Despite Windows 10’s continued popularity from a desktop market share standpoint, Microsoft is determined to sever ties with the operating system later this calendar year. The near-decade-old computer OS is set to reach end of life on October 14, 2025, with the tech giant urging users to make the switch to its newer Windows 11 system sooner rather than later.

Unfortunately, a lot of Windows 10 PCs are simply incompatible with Windows 11, due to the latter OS’ more stringent system requirements. The release of Windows 11 in 2021 came with refreshed minimum processor specifications, as well as newfound requirements to have both a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled at the system level.

Controversies aside, Microsoft’s current stance has created a harsh situation on the ground: Windows 10 PC users will soon face a loss of support for servicing and security patches, unless, of course, they pony up for the company’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.

If you find yourself in this precarious situation, then the good news is that there are options at your disposal. Microsoft officially suggests trading in your PC, which is a perfectly viable option, but there are alternative avenues worth considering as well.

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Is it worthwhile to sell or trade-in my old Windows 10 PC?

In many ways, selling or trading-in your old computer is the best path forward

As a primary course of action, trading-in or reselling your Windows 10 PC is a great option. It can help you recoup some of the cost of a new Windows 11 machine, and it otherwise gives you the freedom to try switching to a Mac or any other competing desktop platform.

If you’re looking to resell your PC, some great options include:

On the other hand, many PC makers and big-box retailers provide their own trade-in programs, which are worth taking into consideration as well. These include:

Personally, I gravitate towards making use of official trade-in programs, as it removes much of the extra legwork from the picture; it can be time-consuming to make a product listing, take photos, describe the condition of the product in question, and schedule an in-person meetup at a safe and public location. There’s arguably more money to be made by cutting out the OEM or retailer middleman entirely, but your mileage will, of course, vary.

In the past, I’ve also elected to sell some of my older electronics at local pawn shops — this is an excellent way to support local small businesses, while ensuring your old hardware doesn’t get left by the wayside. If you’re in a particularly giving mood, you can also make use of platforms like BuyNothing to donate your old Windows 10 device to a local community member.

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How much money can I expect to recoup from my old Windows 10 PC?

The value of your used Windows 10 machine will depend on several factors

Microsoft

Several factors may play a role in how much money you can recoup by selling or trading-in your old Windows 10 computer. These include:

• The physical condition of your PC
• The internal specifications of your PC
• The brand name of your PC

On average, the newer your Windows 10 PC model is, the more value you’ll be able to extract out of it when trading it in or selling it. When dealing with second-hand markets like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, the physical condition of your PC will play a factor in how much of an asking price you’ll be able to reasonably list the hardware for.

If you choose to go down the second-hand market route, it might be a good idea to consider parting with your Windows 10 PC sooner rather than later. With Windows 10 already in its twilight years, the value of non-Windows 11-compatible PCs is likely to drop considerably in the coming months and years.

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Can I continue using my Windows 10 PC without issue?

Yes, but you’ll be vulnerable to security breaches and malware attacks

Pocket-lint

When Microsoft officially sunsets support for Windows 10 in mid-October, the immediate functionality of your PC won’t be affected to any degree. Rather, you’ll simply stop receiving servicing updates, security patches, and other optimizations. This, of course, is a problem, as it opens you up to potential data breaches, viruses, malware attacks, and other significant vulnerabilities.

Over time, you can expect your various apps and programs to slowly stop functioning, as developers turn their attention to newer and in-support platforms like Windows 11. How long this might take on an app-by-app basis is hard to predict, but for some perspective: Google only stopped supporting Chrome for Windows 7 in early 2023 (Windows 7 reached end of life in January 2020).

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Am I better off repurposing my Windows 10 PC?

You don’t have to part ways with your out-of-support Windows 10 computer

Pocket-lint / Google

Of course, you don’t have to part ways with your Windows 10 PC, despite the looming shut-down of support from Microsoft. As mentioned, the company is offering a paid extended support program, though this is primarily aimed at enterprise customers and not everyday consumers.

Rather, you’d be better served by starting anew: consider giving your PC a new lease on life by loading it up with a new operating system entirely. Google offers its own solution in the form of ChromeOS Flex, which is a free and lightweight alternative that can be installed onto most existing Windows 10 PCs.

Elsewhere, there are countless Linux-based operating systems (or ‘distros’) to choose from, each of which brings something unique to the desktop computing experience. Generally speaking, Linux distros provide a clean and bloat-free PC experience that might end up speeding the performance of your old Windows 10 rig, which is another nice bonus.

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