Windows 10 reaches end-of-line next year. Before it does, you’ll need to make a decision: will you stay with Windows 10 and risk the security of your system, or switch to Windows 11 – or even find another solution?

If you’re on a very old version of Windows, you may be able to update to Windows 10 instead and enjoy the final 12 months of official support. Microsoft goes on to recommend using its cloud storage subscription-based service OneDrive to migrate your data to a new computer.

Microsoft has given itself a seemingly impossible race against time. With almost exactly a year to run before Windows 10’s unpopular end-of-life hits users in October 2025, Windows 11 is still failing to hook the hundreds of millions more users it needs to prevent a generational support nightmare coming true.