People living in the European Economic Area will get it for free by registering. For other users to get it for free, they need to have updated to the latest version of Windows 10, have a Microsoft account and backed up their PC settings. Otherwise, you have to pay a $30 (£22) fee or use 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points to access ESU.

Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10, one of the world’s most popular operating systems today, a move that leaves hundreds of millions of users exposed to cyber-attacks and data

Windows 11 offers a major upgrade with a refreshed, modern interface designed for ease of use and making multitasking even easier.

People running Windows 11 23H2 are in much the same boat as those on Windows 10, in terms of not having any security updates going forward being a bad thing. Without monthly updates to fix security flaws, version 23H2 will become vulnerable to exploits, and as time goes on, potentially more and more avenues of compromise will be left open.

Now that Microsoft has officially discontinued Windows 10, here's how you can check if your PC is eligible for free Windows 11 update.

Microsoft ends support for its older OS this month, but there are three ways to extend critical security updates and remain on Windows 10 for another year, two of which are free.

As we should all know by now, tomorrow (October 14) marks the end of life for Windows 10, unless you’re prepared to pay Microsoft for extended support. That means you’ll stop receiving important security updates and will be at greater risk of hacking and malware.