Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10. Here's what you need to know

Well, finally for today, many computer and tech upgrades happen automatically these days. So, you might not be aware actually of a major change happening today that could impact you. Microsoft is ending automatic security updates and support for Windows 10. And if you can't upgrade to the newest operating system, you need to take action. Our Nidia Han breaks down what you need to know. Windows 10 is the most widely used Windows operating system. So, this affects millions of people. But not to worry, we're going to break it all down for you. If you have a newer computer capable of running Windows 11, you need to install the new operating system. It will not automatically update. If you have an older computer that cannot upgrade to Windows 11, you have options, too. And listen up, because I know many of you fall into this category. We estimate that something like 400 million computers will be left behind by the end of Windows 10. Uh, so this is a very widespread problem. you're going to lose access to some of the features and security that you might depend on. So, here's what you can do to keep using your existing computer instead of buying a new one. You can install an operating system provided by Google called Chrome Flex. There's also a system called Linux Mint. Both are free. You can install them yourself or ask a local repair shop to do it for you. And for $30, Microsoft will provide one year of extended security updates. For businesses, the cost is double. There's also a free Microsoft option, but it requires connecting your One Drive account and enabling cloud backup. The issue is some backups might exceed the free storage limit. So then you're going to have to pay Microsoft for more storage anyway. So either way, if you can't upgrade to Windows 11 if you want to stay secure through Microsoft, you're probably going to have to pay the company. You can find all this information on 6abc.com/consumer. I'm Nidia Han, Channel 6 Action News.