Windows 10 Support Has Ended: What NZ Users Need to Do

1. Why Windows 10 was retired

Every version of Windows has a fixed support lifecycle, and Windows 10 simply reached the end of its ten years. This was planned years in advance, so it is not a surprise rollout or a glitch.

• Microsoft officially retired Windows 10 on 14 October 2025.
• Windows 11 launched back in October 2021, and Microsoft has been nudging people across ever since.
• After retirement there are no more security patches, bug fixes or official Microsoft support.
• Your PC keeps working exactly as before. The difference is that it is now on its own with no safety net.

2. Why you need to upgrade now

The two reasons that matter are security and compatibility. Security is the urgent one.

Security risks

• New vulnerabilities are found constantly. Without patches they stay open on your PC permanently.
• Ransomware and malware increasingly target known, unpatched Windows 10 weaknesses.
• Your antivirus cannot patch holes in the operating system. Only Microsoft can do that, and it has stopped.
• Banks and business platforms are starting to flag or block unsupported operating systems.

Compatibility issues, already starting

This one creeps up slowly, then becomes a daily annoyance.

• New software and apps increasingly list Windows 11 as the minimum.
• Microsoft 365 will eventually drop Windows 10 support entirely.
• Hardware makers are writing new drivers for Windows 11 first.
• Chrome and Edge are already winding down support for older Windows versions.

3. Check if your PC can run Windows 11

Windows 11 has stricter hardware requirements than Windows 10. Here is what your PC needs, with the usual sticking point flagged.

Minimum hardware requirements

Check in two steps, about 60 seconds

4. How to upgrade

There are three ways to get to Windows 11. Most people should use Option A. The others are for when the simple route is not offered, or when you want a completely fresh start.

Option A: Through Settings (easiest, keeps your files)

• Go to Settings, then Windows Update, then click Download and install Windows 11.
• Your files, apps and settings are all kept.
• It takes roughly 1 to 3 hours depending on your internet and PC speed.
• This is the best option if your PC is in good shape and you want zero hassle.

Option B: Windows 11 Installation Assistant

• Download it from microsoft.com/software-download/windows11.
• It runs on top of your existing Windows 10 and keeps your files and apps.
• This is the one to use if the Settings route is not offering you the upgrade.

Option C: Bootable USB (clean install)

• Use Rufus to create a bootable USB from the Windows 11 ISO.
• This wipes the drive and installs fresh, which gives the fastest, cleanest result.
• Best if your current install is slow or corrupted, or you are fitting a new drive.
• Back up all your files before you start. A clean install cannot be undone.

5. If your PC is not compatible: bypass options

There are ways to force Windows 11 onto hardware that fails the checks. We want you to know they exist, but we do not recommend using them. Here is the honest picture.

The two common bypass methods

• Registry tweak. Edit HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup and add AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU = 1 to skip the TPM and CPU checks.
• Rufus bootable USB. When creating the USB in Rufus, choose Extended Windows 11 Installation (no TPM, no Secure Boot), which strips the hardware requirements out of the installer.

Smarter options if your PC fails the check

• Under 5 years old, failing on TPM only: check the BIOS or UEFI settings. TPM is often present but switched off, and enabling it may be all you need.
• 5 to 7 years old: weigh the cost of a new PC against the risk of running unsupported software.
• 7 years or older: replacement almost always makes more sense. You get a faster, supported machine with a warranty.

6. Disk setup during a clean install

If you go the bootable USB route, you will hit a disk selection screen. Here is how to handle it so you do not accidentally wipe the wrong drive.

Starting fresh on one drive

• Select each partition on the target drive and click Delete until it all shows as unallocated space.
• Click New, and Windows creates the correct partitions automatically. You do not need to set sizes by hand.
• Windows makes four partitions: EFI (about 100 MB), MSR (16 MB), your main C: drive, and a recovery partition at the end.

Keeping another drive or dual booting

• Do not delete any partition you are not certain about. This is permanent and cannot be undone.
• If you are unsure which drive is which, unplug any drives you are not installing to before you boot the USB.
• Call us first if you want to dual boot. It is easy to get wrong.

7. FAQ: common problems answered