Windows 11 for nonprofits: upgrade, replace or extend your Windows 10 PCs

Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Windows 10 PCs still start and run, but Microsoft no longer provides software updates, security fixes or technical assistance for them. Microsoft says antivirus software helps but is not enough on its own, because without regular security updates the operating system itself stays exposed to new threats.

Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 keep working. Microsoft says it will keep providing security updates for them on Windows 10 until October 10, 2028, but it recommends moving to Windows 11 to avoid performance and reliability problems over time.

• Who uses each PC, whether it is a staff, volunteer or shared computer, and where it sits.
• The make, model and the year it was bought.
• The Windows edition and version. In Windows, open Settings, then System, then About.
• How much storage space is free.
• The programs, printers, scanners and other hardware it must keep working with.

Microsoft's free PC Health Check app tells you whether a Windows 10 PC can run Windows 11, and why or why not. It does not check the graphics card or display, because Microsoft says most compatible devices meet those. Some PCs support TPM 2.0 but have it switched off in the firmware settings. Microsoft explains how to check in Windows Security or with tpm.msc, and says to check the PC maker's support pages if you are unsure about firmware settings.

• A processor of 1 GHz or faster with two or more cores, on a compatible 64-bit processor.
• 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB or more of storage.
• UEFI firmware that can do Secure Boot, and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.
• A DirectX 12 compatible graphics card, and a display larger than 9 inches diagonally with HD (720p) resolution.
• Windows 10 version 2004 or later, to upgrade in place.

• Upgrade. If a PC meets the requirements, open Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Windows Update. Microsoft says you should see the option to upgrade, and that the upgrade from Windows 10 Home or Pro to the same edition of Windows 11 is free. Microsoft may hold the offer back for a while if it finds an app or driver problem on the PC.
• Replace. If a PC cannot meet the requirements, Microsoft recommends moving to a new Windows 11 PC. Microsoft suggests asking the PC maker or a local hardware expert whether any change could bring an older PC up to the requirements.
• Extend. Extended Security Updates (ESU) give a Windows 10 PC critical and important security updates only, for a fee, and Microsoft calls them a temporary bridge. For organizations they are bought per device, by the year, for up to three years. Year 2 covers October 14, 2026 to October 12, 2027, and Year 3 runs to October 10, 2028. The years are cumulative, so buying Year 2 also means paying for Year 1. The PC must be on Windows 10 version 22H2, and ESU does not include new features or general technical support.
• Microsoft's consumer ESU option for personal devices excludes devices managed by an organization, so do not assume it covers your office PCs.

• Back up the files somewhere you can restore from, such as OneDrive. Microsoft's Windows Backup can also save settings and apps from a Windows 10 PC.
• Make sure there is enough free storage for Windows to download and install updates.
• Check with each maker that your programs, printers and scanners work with Windows 11.
• Upgrade one PC first, let a staff member use it for a few days, then do the rest in small groups.
• Afterward, open Windows Update, install anything pending, and confirm staff can still sign in, including with multi-factor sign-in.

Microsoft lists a nonprofit offer for Windows 11 Professional: the full version, with down-level rights for Windows 10 Professional, as grants of up to 50 licenses through TechSoup, with discounted licenses beyond that through a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider. Microsoft decides who qualifies for nonprofit offers.

Microsoft says Windows 11 Pro adds features such as BitLocker, remote desktop and domain join to what Windows 11 Home has, which matters if you want to manage or encrypt PCs.

Microsoft names Windows Autopatch and Microsoft Intune as tools for upgrading eligible PCs to Windows 11 in an organization, and lists Microsoft 365 Intune as a nonprofit add-on. For a handful of PCs, Windows Update and a written checklist may be enough. For many PCs, or volunteers on shared computers, managing them centrally may be worth a conversation.

TRUE.org Cloud is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We can review your PC list against Microsoft's requirements, help you sort PCs into upgrade, replace or extend, and say whether Intune would help a small team. That help is free for registered nonprofits, charities and faith-based organizations in the United States and Canada, and this page has no prices on it.

If you choose to buy licenses through TRUE.org, they are provided by TRUE.org's for-profit Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider, not by the nonprofit. You can always buy direct from Microsoft or from another partner instead.