Your PC still works, it just stops getting security patches
Windows 10 didn't shut off on that date, it simply stopped receiving updates. The danger is the slow kind: every month new security holes get discovered, and from now on they don't get fixed on Windows 10. The longer you stay, the more known, unpatched ways in there are.
Check whether your computer can upgrade to Windows 11 for free
If your PC is recent enough, upgrading to Windows 11 is free and keeps your files and programs right where they are. Windows 11 has stricter requirements (it needs a security chip called TPM 2.0), so not every machine qualifies. The built-in PC Health Check tells you in a few seconds, or I can check it for you.
If it cannot upgrade, you have one paid year of breathing room
Microsoft is offering consumers one extra year of security updates, through October 2026, for about $30, and you can even get it at no cost by syncing your settings to a Microsoft account. It buys time to plan, not a permanent fix, but it keeps you protected while you decide.
Often an older PC just needs a tune-up to run Windows 11 well
A computer that feels too slow to bother upgrading is frequently just held back by an aging hard drive or low memory. An SSD and a little more RAM can make a five-year-old machine run Windows 11 smoothly, for a fraction of the cost of replacing it. It is worth checking before you spend on a new one.
Do not panic-buy a new computer because of a pop-up
Scammers are already using the Windows 10 deadline as bait, with fake warnings that say you must buy or download something this instant. You don't. This is a planned change with calm, real options. If something is rushing you, that is your cue to slow down and ask someone you trust.
Not sure if your computer can run Windows 11, or whether it is even worth upgrading? I'll check it honestly and tell you the most cost-effective move, with no pressure to replace anything that doesn't need it.