Windows 11 vs Windows 10 in 2026 — Should You Upgrade Now?

Microsoft ended free security updates for Windows 10 on 14 October 2025. In 2026, running Windows 10 without an Extended Security Updates (ESU) subscription means your PC is picking up unpatched vulnerabilities every month. Here is what to do.

The short answer

If your PC is Windows-11 eligible — upgrade. It's free, the OS is stable, and the security gap will keep growing. If your PC isn't eligible, keep reading — there are three legitimate options.

Is my PC eligible?

1. Open Start → type 'PC Health Check' and run the tool. Green tick = eligible.
2. Or manually: 8th-gen Intel Core / 2nd-gen AMD Ryzen or newer, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot capable, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB storage.
3. Most laptops sold after mid-2018 qualify. Most before then do not — even if the CPU feels fast enough.

What actually changes with Windows 11

• New Start menu (centred by default — you can move it left in Settings).
• Snap Layouts — hover the maximise button for pre-set window arrangements.
• DirectStorage and improved gaming performance on modern GPUs.
• Better power efficiency on laptops — 5–10% real-world battery gain.
• Copilot AI features (opt-in) integrated into the taskbar.

If your PC isn't eligible

1. Buy Extended Security Updates. Consumer ESU costs about $30/year for one PC — buys you time to plan a replacement.
2. Switch the machine to a lightweight Linux distribution (Linux Mint, Zorin OS). Free, secure, and preserves the machine as a browser/email box.
3. Replace it. If it's older than 6 years and daily-driven, replacement is usually the calmer answer.

The upgrade itself

A clean Windows 11 upgrade with data migration and driver audit takes about 90 minutes at our workshop and is $79 flat-rate. We include a written pre-upgrade compatibility report so you know exactly which apps to test after.