Who should still choose Windows 10?
Windows 10 makes sense in three situations: your hardware does not support Windows 11 and replacing it is not on the cards; you run a piece of software or a device driver that has only ever been certified for Windows 10; or the machine is not connected to the internet and stability matters more than anything else.
We would rather be honest with you than sell you the wrong thing: Microsoft ended free security updates for Windows 10 in October 2025. The system still works perfectly well, but it no longer receives monthly patches. If your PC can run Windows 11, that is the better long-term choice – and you will find it in our Windows 11 category.
Home or Pro?
- Windows 10 Home covers the full desktop experience, Microsoft Store, Windows Security and Windows Update – everything a private user needs.
- Windows 10 Pro adds BitLocker drive encryption, Remote Desktop as a host, Hyper-V, Group Policy and domain join. It is the edition to pick for work machines and for anyone who remotely accesses their own PC.
System requirements
Windows 10 is undemanding: a 1 GHz processor, 2 GB of RAM for the 64-bit edition and around 20 GB of free disk space. That is why it remains a sensible operating system for older laptops and desktops that would struggle with anything newer.
Installation and activation
Your email contains the product key, a download link for the official Microsoft installation media and written instructions. You can activate an existing Windows 10 installation with the key, or create installation media and perform a clean install. Either way, the activation itself takes seconds once the key is entered.