That old office PC still on Windows 10
Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025 (Microsoft: Windows 10 end of support). That was a year ago. If the church office PC still runs it, here’s what that means and what to do.
What “end of support” means
The computer still turns on. Word still opens. Nothing breaks that day.
But Microsoft stopped sending security updates for it. Those are the fixes that patch holes criminals use to break into a computer. New holes are found all the time. On Windows 10, they now stay open, unless you sign up for extended updates (see Option 2).
For a church, that matters most on the PC that does email, giving, payroll, or the member database.
Not sure what version you have? Press the Windows key, type winver, and press Enter. A box shows “Windows 10” or “Windows 11.”
Option 1: Upgrade to Windows 11 for free (if the PC can)
Microsoft says the upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 “is currently free” (Microsoft). The catch: Windows 11 needs newer hardware, such as a newer processor and a security chip called TPM 2.0 (a small chip that protects encryption keys). Many older PCs don’t qualify.
To check:
- Install Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app (download).
- Open it and select Check now (how to use PC Health Check).
- It tells you yes or no, and why.
- If yes: back up the PC first. Then go to Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update and look for the Windows 11 offer.
The full requirements list is on Microsoft’s Windows 11 specifications page.
Option 2: Pay for Extended Security Updates (ESU)
ESU is a Microsoft program that keeps sending security fixes to Windows 10 for a limited time. It’s a bridge, not a long-term plan. It only works on Windows 10 version 22H2. There are two kinds.
Consumer ESU (for personal PCs). Confirmed on Microsoft’s ESU page:
- Cost: free if you sync your PC settings to a Microsoft account, or 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or a one-time $30.
- Covers updates through October 12, 2027. You can still enroll until then.
- One license covers up to 10 PCs.
- Needs a Microsoft account that’s an administrator on the PC.
- Microsoft says it “can’t be used in commercial scenarios.” It isn’t offered on PCs joined to a work domain or managed by a device-management system.
Commercial ESU (for organizations). Confirmed on Microsoft Learn’s ESU page and lifecycle FAQ:
- $61 per PC for Year One. The price doubles each year, for up to three years.
- Updates are sold by the year and are cumulative. If you join in Year Two, you pay for Year One too.
- Year Two runs from October 14, 2026 to October 12, 2027. So joining today means $61 + $122 = $183 per PC (our math from Microsoft’s figures).
- Sold through Microsoft volume licensing, usually via a Microsoft partner or reseller. The minimum purchase is one license.
Which applies to a church PC? Microsoft doesn’t address churches directly. Our reading: a PC the church owns and uses for church business is an organization’s PC, so the commercial program is the clean fit. A volunteer’s own home laptop is a personal PC. If you’re unsure, ask your Microsoft partner. (This is our interpretation, not Microsoft’s wording.)
Nonprofit discount on ESU: unknown. We didn’t find one on Microsoft’s pages.
Option 3: Replace the PC
If the PC is old enough to fail PC Health Check, $183 of extended updates may not be the best use of the money. Look at replacing it.
- TechSoup is a nonprofit that offers donated and discounted tech to eligible nonprofits. Rules differ by product, so check whether your church qualifies. It lists Windows licenses and refurbished computers (TechSoup Windows for nonprofits, TechSoup computers). Unverified: search results show a Windows 11 Pro full license at about $16 per PC, and refurbished business PCs from a few hundred dollars. TechSoup’s site blocked our automated check, so confirm prices and eligibility there yourself.
- Microsoft nonprofit offers may also apply to your church. See Microsoft for Nonprofits.
- Before you get rid of the old one: copy off the files, sign it out of every account, and wipe the drive. Don’t put an old church PC in the trash with the giving records still on it.
Option 4: Retire it from email and giving
Sometimes the old PC has to stay a while. That’s okay, with limits.
- Move sensitive work off it. No church email. No giving site. No bank. No member database. Do those on a supported computer.
- Give it a simple job. Printing the bulletin. Running the slides. Playing music.
- Don’t let it browse the web freely or open email attachments.
- Set a date. Write “replace by ___” on the budget. A Windows 10 PC without ESU only gets riskier each month.
Quick decision guide
- Run PC Health Check. If it passes, upgrade to Windows 11 for free. Done.
- If it fails and the PC handles money or email, plan to replace it. Use commercial ESU only as a short bridge.
- If it fails and it only runs slides or the printer, retire it from sensitive work and set a replacement date.