Time to Upgrade to Windows 11: Here’s Why

Microsoft has announced that Windows 10 will no longer be supported in October 2025. At Encore, we strongly recommend that all our customers upgrade to Windows 11 before October 2025. That recommendation is based on the information outlined in this article.

Windows 10 Reaching End of Support

Windows 10 will reach end of support in October 2025. That means:

1. There will be increased risk for viruses and cybercrime for businesses using PCs on Windows 10, because Microsoft will no longer be providing security updates.
2. There will be no further technical support or feature updates for Windows 10.

Windows 11 is Microsoft’s new, modern, and most secure edition of Windows.

We want all of our customers’ businesses to run safely and efficiently, and in this case, that means moving to Windows 11.

How To Check if You’re Already on Windows 11

In the search bar at the bottom left of your screen, type “About your PC.” Within the window that pops up, there’s a section called “Windows specifications.” One of the entries there is your Edition.

(This method of checking works if you’re on Windows 10 or Windows 11.)

It’s important to make sure that all the PCs in your business get onto Windows 11. Don’t leave some machines on older versions of Windows. Otherwise, that would be like locking your front door but forgetting to lock the back door. You want to make sure your whole house is safe.

What To Do if You’re on Windows 10

Most computers currently on Windows 10 can be upgraded for free to Windows 11. We recommend doing that free upgrade soon, maybe over the course of an evening or weekend to avoid downtime.

You can check if your PC can move to Windows 11 under Settings > Privacy and Security > Windows Update.

If your computers cannot be upgraded to Windows 11, then it’s time for a hardware refresh. It’s important to act on this soon so that you can get new desktops and laptops that are right for your business in good time. You don’t want to be in a rush to get delivery of PCs in September 2025.

Technically, you can purchase the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates program from Microsoft. This offers “critical and important security updates” only. However, pricing and enrollment options have not yet been finalized. We highly recommend moving to Windows 11 instead.

Dynamics GP Users: Upgrade Required for Windows 11 Compatibility

If you’re running Microsoft Dynamics GP 2018 or earlier, including versions 18.0, 18.2, 18.3, and any version prior to 18.4.1434, please note that these versions are not supported on Windows 11.

With Windows 10 support ending in October 2025, organizations using these older Dynamics GP versions will need to upgrade to remain supported and avoid potential disruptions such as application failure or loss of functionality.

If you’re unsure whether your current GP version is compatible with Windows 11, or if you’re ready to explore upgrade paths or cloud migration options, reach out to your Encore Account Manager.

Please contact us if you have questions or reach out to your Encore account manager for advice and assistance with new hardware. We can quote and source new hardware, and have it delivered to you.