Is Windows 10 still safe to use in 2026?

Where does your PC fall?

Most people land in the first or second row. If you're in the second, the fix is free: enroll in Windows 10 ESU at no cost.

What still gets updates on Windows 10

"End of support" didn't switch everything off at once. Different pieces run on different schedules:

The row that matters most is the first one. Everything else keeps working either way. Windows itself only gets fixed on PCs that are enrolled in ESU.

Why antivirus alone isn't enough

Antivirus looks for known bad programs. Security patches fix holes in Windows itself, the kind attackers can use to get in without you ever downloading anything. Defender keeping its virus list current doesn't close those holes.

This isn't hypothetical. Microsoft's September 2026 update for Windows 10 included a fix for a flaw in a core Windows component (CVE-2026-85880) that attackers were already exploiting. PCs enrolled in ESU got that fix. PCs that aren't enrolled still have the hole, and always will.

Microsoft says the same thing, more politely: Defender on its own "isn't a comprehensive risk mitigation posture." Keep Defender on, but don't count on it by itself.

How to check your PC is protected right now

1. Version: press Windows + R, type winver, and make sure it says 22H2.
2. ESU: open Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update. It should say the PC is enrolled in Extended Security Updates. If you see an Enroll now link instead, you're not covered yet.
3. Recent updates: click View update history. Microsoft releases patches on the second Tuesday of each month, so the newest one should be from the last month or so.
4. Microsoft account: make sure you still sign in to the PC with the Microsoft account you enrolled with. ESU stops if it isn't used for 60 days.
5. Windows Security: open it from the Start menu. Everything should have a green check.
6. Browser: in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox, open Help → About. It should say it's up to date.

If all six check out, your Windows 10 PC is about as safe as it's going to get. If the ESU step doesn't, my troubleshooting guide for a missing Enroll button covers the usual causes.

Is Windows 10 safe after October?

If it's enrolled, yes. "Windows 10 security updates end October 2026" was the original plan. In June 2026 Microsoft moved home-user ESU to October 12, 2027, and PCs that were already enrolled got the extra year automatically. So the date to watch is October 2027. (More on what the extension means and how to check you're enrolled.)

Banking, email, and gaming

Online banking and email: fine on an enrolled, updated PC with a current browser. On a Windows 10 PC that isn't getting security updates, I'd do banking on a phone or another device. That's where a break-in costs you the most.

Gaming: most games and launchers still run on Windows 10. The same rules apply, though: keep it enrolled and updated, and be extra careful with mods and "free" game downloads, which are a common way malware gets in.

Older programs that only run on Windows 10: if you keep an old PC around for one program, like a label printer, scanner software, or an old game, consider unplugging it from the internet entirely once ESU ends. Offline, it can keep doing that one job for years.

What to do before October 2027

"Safe" has an end date. When ESU ends on October 12, 2027, an enrolled PC starts sliding down the table at the top of this page, one month of unfixed holes at a time. Use the year you have to decide, not to panic.

The first thing to check is whether your PC can run Windows 11, since that upgrade is free. Here's how to check whether your PC can run Windows 11. For everything else, including Linux, a refurbished PC, and paid patches from 0patch, see what to do with Windows 10 after October 2027.