Windows 10 to Windows 11: check your PC and move your files

Windows 10 stopped getting free updates in October 2025. This page tells you which Windows you have, whether your PC meets the Windows 11 rules, how long the paid-or-free security extension lasts, and how to move everything without losing it.

1. Which Windows do I have?

Press the button. Only your browser is asked; nothing is sent anywhere.

2. Does my PC meet the Windows 11 rules?

Tick what is true. These are Microsoft's published minimums; Settings, Windows Update shows the final answer for your PC, or run Microsoft's PC Health Check.

Processor: 1 GHz or faster, 2 or more cores, 64-bit, on Microsoft's supported listMemory: 4 GB RAM or moreStorage: 64 GB or moreFirmware: UEFI with Secure Boot available (not old BIOS only)TPM: version 2.0 (Settings, Privacy, Security, Device security, shows it)Graphics: DirectX 12 compatible with a WDDM 2.0 driverDisplay: larger than 9 inches, 720p

Tick the items to see a result.

3. The deadline

Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025. Microsoft offers consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU, security fixes only) and, according to news coverage of its June 2026 support-page update, the consumer ESU program now runs until 12 October 2027.

Source read on 2026-10-26: pureinfotech.com and helpnetsecurity.com (June 2026). An older Microsoft Q&A thread still shows 13 October 2026, so confirm the date on Microsoft's Windows 10 ESU page before relying on it. ESU gives security fixes only: no new features and no technical support.

4. Move your files without losing anything

Do this before you upgrade, or before you switch to a new PC. Copy, do not move, until you have checked the copy opens.

Pick a safe place. An external drive or a second internal drive. A copy on the same disk does not protect you.
Copy the personal folders. Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music and Videos live in C:\Users\your name. Open each and look for large or odd folders.
Do not forget app data. Browser bookmarks (export them or sign in to sync), Outlook mail files (.pst), password manager export, saved game folders and licence keys.
Check the copy. Open a few files from the copy, and compare the folder size and file count with the original.
Find duplicates and junk before copying. Large old downloads and duplicate photos slow the copy down. Clean up first if you can.
Keep the old PC untouched for a week. Only wipe it when you are sure everything works on the new setup.

5. Free tools that help on the day

These run in your browser. Your files are not uploaded.

Open iPhone photos (HEIC) as JPG Open an Outlook .pst file without Outlook Shrink a PDF to email it Merge PDFs into one

Copying thousands of files

Windows Explorer works for a few folders. For a big move, a two-pane file manager with a duplicate finder and batch rename makes it quicker to check what was copied.

Better Files | try it free, pay once

Better Files is our own Windows app: free trial in the Microsoft Store, then a one-time purchase, no subscription.

Questions

Is Windows 10 safe to keep using?

It still starts and runs, but without ESU it gets no security fixes. Enrolling in ESU keeps security fixes coming until its end date. Plan to move to Windows 11 or a new PC before then.

Can my PC upgrade if it fails the TPM or CPU check?

Microsoft sets the TPM 2.0 and supported-processor rules. Some PCs have TPM switched off in the firmware settings, which is worth checking first. If the CPU is not supported, a new PC is the safe route.

Will upgrading delete my files?

An in-place upgrade normally keeps files and apps, but make a backup first anyway. A clean install erases the disk.

Does this page upload anything?

No. The checks run in your browser and nothing is sent to a server.

This page is a guide, not Microsoft advice. Rules and dates change: confirm them on Microsoft's own pages. Checked 2026-10-26.