Microsoft ended standard support for Windows 10 version 22H2 on October 14, 2025. Devices can still run, but affected editions no longer receive normal Windows security updates, feature updates, or technical assistance. For IT teams, the immediate task is to identify which devices are actually out of support, then move eligible PCs to Windows 11, replace ineligible hardware, or use eligible commercial Extended Security Updates (ESU) as a limited bridge.
Which Windows 10 devices reached end of support?
Microsoft identifies version 22H2, released in September 2022, as the final Windows 10 feature update. Its general end-of-support date was October 14, 2025. Microsoft’s general lifecycle guidance lists Windows 10 Home and Pro, Enterprise and Education, Enterprise 2015 LTSB, and IoT Enterprise LTSB 2015 among the editions reaching that date. (Microsoft, “Lifecycle FAQ – Windows” and Windows 10 end-of-support guidance.)
Do not classify every Windows 10 installation by the 22H2 date alone. LTSC and LTSB releases may have separate lifecycle dates, and Microsoft provides dedicated ESU guidance for certain products in those servicing channels. Record each device’s edition, release, and servicing channel, then check its applicable lifecycle before deciding it is unsupported or eligible for an ESU route.
What IT admins should do next
- Build an accurate inventory. Record each device’s Windows edition, version, servicing channel, hardware configuration, business owner, and use case. Flag LTSC/LTSB systems for lifecycle review rather than applying the general date automatically.
- Set migration readiness criteria. Check Windows 11 hardware eligibility, application and peripheral compatibility, infrastructure capacity, and the deployment tools and servicing processes your organization will use.
- Pilot representative workloads. Include business-critical applications, device types, and user workflows. Resolve compatibility and deployment issues before broad rollout; Microsoft’s planning guidance calls for readiness criteria and application compatibility validation.
- Phase deployment and track exceptions. Use established deployment capabilities where suitable, update servicing plans for Windows 11, and maintain a separate plan for devices that cannot yet migrate.
These are fleet-planning steps, not a claim that any particular organization’s applications or deployment setup have been tested. Microsoft says Windows 11 is built on the same foundation as Windows 10 and that organizations can use existing deployment capabilities, scenarios, and tools while reviewing their servicing strategy. (Microsoft, “Windows 11 deployment planning” guidance.)
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Choose a path for each device group
| Path | Best fit | What it means | Main checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upgrade to Windows 11 | Devices that meet Windows 11 requirements and can support the organization’s applications and workflows. | Moves the device to a supported Windows release, subject to the applicable Windows 11 lifecycle. | Hardware eligibility, application and peripheral compatibility, readiness criteria, infrastructure, and rollout plan. |
| Replace the device | Devices that do not meet Windows 11 requirements or are not suitable for migration. | Replaces the unsuitable PC with hardware capable of running Windows 11. | Business requirements, deployment and data migration, and the organization’s replacement budget. Microsoft recommends replacing devices that cannot meet Windows 11 requirements. |
| Use commercial ESU | Eligible commercial-use devices that need a temporary security-update bridge while migration or replacement is completed. | Provides eligible devices with Critical and Important security updates for a paid annual period; it does not restore standard Windows support. | Edition and environment eligibility, licensing entitlement, activation route, current prerequisites, and a defined exit plan. |
The official guidance describes these options but does not establish a universal cost comparison. Compare the migration and support workload, expected time in service, compatibility risks, security needs, replacement costs, and actual ESU licensing costs for your own fleet rather than assuming one path is cheapest or best for every organization.
What commercial Windows 10 ESU does—and does not—cover
Microsoft describes Windows 10 ESU as a paid annual subscription for eligible commercial-use Windows 10 Enterprise, Education, and Pro editions. Its published coverage dates are:
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| ESU year | Microsoft-listed coverage end date |
|---|---|
| Year one | October 13, 2026 |
| Year two | October 12, 2027 |
| Year three | October 10, 2028 |
These are Microsoft’s listed ESU coverage dates, not confirmation that a particular device or tenant is enrolled. Confirm the current entitlement, licensing, and activation requirements for each device group. The dates describe the published Windows 10 ESU years; they do not change the device’s original product lifecycle.
- Included: eligible Critical and Important security updates during the applicable paid ESU period.
- Not included: new features, customer-requested nonsecurity changes, general technical support, or a return to ordinary Windows support. Microsoft limits assistance to ESU activation, installation, and possible regressions, and says an active support plan is required for help with those matters.
For physical commercial PCs, Microsoft’s ESU enablement instructions apply to Windows 10 version 22H2 and specify software and administrative prerequisites, including applicable updates and the ESU Licensing Preparation Package. Cloud and virtual deployments have separate qualification and enablement instructions, so use the route matching the actual environment instead of treating the physical-PC steps as universal. Check Microsoft’s current ESU guidance before deployment because prerequisites and enrollment terms can change. (Microsoft, “Windows 10 Extended Security Updates” FAQ and enablement guidance.)
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Windows 10 LTSC and LTSB need a separate lifecycle check
Some specialized Windows 10 releases continue to receive updates beyond the general October 14, 2025 date under their own lifecycle schedules. This is particularly relevant to existing Enterprise and Education LTSC installations and certain LTSB/LTSC products covered by dedicated ESU instructions. Identify the precise release and channel, then verify its Microsoft lifecycle and any applicable ESU eligibility before scheduling an upgrade, replacement, or enrollment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Microsoft 365 Apps support is not Windows support
Microsoft says Microsoft 365 Apps continue to function on Windows 10 and will receive app security updates through October 10, 2028—three years after Windows 10’s general end-of-support date. Microsoft recommends moving to Windows 11 to avoid performance and reliability issues over time. This app-specific commitment does not provide Windows 10 operating-system security updates or restore OS support. (Microsoft, “Windows 10 end of support and Microsoft 365 Apps.”)
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