Seasonal · 4 min read · Updated 6 November 2026
Windows 10 end of support: what to do with old business PCs in 2026
Where things stand in late 2026
Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025. Since then, PCs running it receive no free security updates, which leaves them increasingly exposed and can cause problems with cyber insurance, Cyber Essentials and customer security questionnaires.
Business Extended Security Updates were priced per device at about 61 US dollars for year one, with the price doubling for year two, which runs to October 2027, and doubling again for year three, which runs to October 2028. For most small and medium businesses that makes ESU a short bridge rather than a long-term plan.
Can the PC run Windows 11?
Windows 11 needs TPM 2.0, Secure Boot and a supported processor, which broadly means Intel 8th generation or newer, or AMD Ryzen 2000 series or newer. Many business PCs bought from around 2018 onwards qualify. Older machines generally do not, and workarounds that bypass the checks leave you on an unsupported configuration.
Run the PC Health Check app or check the processor model against Microsoft's supported list. Your IT provider can usually produce a report for the whole fleet in one go.
Also check peripherals and specialist software before upgrading. Older label printers, scanners, card readers and line-of-business applications sometimes lack Windows 11 drivers, and finding this out after the upgrade is far more disruptive than testing a single machine first. Where something will not work, record it, as it may be the reason a particular PC needs ESU while a replacement is found.
Your options compared
| Option | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrade to Windows 11 | PCs that meet the hardware rules | Test key software first |
| Pay for ESU | A handful of PCs running software that cannot move yet | Cost doubles each year |
| Repurpose with ChromeOS Flex or Linux | Kiosks, reception screens, training rooms | Staff support and software compatibility |
| Replace and dispose | Older or slow PCs | Data destruction and WEEE paperwork |
Planning a refresh
- List every Windows 10 device with its age, processor and user
- Mark which can upgrade, which need ESU short term, and which will be replaced
- Order replacements in batches so old PCs can be collected in one or two visits
- Migrate user data and settings, then check nothing is left only on the local drive
- Remove old devices from your management tools and licensing
- Book certified erasure or shredding before any PC leaves the building
Spreading the refresh into batches also spreads the cost and makes collections more efficient.
Is there any value in old Windows 10 PCs?
Business-grade desktops and laptops that cannot run Windows 11 have lost much of their resale value, because buyers know the same limitation applies to them. Some still sell for parts or into markets where they will run another operating system, and memory, processors and screens can sometimes be recovered.
In practice, expect low or nil value for most machines more than six or seven years old. Newer machines that can run Windows 11 but are being replaced for other reasons may still be worth remarketing, especially in larger batches.
A sample refresh plan for a small office
For an office with around 40 to 60 Windows 10 PCs, a phased approach over two to three months tends to work well and keeps disruption down.
| Phase | What happens |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1 to 2 | Audit every device, confirm Windows 11 eligibility and agree a budget |
| Weeks 3 to 4 | Upgrade eligible PCs in small groups and test key software |
| Weeks 5 to 8 | Deploy replacements in batches, migrate data and retire old PCs |
| Weeks 8 to 10 | Collect retired PCs, complete erasure or shredding and file certificates |
Keep ESU only for the few machines that genuinely cannot move yet, such as a PC running a specialist piece of equipment, and set a date to replace them.
Disposing of the old machines safely
Even a slow, unsupported PC can hold years of email archives, saved passwords, customer files and cached data. Before disposal, every drive should be erased with verified software or shredded, and you should receive a certificate listing serial numbers.
The PCs themselves are WEEE, so they must go to a registered carrier and a permitted treatment site, with a waste transfer note. Batching the refresh into planned collections keeps the cost per device down.
Ask for a single collection report covering the whole batch, listing each PC by serial number alongside its drive serial number, method and result. That makes it simple to close off every Windows 10 device in your asset register and show the refresh was completed properly.
Frequently asked questions
Is it illegal to keep using Windows 10?
No, it is not illegal. But using an unsupported operating system can conflict with UK GDPR's requirement for appropriate security measures, can fail Cyber Essentials, which requires software to be supported and patched, and may affect cyber insurance cover. The risk grows the longer machines go without security updates, so most businesses should plan to move off it.
Will Windows 10 PCs still work after support ended?
Yes, they still switch on and run as before. The difference is that newly discovered security flaws are no longer fixed unless you pay for Extended Security Updates. Over time, browsers, antivirus products and business applications will also stop supporting Windows 10, so problems tend to build gradually rather than all at once.
Can old Windows 10 PCs be donated?
They can, but the recipient faces the same support problem, so they are most useful with ChromeOS Flex or Linux installed. Whatever happens to them, the drives should be erased with a verified tool first, and you should keep the erasure report as evidence the data was removed.
Windows 10 Windows 11 PC refresh ESU
