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· 8 min de lectura· Actualizada el 2026-05-28Windows 10 vs Windows 11 — upgrade decision guide
Windows 10 hit end-of-support in October 2025. Here's whether to upgrade in-place, buy a Windows 11 key, or stay on 10 with ESU.
- Windows 10
- Windows 11
- Upgrade
- Win 10 EOL
- 14 Oct 2025
- Win 10 ESU
- ~€60/yr
- Win 11 upgrade
- Free if eligible
- Win 11 EOL
- 2031+
The end-of-support timeline
Microsoft ended free updates for Windows 10 on 14 October 2025. The OS keeps working, but security patches stop unless you enroll in the paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program — typically $30/year for consumers, $61 the first year for businesses (doubling annually).
Windows 11 receives free updates through at least October 2031. Every version of Windows 11 ships with TPM 2.0 enforced, virtualisation-based security on by default, and Pluton-class root-of-trust on newer chips.
Is your PC eligible for the free upgrade?
Windows 11 has strict hardware requirements: TPM 2.0, Secure Boot capable, 4 GB+ RAM, 64 GB+ storage, and a CPU on Microsoft's supported list (roughly Intel 8th-gen / AMD Zen 2 or newer).
Run the PC Health Check app (free from microsoft.com) to get a definitive verdict in 30 seconds.
Open PC Health Check
Download from aka.ms/GetPCHealthCheckApp. Install and click 'Check now'.
If green-ticked
Open Settings → Windows Update → 'Upgrade to Windows 11 is ready'. Takes 30–60 minutes.
If red-crossed
Note which requirement failed. TPM is often disabled in BIOS — enable 'PTT' (Intel) or 'fTPM' (AMD), reboot, retry the health check.
Truly unsupported
Buy ESU for one more year, or replace the PC. A Windows 11 Pro key on this site (€18) is cheaper than 12 months of consumer ESU.
Feature deltas worth knowing
Windows 11 isn't just a reskin. The under-the-hood security model is materially stronger, and several productivity features only exist on 11.
| Feature | Windows 10 | Windows 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Mainstream support | Ended Oct 2025 | Through 2031+ |
| TPM 2.0 required | No | Yes |
| Virtualisation-based security default | Opt-in | On by default |
| DirectStorage / Auto HDR | Limited | Full |
| Snap Layouts | Manual | Built-in grids |
| Android subsystem (WSA) | — | Deprecated 2025 |
| Copilot key on keyboard | — | Supported |
| UI design | Windows 8 lineage | Centred Start, rounded corners |
- Upgrade in-place (eligible)€0 · free
- Buy Win 11 Pro Retail key€18 · lifetime
- ESU consumer (3 years)€180 · 30/60/120
- ESU commercial (3 years)€427 · 61/122/244
Migration checklist
An in-place upgrade preserves apps and files, but you should still back up before pressing the button.
- · Full image backup (Macrium Reflect, AOMEI, or built-in Windows Backup).
- · Note any 32-bit apps — Win 11 still supports them, but check vendor compatibility.
- · Uninstall obviously-unsupported tooling (old VPN clients, ancient antivirus).
- · Charge the laptop or plug in mains power before starting.
- · Plan a 60–90 minute window. Two reboots are normal.
Preguntas frecuentes
- Will my Windows 10 key activate Windows 11?
- Yes. Retail Windows 10 Home and Pro keys activate the equivalent Windows 11 edition automatically. Microsoft treats them as the same digital license.
- Can I roll back to Windows 10 if I don't like 11?
- Yes, within 10 days of the in-place upgrade. After that, you need a clean install.
- Does Windows 11 run faster than Windows 10?
- On modern hardware (Intel 11th-gen+/AMD Zen 3+), yes — the new scheduler exploits hybrid CPUs better. On older eligible hardware, performance is roughly equivalent.
Licencias recomendadas
Windows 11 Pro
Retail · 1 PC · Lifetime
Professional edition with BitLocker, Hyper-V and Remote Desktop.
Windows 11 Home
Retail · 1 PC · Lifetime
For everyday personal computing.
Windows 10 Pro
Retail · 1 PC · Lifetime
Mature, stable platform for legacy hardware.
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