Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025. PCs still on it no longer get free security fixes. That is the same risk we flagged when Windows 7 aged out — only now it applies to machines many offices still use every day. The older note is here: why unsupported Windows still matters.
A sensible order of work
Do not start with a shop-wide upgrade on a Friday. Inventory first, then a pilot, then the rest.
- List every PC — age, whether it meets Windows 11 requirements, and what it is used for
- Check line-of-business software with the vendor or on one test machine
- Back up files and mail before any in-place upgrade, and confirm a restore works
- Replace machines that cannot upgrade rather than hunting unofficial workarounds
- Turn on BitLocker and MFA as part of the new build, not as a later project
What we see around Teesside
The awkward cases are not Word and Outlook. They are the label printer, the till export, the access database on a shared drive, and the one PC in the corner that “only Dave uses”. Those need a plan, not a surprise.
New starters should land on the new standard from day one. Pair the rollout with an IT onboarding checklist so old local admin accounts do not creep back.
Garvey's IT plans and carries out these moves as part of IT support for businesses in Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees and across the North East. Book a Windows 11 readiness check if you are not sure what is still on the network.
Common questions
Do all office PCs need to move to Windows 11 at once?
No. Start with machines that can run it and that hold email, accounts or customer data. Replace or isolate anything that fails Microsoft’s hardware checks, and do not leave unsupported PCs on the same network as your accounts system.
Will our existing software run on Windows 11?
Most current Microsoft 365 and browser-based tools will. Older accounts packages, label printers and industry software need a test on one PC before you roll the rest out. That pilot is cheaper than a Monday morning where nobody can invoice.