what to do in October 2025

Hi everyone,
I do not want to throw my laptop with Windows 10 after that date. I do not want to leave it online as well. It's working perfectly and almost never caused me headaches. Also it is with unsupported for Win 11 proccesor... so can't be upgraded.
Straight to the question: Can I clean install the OS in October next year, perform all updates while connected to Microsoft account, uninstall everything what requires internet and then just disable the wifi network adapter? What would be the consequences when it is permanently offline but still connected to MS account? Am I missing something?
For online activities I am planning to use my phone or an Android tablet.
Your thoughts...

Ivan Petrov said:

Hi everyone,
I do not want to throw my laptop with Windows 10 after that date. I do not want to leave it online as well. It's working perfectly and almost never caused me headaches. Also it is with unsupported for Win 11 proccesor... so can't be upgraded.
Straight to the question: Can I clean install the OS in October next year, perform all updates while connected to Microsoft account, uninstall everything what requires internet and then just disable the wifi network adapter? What would be the consequences when it is permanently offline but still connected to MS account? Am I missing something?
For online activities I am planning to use my phone or an Android tablet.
Your thoughts...

You CAN upgrade to Win 11, even on unsupported hardware.
You can also just leave it on Windows 10... it's all your choice...

Let's install Windows 11 on incompatible hardware | Windows 11 Forum

We see messages like yours for every Major Upgrade in Windows, (ie) Windows 3.1 to Windows 95, Windows 95 to 98, 98 to XP, XP to Vista or 7 etc. The answer is always the same.

Your Windows 10 computer will still work after October 2025. There will no longer be any Windows Updates to make it secure.

A clean install is a great way to start fresh, but if your Windows 10 computer is working good, you don't need to reinstall everything.
Microsoft may push this date back if there is a lot of complaining. If you want to use it offline that is great. It will still work. without having to reinstall anything. You can still be online, with less security. It's your choice.

There are ways to bypass the Windows 11 restrictions, but you probably have to redo them after every major update.

spunk said:

We see messages like yours for every Major Upgrade in Windows, (ie) Windows 3.1 to Windows 98, Windows 98 to XP, XP to Vista or 7 etc.
A clean install is a great way to start fresh, but if your Windows 10 computer is working good, you don't need to reinstall everything.
Your Windows 10 computer will still work after October 2025. There will no longer be any Windows Updates to make it secure. Microsoft may push this date back if there is a lot of complaining. If you want to use it offline that is great. It will still work. without having to reinstall anything. You can still be online, with less security. It's your choice.
There are ways to bypass the Windows 11 restrictions, but you probably have to redo them after every major update.

Thank you Spunk, what is less security means - no more security updates, cumulative updates or virus definitions?

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Ghot said:

You CAN upgrade to Win 11, even on unsupported hardware.
You can also just leave it on Windows 10... it's all your choice...

Let's install Windows 11 on incompatible hardware | Windows 11 Forum

Thanks Ghot but I prefer Windows 10 and dont like to play with the hardware.

what is less security means - no more security updates, cumulative updates or virus definitions?

It just means that Microsoft will no longer be patching Windows 10 with security updates, making your computer more vulnerable to attack.
As stated, there will probably be registry hacks to keep getting updates, or Microsoft, or other vendors will offer paid updates. Either way, your Windows 10 computer will still keep working for a long while, until web sites will stop allowing you access, as most XP computers are seeing now, and soon Windows 7.

AK6DN said:

Why do you think your Windows 10 computer will magically stop working in Oct 2025?
It will continue just fine.
Yes, MS will stop offering 'free' updates after that point.
They have indicated 'paid' updates may be an option, but no one knows how that will work quite yet.
Probably not even MS at this point.

Me, I am writing this now from a Windows 7 laptop using Firefox.
Works just fine.
I use 0patch to obtain key security updates.
A paid service, but cheaper than tossing a perfectly fine laptop.

I did switch another laptop of mine to Windows 10 and will use that starting at some point.
I don't see Windows 11 in my future. It is not different enough from Windows 10 to bother and I don't want to buy new hardware.

I don't think it will stop working, I am concerned more about security updates. Thanks for pointing on Opatch and btw I don't see also Windows 11 better as 10.

I have such a laptop. I'll keep it running on Windows 10 until Windows 10 end of life then investigate whatever fixes are around at the time to upgrade to Windows 11 on non-compliant hardware. If I can't upgrade I'll still use the laptop on Windows 10 for non secure stuff but won't use for sensitive stuff like online banking.

Ivan Petrov said:

what is less security means - no more ... virus definitions?

You will keep getting Defender anti-malware definitions.
But that's all.
You will not get any more updates to the Defender utility itself ["platform updates"] so that will not be protected against newly-discovered vulnerabilities.

Ivan Petrov said:

permanently offline but still connected to MS account

That is self-contradictory. It cannot be offline yet connected to an MSAccount.

Steve C said:

If I can't upgrade I'll still use the laptop on Windows 10 for non secure stuff but won't use for sensitive stuff like online banking.

I imagine that lots of us will follow Steve's excellent suggestion - keep using it but not for secure tasks such as banking.
But that implies having a second device for secure tasks such as online banking.
And that begs the question, "Why not use the computer that's suitable for online banking for all tasks?".
- I've got three computers that I definitely will not be able to use with Windows 11.
- I have put them aside for use on odd jobs.
- The last odd job was two years ago.
- If I have to do something it is always easier to just use my current main computer.


All the best,
Denis