. |
| Upgrade your PC to Windows 11 (free) | Only possible if your computer is new enough (it needs a feature called TPM 2.0). Many machines from before 2018 simply don't qualify. |
| Buy a brand-new Windows 11 computer | The safest — and the most expensive. Often £600–£1,200 for the kind of laptop most people actually need. |
| Buy a refurbished Windows 11 laptop | A professionally restored machine, already on Windows 11, fully supported — typically a fraction of the price of new, and far kinder to the planet. |
So what? If your current PC can take Windows 11 for free, do that. If it can't — and many can't — you don't have to spend a fortune to stay safe.
Can My Computer Run Windows 11?
Microsoft offers a free, official little programme that checks for you. It is called PC Health Check.
- Click Start, type "PC Health Check", and see if it appears (it is often already installed)
- If it isn't there, download it only from microsoft.com — never from an advert or pop-up
- Open it and click "Check now" — it gives you a clear yes or no
If the check says your PC can't run Windows 11, please don't be tempted by websites offering a "workaround" to force it on. An unsupported machine running Windows 11 gets no proper updates either — so you'd be back where you started, with extra risk. A genuinely supported computer is the only real fix.
The Scams That Ride on This News
Whenever Microsoft changes something, the scammers follow. Please keep these firmly in mind.
- Never trust a pop-up shouting that your computer is "unprotected" — close the window; real warnings never arrive this way
- Never call a phone number on screen claiming to be "Microsoft Support" — Microsoft will never ring or message you like that
- Never pay someone who phones you offering to "upgrade your Windows" remotely — hang up
- Never download Windows 11 from anywhere but Microsoft itself
So what? The news is real, but anyone pressuring you to act this very second is not your friend. Genuine help never rushes you.
What This Means for You
Every refurbished laptop from ithaven.uk arrives running Windows 11, fully updated and fully supported — set up and ready to use from the moment it reaches your door. There is nothing technical for you to wrestle with.
We don't sell the cheapest machines on the internet, and we never will. We sell honest, professionally restored computers that are safe to bank, shop and email on — at a price that leaves your savings intact, and with a real person in the UK to help if you ever get stuck. Choosing a refurbished one also keeps a perfectly good laptop out of landfill, which feels rather good too.
If you are unsure whether your current computer is affected, you don't have to work it out alone — simply ask our IT Man. That's exactly what he's here for.
In a Nutshell
- Windows 10 stopped getting free security updates on 14 October 2025 — it still works, but grows less safe over time
- Check what you have: Start → Settings → System → About
- If your PC can take Windows 11 free, upgrade it; if not, a refurbished Windows 11 laptop is the safe, affordable answer
- Ignore pop-ups and cold-callers — real help never rushes or frightens you
