What should I do with old Windows 10 PCs that work fine but don’t support an upgrade to Windows 11? The logical thing to do is to continue using them with the current OS. But Microsoft has its own logic on this issue. The company advises to dispose of old devices, recycle them, and buy a new Windows 11 PC — preferably a Copilot+ PC, so as not to miss out on all the AI features.
Back in March 2025, the Windows Latest website reported that Microsoft was sending out letters to users about the end of Windows 10 support if they were still using the operating system. In the letter, the company recommends recycling old hardware and buying a new PC with Windows 11.
Recently, Microsoft published an official support document called «Your to-do list before Windows 10 support ends», which contains tips on what you should do until then.
What Microsoft advises
Users of older systems are advised to check if they can upgrade to Windows 11. If all goes well, they should upgrade to Windows 10 first. Only newer versions of the OS will be able to directly upgrade to Windows 11 on 24H2. If you have a very old version, you won’t be able to upgrade simply.
Before you upgrade, you need to back up your data to OneDrive or an external drive. Windows 10 already has a built-in Windows Backup app that allows you to save local files and system settings to the cloud for later transfer to Windows 11.
When you install Windows 11 24H2, you can choose a backup to restore from the first startup (OOBE — Out-of-Box Experience).
If your PC doesn’t support Windows 11, the advice is different. In this case, Microsoft offers only one option — stop using such old and unnecessary junk. If you literally follow Microsoft’s advice, you should give or sell the device to someone who needs it, or safely dispose of it.
«When it comes time to say goodbye to your device, be sure to dispose of it responsibly. Reduce your environmental footprint at the end of your device’s life cycle — recycle your PC or sell it for money that can be used to buy a new, faster, more secure Windows 11 PC», Microsoft says.
Microsoft has no other advice.
As a reminder, computers without TPM 2.0 and UEFI (Secure Boot) are not suitable for installing the new Windows 11. This means that millions (if not hundreds of millions) of perfectly good PCs are not officially supported by the new operating system. Windows 10 support will end on October 14, 2025. After that, you have the following options:
- Pay $30 for extended support for 1 year;
- Buy a new PC with Windows 11;
- Bypassing the system requirements and installing Windows 11 manually is at your own risk.
- You can continue to use an old PC with an old Windows 10 OS without security and support updates.
Recently, Microsoft released mandatory Windows 10 update with installation failures and bugs.
Spelling error report
The following text will be sent to our editors: