End of support dates: when old devices become risky
End of support dates show when old devices stop getting fixes. Learn 5 practical checks for phones, laptops and smart home kit before risk grows.
A phone can still make calls after its last security update. A laptop can still open your bank website after its operating system falls out of support. That is why end of support dates matter: they mark the point where a device may keep working, but no longer has the same safety net.
The Short Version
End of support means the maker no longer promises normal software fixes, security patches or technical support for that product. The device may still turn on and run your apps, which is why the risk is easy to miss. The practical question is not whether the gadget works today. It is whether newly discovered flaws will still be fixed tomorrow.
What End Of Support Really Means
Every connected device has two lives. The first is the useful life you can see: the screen works, the battery holds enough charge, the apps open and the remote still changes channel. The second is the support life you cannot always see: the software, firmware and security updates supplied by the company behind it.
When support ends, the visible life can carry on. Microsoft says Windows 10 devices continue to function after support ends, but they no longer receive the same free software updates, security fixes or technical support. The UK National Cyber Security Centre makes the same point more generally: obsolete products no longer receive security updates, and the only fully effective way to remove that risk is to stop using the obsolete product.
That does not mean every old device becomes dangerous overnight. It means the balance changes. A small risk that was previously managed by regular patches becomes your problem to manage.
The Risk Is About New Holes, Not Old Age
People often think of old technology as slow, unfashionable or short on storage. The bigger security issue is different. Attackers and researchers keep finding new vulnerabilities in software. Supported products get patches for many of those flaws. Unsupported products may not.
This matters most when the device touches sensitive accounts, stores personal data or sits on the same home network as everything else. A laptop used for online banking needs a different standard from a disconnected music player. A phone that holds email, photos, passkeys and banking apps needs a different standard from a drawer full of old cables.
If your main concern is phone safety, it is worth pairing this with Cristoniq’s guide to smartphone settings worth changing on day one, because support dates are only one part of a safer setup.
How To Check A Phone
Start in the settings app. On Android, look for the Android version and security update level. Google says Pixel phones receive software updates that include security enhancements, operating system updates and bug fixes, and its support page lists which Pixel models still receive updates. Pixel 8 and later phones are listed for seven years of OS and security updates from first availability in the US, while Pixel 6, Pixel 7 and Pixel Fold models are listed for five years.
Samsung publishes a separate security scope for Galaxy devices. It says selected devices receive monthly, quarterly or biannual firmware security updates, and that newer supported Galaxy devices can receive up to seven years of security update support. The important word is selected. Do not assume every Android phone follows the same rule. Budget models, older models and carrier variants can have different schedules.
Apple does not publish a simple support calendar in quite the same way, but its security releases page shows which iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Watch models are receiving current security releases. If your model has disappeared from recent security release lists, that is a useful warning sign.
How To Check A Laptop
For laptops, check both the operating system and the hardware. A Windows laptop may be physically fine but unable to move to a supported version of Windows. That became a real issue when Windows 10 support ended on 14 October 2025. Some people can upgrade to Windows 11. Some can use extended security updates for a limited period. Others need to replace the machine or use it only for lower risk tasks.
Macs have a similar practical issue, even if the dates are presented differently. You need to know whether the Mac still receives macOS security updates for the version it can run. Linux can extend the life of some older laptops, but only if the person using it is comfortable maintaining it and installing updates properly.
Before replacing a machine, check whether your real problem is support or specification. Cristoniq’s guide to USB-C and why the same plug does not mean the same thing is a useful reminder that compatibility can be just as confusing as age.
TVs, Routers And Smart Devices Get Old Too
Phones and laptops get most of the attention, but smart TVs, routers, speakers, hubs and cameras also run software. They may not look like computers, but they connect to accounts, apps, microphones, cameras, cloud services or your home network.
Samsung’s Smart TV security page says Smart TV software updates are guaranteed for at least five years from product launch, with possible critical updates after that where available. That is useful, but it also means a ten year old smart TV should not be treated like a freshly supported device just because the picture still looks good.
The same logic applies to smart home kit. If you are building a connected home, read our explainer on Matter, Thread and smart home hubs before adding more devices. The fewer unsupported gadgets you leave attached to your network, the simpler your security life becomes.
A Worked Example
Imagine you have three devices at home: a 2019 Android phone used as a spare, a Windows 10 laptop used for email and a seven year old smart TV used for streaming.
The phone is the easiest to check. Open settings and look for the security update level. If it has not moved for a long time, do not use it for banking, password resets or two factor authentication. Keep it for offline music, testing or emergency calls if it still works on the network.
The laptop needs a firmer decision. If it can upgrade to a supported operating system, do that before using it for money, work or sensitive documents. If it cannot, move important accounts and files to a supported machine. Do not rely on antivirus software to compensate for an operating system that no longer receives normal security patches.
The TV sits in the middle. If it still receives firmware updates and the apps work, keep auto update on. If updates have stopped, consider using a supported streaming stick instead of the TV’s built in apps, and remove old accounts from the TV where possible.
What This Means For You
Support dates should be part of every buying and replacement decision. A cheaper phone with two years of meaningful updates may be worse value than a slightly dearer model with five or seven years. A discounted laptop may not be a bargain if it cannot run a supported operating system for long.
Make a short device list at home: phone, laptop, tablet, TV, router, smart speakers, cameras and hubs. For each one, check the latest software version and the latest security update date. Anything that handles passwords, payments, email or private documents should move to the front of the replacement queue when support dries up.
In Plain English
If a device no longer gets security updates, it is not just old. It is becoming harder to protect.
You do not need to throw away every ageing gadget. You do need to stop trusting unsupported devices with important accounts, payment details, private files and smart home access.
Working is not the same as supported.