Preparing for End of Windows 10 Support: Microsoft Outlines Key Steps for Businesses to Transition to Windows 11

In an insightful interview, Namit Sinha, Country Head, Device Partner Sales, Microsoft India shares an overview of Windows 10 upcoming end of support and the steps for transitioning to Windows 11. The interview highlights the importance of proactive preparation for both users and IT departments to ensure a smooth and secure shift to Windows 11 - 

What happens after Windows 10 support ends? Will my device still work?
After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide security or feature updates for Windows 10. It’s important to understand what this means for your device and how you can prepare for the transition. 

After this date, devices running on Windows 10 may become susceptible to security, privacy, and compliance risks.  While your device will still function, it could face increased threats without the latest security protections and features. 

As security challenges continue to evolve, so must our operating systems and hardware. Windows 11 is the most secure version of Windows ever — by default and design — to help you stay protected and ahead of potential risks.

To ensure you have a secure and efficient computing experience, we want to ensure you are prepared for the end of Windows 10 support with a smooth and seamless transition to Windows 11. 

Can all Windows 10 devices upgrade to Windows 11, or will hardware limitations force me to buy a new PC?

Our aim is to ensure that you are well-prepared before support for Windows 10 ends on Oct. 14, 2025. 

There are minimum hardware requirements for installing Windows 11 on a PC. We have created a simple and straightforward process to check if your PC can be upgraded to Windows 11 or if a new, more secure PC is necessary. 

Check if your Windows 10 PC is eligible to upgrade for free to Windows 11 by selecting the Start button, then going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

You can learn more about Windows 11 system requirements here.

If your PC is not eligible for a Windows 11 upgrade, there are plenty of devices to choose from, like Windows 11 Pro. 

When you own a Windows 11 Pro device, you get the latest Windows and security features delivered straight to your desktop. And you can manage and deploy Windows 11 Pro almost anywhere. It offers incredible value with a core set features and capabilities and accelerate business success. If you look at a few of the features included here, you will see why. It’s significantly faster than Windows 10 devices, more secure with layers of security out-of-the-box and offer a host of great features for productivity. And of course they are all easy to use, deploy, and manage.

Copilot+ PCs are the fastest, most intelligent and secure PCs ever built, and are a great option for customers with heightened security, more power and efficiency, and innovative AI-powered features. 

Explore a variety of Windows 11 PCs and Copilot+ PCs designed for your everyday offered by Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung and Microsoft Surface. 

How should IT departments prepare for the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11?

IT departments should focus on creating a comprehensive transition plan that includes user training, application testing, and data migration strategies. By proactively preparing, organizations can minimize disruptions and fully leverage the enhanced features and security improvements offered by Windows 11 Pro.  There is a detailed framework and documentation available to help customers at Plan for Windows 11 | Microsoft Learn.

The main steps to build complete plan for Windows 11 migration are –
 
Run through the device readiness assessment to identify which devices are eligible for Upgrade and which devices will need to be refreshed Hardware compatibility assessment determins device eligibility & readiness for Windows 11 – devices that are not ready for upgrade will need to be refreshed, devices that are ready can be planned for Windows upgrade

Validate application readiness for most critical applications. Remember 99.7% of applications are compatible between Windows 10 and Windows 11 and in case you do face challenges make sure to engage Fasttrack App Assure team to help solve these

Upgrade eligible devices from Windows 10 to 11

Procure and deploy new Windows 11 Pro and/or Copilot+ PCs to replace devices that are not eligible for upgrade

As businesses move to Windows 11, the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program is available to help bridge the transition with monthly security updates for Windows 10 devices. Learn more about Extended Security Updates program.  

Will Microsoft offer migration assistance or tools to help businesses move from Windows 10?

It’s important that businesses experience an easy and seamless transition to Windows 11. Microsoft offers a variety of tools designed to support this upgrade, ensuring minimal disruption to operations. 
 
Microsoft offers App Assure, a service to help with any Windows 11 software or browser application compatibility issue that you may discover. We will assist in remediating custom apps, ISV applications or Microsoft products; learn more at https://aka.ms/appassure.

The Windows Pro PC Help me Choose tool can guide organizations to find the best Windows 11 computers.

The new Forrester EOS calculator can help build a business case and prepare for the transition by estimating the potential costs and savings associated with upgrading your organization to Windows 11, allowing ITDMs to make informed decisions about their upgrade timelines.

The Windows 11 Security Book is an essential resource that provides a detailed exploration of the security enhancements that make Windows 11 our most secure OS, and offers insights into how businesses can protect their organizations effectively.

To help our SMB customers migrate to Windows 11, we have created an assessment tool to communicate the steps they need to take to mitigate the risks of Windows 10 End of Support as well as resources to help.

Education customers can use the tools summarized above, and we are excited to support our students and teachers on Windows 11 with easy-to-use, secure and accessible tools in Windows 11, enabling educators to personalize learning for all students.

 Learn more about the options available.

Will Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise editions have different support timelines?

All editions of Windows 10 (except for some versions of the Windows 10 Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) editions) will reach end of support on October 14, 2025.  There are several versions of the LTSC editions which remain in support beyond October 14, 2025.  Lifecycle dates for each version can be found at Windows Product Lifecycle.

Finally, is Microsoft working on a cloud-based Windows alternative for the future?

Windows does have a cloud offering already. Windows 365 securely streams employees’ personalized Windows desktops, apps, settings, and content from the Microsoft Cloud to any device. It is a flexible and dynamic option for organizations needing more time to move from Windows 10 to Windows 11. 

Cloud PCs in Windows 365 and virtual machines (VMs) in Azure Virtual Desktop running Windows 10 are automatically entitled to Extended Security Updates (ESUs) at no additional charge. Also, Windows 10 devices accessing Windows 11 through Windows 365 Cloud PCs will automatically be activated to receive security updates without any additional steps.