Prepare for Windows 10 end of support: Upgrade to Windows 11, Linux, or ChromeOS Flex

As Windows 10 approaches its end of support after a decade, on October 14, 2025, it’s crucial to prepare your PC to ensure continued security and optimal performance. In this guide, I’ll explain what happens after the operating system retires, the upgrade paths to Windows 11, and the available options if the computer doesn’t meet the minimum requirements for a newer version of the operating system, including upgrading to Linux Mint or Google ChromeOS Flex.

Understanding the end of support

Windows 10 was originally released on July 15, 2015, and after a decade, on October 14, 2025, it’ll no longer receive security updates, bug fixes, features, or technical support from Microsoft. This lack of updates can leave your system vulnerable to security threats and may result in decreased performance over time.

Evaluate your current system

Since the operating system will no longer receive updates or support, you must evaluate your computer system to determine the upgrade path to maintain support.

The first step is to check if your computer meets the system requirements for Windows 11. To assess your hardware compatibility, you can check the technical specifications using the Microsoft PC Health Check app.

Plan your upgrade path

Once you understand the hardware specifications, you must plan the upgrade path.

If the hardware is compatible, you should consider upgrading from Windows 10 to 11 to continue receiving updates, new features, and support.

If the hardware isn’t supported because the computer doesn’t include TPM 2.0, the CPU isn’t on the support list, or the device doesn’t have enough RAM, you can still upgrade to Windows 11, but the computer will remain unsupported.

If your computer doesn’t meet the minimum hardware requirements and you can’t even install Windows 11 because the processor is too old, you should consider switching from Windows to Linux. Or you can switch to the Google ChromeOS Flex.

An alternative is to consider the Extended Security Updates (ESU) option. For the first time, Microsoft is offering consumers a one-year ESU option for $30, which provides critical security updates beyond the end-of-support date. This option is ideal if you want additional time to transition to a new system without upgrading immediately.

Finally, if your current device doesn’t meet Windows 11 requirements, you should consider investing in a new device. Modern PCs offer advanced security features and better performance and are designed to support the latest software innovations for years to come.

In this guide, I’ll outline the different options to transition to Windows 11 or another operating system to continue receiving support and updates.

What you can do with your PC when Windows 10 support ends

If you have a computer running Windows 10, you first want to check the computer hardware to determine the upgrade path. Then, you have to create a full backup of your computer and then proceed with the upgrade.

Check computer compatibility for Windows 11
Create a full backup of the current setup
Upgrade to Windows 11 from 10 on supported hardware
Upgrade to Windows 11 from 10 on unsupported hardware
Upgrade from Windows 10 to Linux Mint
Upgrade from Windows 10 to ChromeOS Flex
Upgrade from Windows 10 by purchasing a new PC
Stay on Windows 10 longer with an additional subscription

Check computer compatibility for Windows 11

To determine if your computer can run Windows 11, follow these steps:

Open Start.
Search for PC Health Check and click the top result to open the app.
Click the Check now button.
Confirm if your computer will run Windows 11.
(Optional) Click the “See all results” button to view a list of the components that passed the compatibility.
(Optional) Click the Device specifications button to understand the system requirements better.

Once you complete the steps, if the hardware is compatible, you will receive a message confirming you can upgrade to the new version. If the hardware isn’t compatible, you will get a message detailing why the device can run Windows 11.

If the device doesn’t meet the hardware requirements, then you can choose to bypass the requirements anyway to install Windows 11, or you can choose to switch operating systems, such as Linux Mint or ChromeOS Flex.

If the app isn’t available on your computer, you must get it manually from this Microsoft link.

Create a full backup of the current setup

The next step is to create a full backup of your computer in case something goes wrong and you have a rollback. If you plan to perform a clean installation, you will have to create a backup of your files since you will have to restore them manually after the installation.

To create a system image backup on Windows 10, use these steps:

Open Settings on Windows 10.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Backup.
Under the “Looking for an older backup” section, click the “Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7)” option.
Click the “Create a system image” option from the left pane.
Under the “On a hard disk” setting, select the external USB drive for the full backup of Windows 10.

Quick tip: You can use an external USB hard drive with data already on it. The tool will not format or erase any files in the drive. Instead, it will create a folder called “WindowsImageBackup” to save the system image.
Click the Next button.
Select any other drive to include in the Windows 10 full backup (if applicable).
Click the Next button.
Click the Start backup button.
Click the No button.

Once you complete the steps, the backup will be created on the external USB drive. You will also be prompted to “create a system image repair disc.” However, you can skip this option since you can use the Windows 10 bootable media to access the recovery environment.

You can also follow these instructions in my video tutorial on my YouTube channel. (Remember to like and subscribe.)

It’s important to note that this backup is meant to restore your current setup if something goes wrong and you want to roll back. If you plan to upgrade using a clean installation of Windows 11 or switch operating systems, you also need to copy your files to an external drive and then restore them in the new setup.

Upgrade to Windows 11 from 10 on supported hardware

To upgrade to Windows 11 from Windows 10 through Windows Update, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the “Check for updates” button.
Click the “Download and install” button.
Click the Restart now button.

After you complete the steps, Windows 11 will install on the computer.

Upgrade to Windows 11 from 10 on unsupported hardware

If you plan to upgrade a device with unsupported hardware running Windows 10 to Windows 11, downloading the ISO file and using the Rufus tool is perhaps the best approach.

Also, you must ensure the computer can boot from a USB flash drive, so you may need to change the UEFI settings or start the device in the boot menu. Since the firmware settings differ on every computer, you must check your manufacturer support website for more specific details.

Download the Windows 11 ISO file

To download the official Windows 11 ISO file, follow these steps:

Open Microsoft Support website.
Select the Windows 11 option under the “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices” section.
Click the Download button.
Select the installation language.
Click the Confirm button.
Click the Download button to save the ISO file on the computer.

Once you complete the steps, you can start with the creation of the installation media.

Create Windows 11 bootable media

To create a Windows 11 bootable media, connect a USB flash drive of at least 8GB and follow these steps:

Open Rufus website.
Click the link to download the latest version under the “Download” section.
Choose the USB flash drive from the “Device” setting.
Double-click the executable to launch the tool.
Click the Select button.
Select the Windows 11 ISO file.
Click the Open button.
Continue with the default settings after the download.
(Optional) Specify a name for the drive under the “Volume label” setting.
Click the Start button.
Check the “Remove requirement for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0” option to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware.
Check the “Remove requirement for an online Microsoft account” option to bypass the internet and Microsoft account requirements and create a local account.
(Optional) Check the “Create a local account with username” option and specify an account name to create a local account automatically.
Check the “Disable BitLocker automatic device encryption” option to prevent the setup from enabling BitLocker during the installation (if applicable).

Quick note: Although encryption is recommended, depending on the scenario, you may want to keep this feature disabled, such as when setting up a dual-boot system.
Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the tool will create a bootable media for unsupported hardware.

If you choose the option to create a local account automatically, the setup will create the account without a password. As a result, after the installation, you have to remember to create a password and PIN from the “Sign-in options” settings page.

Windows 11 unsupported PC clean install process

To perform a clean install of Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, use these steps:

Start the PC with the Windows 11 USB flash drive.
Press any key to continue.
Choose the installation language and format.
Click the Next button.
Choose the keyboard and input method.
Click the Next button.
Select the “Install Windows 11” option.
Check the “I agree everything” option to confirm this process will delete everything on the computer.
Click the “I don’t have a product key” option.

Quick note: The computer will activate automatically since the Windows 10 product key is compatible with the latest version of the operating system.
Select the edition of Windows your license key activates.
Click the Next button.
Click the Accept button
Select each partition on the hard drive where you want to install Windows 11 24H2 and click the Delete button. (Usually, “Drive 0” is the drive that contains all the installation files.)
Select the hard drive (Drive 0 Unallocated Space) to install the latest preview of the operating system.
Click the Next button.
Click the Install button.
Choose your region setting on the first page of the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE) after the installation.
Click the Yes button.
Select your keyboard layout setting.
Click the Yes button.
Click the Skip button if you do not need to configure a second layout.
The computer will automatically connect to the network using an Ethernet connection. You must set up the connection manually on a wireless connection (a security key may be required).
(Optional) Confirm a name for the computer.
Click the Next button. (The device will restart automatically.)
Select the “Set up for personal use” option for Windows 11 Pro. This option is not available for the “Home” edition.
Click the Next button.
Click the Sign in button.

Quick note: If you select the option to skip the internet and online account and choose the option to create a local account, the wizard will skip this part and continue with the initial setup.
Confirm your Microsoft account email to create a Windows 11 account.
Click the Next button.
Confirm your Microsoft account password.
Click the Next button.
Click the Create PIN button.
Create a new four-digit PIN.
Click the OK button.
Confirm the privacy settings that best suit your situation by turning on or off the toggle switch for each setting.
Click the Next button.
Click the Next button again.
Click the Accept button.
Click the More options setting.
Click the “Set up as a new PC” option.
Click the “Set up as a new PC” option again (if applicable).
(Optional) On the “Let’s customize your experience” page, select one or more ways you plan to use the device to allow suggestions during the experience.
Click the Accept button to continue. Or click the Skip button to skip this part of the setup.
(Optional) Use the code to link your Android phone or click the Skip option.
Click the Next button.
Click the “Not now” button if you will be using a browser other than Microsoft Edge (if applicable).
Click the “Skip for now” option to skip the PC Game Pass promotion (if applicable).
Click the “No, thanks” button to skip the Microsoft 365 setup (if applicable).

Once you complete the steps, Windows 11 24H2 will finish the clean installation on the computer with unsupported hardware.

You can also follow these instructions in my video tutorial on my channel.

Upgrade from Windows 10 to Linux Mint

Alternatively, you can upgrade from Windows 10 by switching to a different type of operating system, such as Linux. Although switching to Linux may sound daunting, time has changed, and so has Linux, and this operating system has improved a lot over the years.

You will find many Linux distributions, but Linux Mint should be on your shortlist because of its user-friendly interface and stability. It is an excellent choice for those accustomed to Windows 10.

These are a few reasons to choose Linux Mint as your Windows replacement. First, Linux Mint’s Cinnamon desktop environment offers a familiar layout akin to Windows, minimizing the learning curve for new users.

In addition to its reliability, this distribution ensures a seamless user experience without frequent crashes or slowdowns. As an open-source operating system, Linux Mint is free to use, eliminating licensing fees associated with proprietary software. Perhaps more importantly, it supports a wide range of hardware, often requiring minimal driver installations, including those processors that Windows 11 no longer supports.

If you are not interested in AI features, this is another reason to consider switching to Linux. Unlike Windows 11 and macOS, Linux Mint and other variants don’t include AI features. However, you can always access AI services on the web, such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and others.

Also, this distribution of Linux includes support for many different types of applications, and since most applications today are web apps, you are likely to have access to the applications and services you need for work and school.

However, we don’t have to ignore the fact that Linux has some software limitations. For example, Microsoft doesn’t offer its suite of Office apps (or Microsoft 365 apps) for the open-source operating system, and you won’t be able to install apps like Adobe Photoshop, but you can still access the web version of Office, Photoshop, and others. In addition, you can also install similar applications, such as LibreOffice and Gimp.

Create a Linux Mint bootable USB flash drive

To create a Linux Mint USB installer, follow these steps:

Open the Linux Mint download page.
Click the Download button for the Cinnamon Edition.
Click the download link closer to your location under the “Download mirrors” section.
Save the ISO file on your computer.
Open Rufus website.
Click the link to download the latest version under the “Download” section.
Choose the USB flash drive from the “Device” setting.
Double-click the executable to launch the tool.
Click the Select button.
Select the Linux Mint ISO file.
Click the Open button.
Continue with the default settings after the download.
(Optional) Specify a name for the drive under the “Volume label” setting.
Click the Start button.
Click the OK button with the default option.
Click the Yes button.
Click the OK button.

Linux Mint clean install process

To install Linux Mint on a Windows 10 computer, follow these steps:

Start the PC with the Linux Mint USB flash drive.
Select the “Start Linux Mint” option and press Enter.
Double-click the “Install Linux Mint” icon on the desktop.
Select the installation language.
Click the Continue button.
Select the keyboard layout.
Click the Continue button.
(Optional) Check the “Install multimedia codecs” option.
Click the Continue button.
Select the “Erase disk and install Linux Mint” option.
Click the Install Now button.
Click the Continue button.
Select your region.
Click the Continue button.
Create a local account for the Linux Mint installation.
Click the Continue button.
Click the Restart now button.
Disconnect the USB flash drive from the computer and press Enter.

Once you complete the steps, the system will restart, and you will have access to the new desktop.

Linux Mint desktop / Image: Mauro Huculak

Of course, Linux isn’t Windows, but the environment will feel familiar. For instance, you find a similar desktop experience with a background and taskbar with a menu to launch apps and similar controls. Also, you can change the position of the bar to either side or top of the screen.

You won’t find Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome on Linux Mint, as the operating system uses Mozilla Firefox as the default browser. However, you can install virtually any modern browser.

Also, instead of the Microsoft Store, in this version of Linux, you can use the “Software Manager” to find and download apps. Alternatively, you can download and install “.deb” packages, which are equivalent to those “.exe” or “.msi” installers. If you’re comfortable using commands, you can also use the apt-get install command.

Linux Mint Software Manager / Image: Mauro Huculak

Finally, if you have to change any of the settings, you can always access the “System Settings” app from the app launcher (Start menu). This control panel allows you to change anything related to appearance, preferences, hardware, and security.

Linux Mint System Settings / Image: Mauro Huculak

Upgrade from Windows 10 to ChromeOS Flex

Another option is to install ChromeOS Flex on Windows 11 unsupported hardware. ChromeOS Flex is a lightweight operating system variant of Google ChromeOS. It’s based on Linux and uses web apps and the Chrome browser as the main interface. The operating system also provides security protection from threats such as malware and ransomware. Furthermore, it provides a fast and modern work environment with background updates that reduce downtime while boosting productivity.

Since this is a lightweight operating system, it only requires an Intel or AMD x86-64-bit processor, 4GB of memory, and 16GB of storage. However, for the best performance, you should be using a processor and graphics card made after 2010.

The installation of ChromeOS Flex is a two-step process. First, you have to create a USB bootable media and then go through the setup process.

Create ChromeOS Flex USB flash media

To create a ChromeOS Flex installation media, connect a USB flash drive of 8GB and follow these steps:

Open Chromebook Recovery Utility page on Chrome.
Click the “Add to Chrome” button.
Click the Add extension button.
Click the Extension button and select the “Chromebook Recovery Utility” extension.
Click the Get started button.
Select the “Google ChromeOS Flex” option from the “Identify your Chromebook” page.
Select the ChromeOS Flex option.
Click the Continue button.
Select the USB flash media from the list.
Click the Continue button.
Click the Create now button.
Click the Done button.

Once you complete the steps, you can proceed with the clean installation of ChromeOS Flex.

ChromeOS Flex clean install process

To upgrade from Windows 10 to ChromeOS Flex, use these steps:

Start unsupported Windows 11 PC with the ChromeOS Flex USB.

Quick note: If the computer can’t boot from USB, you may need to update the BIOS/UEFI settings. This process usually requires pressing one of the function keys (F1, F2, F3, F10, or F12), the ESC, or the Delete key. For more accurate instructions, visit your PC manufacturer’s support website.
Change the installation language (if applicable).
Click the Get Started button.
Select the “Install ChromeOS Flex” option.

Quick note: The “Try it first” option allows you to run the operating system from the USB flash drive. It even saves the setup and profile, so the next time you start the computer from USB, you can continue using the operating system. If you want to install the operating system later on, you will find the “Install ChromeOS Flex” option on the sign-in screen.
Click the Next button.
Click the “Install ChromeOS Flex” button. (This process will delete everything on the computer.)
Click the Install button to continue with the setup.
Click the Get started button after the installation.
Choose the wireless network.
Confirm the Wi-Fi password.
Click the Connect button.
Click the “For personal use” option.

Quick note: At this point, the system will download any available updates for the operating system. The computer will also restart. You can always click the “Skip and remind me later” button.
Click the Next button.
Confirm your Gmail account.
Click the Next button.
Confirm the account password.
Click the Next button.
Complete the account verification.
Click the Next button.
Click the “Accept and continue” button.
Click the “Accept and continue” button again.
Clear the option to allow Google to collect information about your device.
Click the “Accept and continue” button one more time.
Click the “Change touchpad scrolling direction” option.

Quick note: If you’re coming from a Windows environment, it’s recommended that you adjust the scrolling setting.
Click the Next button.
Turn on the Reverse scrolling toggle switch.
Click the Next button.
Click the Get started button.

After you complete the steps, the operating system will be installed on the computer.

Upgrade from Windows 10 by purchasing a new PC

If you prefer not to follow the steps to upgrade Windows 10 to 11 on unsupported hardware or aren’t ready to switch to another operating system, the best alternative might be investing in a new computer. A new device ensures compatibility with Windows 11 and provides access to the latest features and security updates.

You’re probably wondering which device to choose. While that could be a topic for an entirely separate discussion, the decision usually depends on how you use your computer and your budget.

For basic tasks like streaming videos, managing emails, or using office applications, you don’t need to spend a fortune. Computers for everyday use often start around $500. While you might find cheaper options, I don’t recommend them since they usually come with outdated hardware or very low specs.

If you’re interested in a Copilot+ PC for AI capabilities and extended battery life, prices typically start at around $800. However, deals can bring the cost down significantly. For instance, I recently purchased an ASUS Vivobook S 15, a Copilot+ PC, for $499 on sale, though it now retails for $899.

Another option is the Surface Pro 11, which starts at $877 and is available at the Microsoft Store. To explore more deals on Copilot+ PCs, visit the Microsoft Store’s deals page.

For a standard laptop without AI features, consider the Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 1, priced under $600, or the ASUS Vivobook 16 paptop, which is available for less than $500.

Stay on Windows 10 longer with an additional subscription

If you want to keep using Windows 10, Microsoft now offers Extended Security Updates (ESU). This paid service has always been reserved for organizations that need to run older operating systems beyond the official support period, but it’s now available for regular consumers.

This program allows your computer to continue receiving security and maintenance updates. However, it has some limitations, such as not providing new features, non-security updates, design changes, or general support.

The ESU program aims to ensure that the device continues to run and doesn’t become vulnerable.

The Extended Security Updates is expected to cost $30, and Microsoft plans to open enrollment as the Windows 10 end-of-support date approaches in October 2025.

How are you upgrading your PC from Windows 10? Let me know in the comments.