The Microsoft October 13 Deadline: Does it affect you?

Three Microsoft deadlines land on October 13, 2026.

Only one of them should worry you. The other two need a note on your calendar.

Here is how to tell them apart, who they affect, and what to do before the date arrives.

The short version

• Windows 10: Paid security updates enter year two, and the price doubles.
• Office 2021: Support ends. Fix this one first.
• Windows Server 2022: A milestone, not a cliff. Nothing breaks.

Windows 10: the price doubles

Windows 10 reached its official end of support in October 2025. Businesses that needed more time could buy Extended Security Updates, or ESU. Year one cost a reported $61 per device. Year two costs $122.

Delay makes it worse. ESU coverage is cumulative. A company that skipped year one must pay for it on top of year two. By the reported prices, one late PC costs about $183.

Treat ESU as a bridge. It makes sense for a PC you will retire within the year. It makes little sense for a fleet you plan to keep.

One technical note. Each PC must run Windows 10 version 22H2 with recent update packages before ESU will activate. Your IT team should check that first.

Office 2021: the deadline that matters most

Office 2021 stops getting security updates on October 13. It also loses bug fixes and technical support. Word, Excel, and Outlook keep opening. That is the trap.

These apps handle files from outside your company every day. Unpatched Office is a real risk, not a theoretical one.

You are affected if your team bought Office once and never moved to a subscription. The fix is a move to Microsoft 365 or a newer version of Office. Microsoft 365 also opens the door to Copilot, if you want it later.

Windows Server 2022: no action needed this year

Mainstream support for Windows Server 2022 ends in mid-October. Extended support runs until October 15, 2031. Your server keeps working, and it keeps getting security updates.

Put the date on your 2027 budget review. Then move on. Nothing about this one is urgent.

What to do this month

1. Count what you own. List every PC and server, its Windows version, and its Office version. You cannot plan around a fleet you have not counted.
2. Sort your PCs into three groups. Those to upgrade to Windows 11. Those that need replacing. And the (hopefully) few special-purpose machines that may have to stay on Windows 10 for now.
3. Buy ESU only where it acts as a bridge for those special machines. Pay for year two on machines you will retire soon. Skip it for everything else.
4. Replace Office 2021 before the date. Choose Microsoft 365 or a newer version. Move the machines that open the most outside files first.
5. Plan hardware purchases early. Gartner projects PC prices will rise 17% by the end of 2026. Equipment also must be in service by December 31 to qualify for the Section 179 deduction. Ask your CPA how that applies to you.

Run a Device and Software Lifecycle Report

Most owners cannot say how many PCs run Windows 10 or Office 2021. Braver (or your current MSP) can tell you. Braver will build a free Device and Software Lifecycle Report for your business.

It shows each device, the Windows and Office version it runs, and when support ends. You get a plain-English list of what to replace first.

Need some help? Reach out today! WeMakeITWork@BraverTechnology.com or call the office nearest you.

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