How long your phone, laptop and OS get security updates, and what to do after

Our families keep devices for a long time. A tablet from eight years ago still plays videos, an old laptop still opens email, the router in the cupboard has never been touched. They all work. The question is whether they are still safe, and that depends on one thing: does the maker still ship security updates?

This post explains how long the main platforms support devices, how to check your own, and what to do once support ends, in plain language.

Why updates matter more than age

Security researchers and attackers constantly find flaws in operating systems, browsers and apps. When a maker fixes a flaw, the details often become public, which makes it easier to attack devices that never got the fix. A phone that stopped receiving updates two years ago may carry dozens of known, documented weaknesses.

The risk is highest for things you do on the device: banking, email (which can reset your other passwords), work accounts and shopping. A device used only as an offline photo frame is a much smaller concern.

How long each platform supports devices

Apple does not announce end dates, which makes iPhones and Macs harder to plan for. A useful rule: when your device can no longer install the latest major iOS or macOS version, start planning a replacement within a year or two.

How to check your own device

Android: open Settings, then Security and privacy (names vary by brand), then System and updates or Security update. Look for the security patch level date. If it is more than a few months old and no update is offered, your phone may be out of support. Also check "Google Play system update", which covers some core components separately.

iPhone and iPad: Settings, General, Software Update. If an update is available, install it. If your device cannot install the current major iOS version, check Apple's security releases page to see whether your version still receives fixes.

Mac: Apple menu, System Settings, General, Software Update. Old Macs that cannot install the latest macOS can still get security updates for a time, but not forever.

Windows: Settings, Windows Update. Then Settings, System, About shows your Windows version. If you are on Windows 10, you are out of mainstream support; check whether you are enrolled in Extended Security Updates or can move to Windows 11.

Chromebook: Settings, About ChromeOS, Additional details shows the Update schedule with the end month.

Router and smart devices: log in to the router's admin page or the maker's app and check the firmware version against the maker's support site. Routers are often forgotten and are a common target.

Updates you should turn on everywhere

• Automatic system updates.

• Automatic app updates from the official store.

• Browser updates (most browsers update themselves; just restart them sometimes).

• Firmware updates for routers if the maker offers automatic updates.

Restart devices once in a while. Many updates only finish installing after a restart.

What to do when support ends

You do not have to throw the device away. You have options, from safest to riskiest:

1. Replace it for sensitive tasks: move banking, email and work accounts to a supported device. Keep the old one for low-risk uses such as music, a recipe screen or a kids' offline game device, without logins to important accounts.

2. Give an old laptop a new operating system: many old PCs run current Linux distributions or ChromeOS Flex well. That gives them years of new security updates. Check hardware compatibility first.

3. Enrol in extended support where offered, such as Windows 10 Extended Security Updates, to buy time for a planned replacement.

4. Limit exposure: if you must keep using an unsupported device for a while, use a supported browser if one is still available, avoid installing new apps, do not use public Wi-Fi with it, and do not sign in to important accounts.

5. Recycle responsibly: before giving away or recycling a device, sign out of all accounts, remove it from your Apple, Google or Microsoft account, and erase it with the factory reset option. Many shops and makers offer trade-in or recycling programs.

Small businesses: keep a device list

For a small office, the same rules apply, with one extra habit: keep a simple list of every device, who uses it, the OS version and the support end date. A spreadsheet is enough.

Review the list every six months. Unsupported devices that hold customer data, payment information or email accounts should be replaced first, because a breach there costs far more than the hardware. Many insurance policies and payment-card rules also expect supported, patched systems.

Buying with updates in mind

The cheapest device is not always the cheapest per year. A phone that costs more but gets seven years of updates can be cheaper than a budget phone that is unsafe after two. Before buying:

• Find the official update end date for the exact model.

• Prefer brands that publish clear policies.

• For laptops, check that the hardware meets the requirements of the next OS version, not just the current one.

• For kids and elderly relatives, choose devices that update automatically and need no maintenance.

Key takeaways

• Support for security updates, not age, decides whether a device is safe for important tasks.

• Support periods range from two years (some budget Android phones) to ten (Chromebooks, Ubuntu with Pro).

• Check the security patch level or update status on each device you own, including routers.

• When support ends, move sensitive accounts off the device, consider Linux or ChromeOS Flex for laptops, and wipe devices before passing them on.

References

• Google Pixel update policy

• Samsung Mobile Security updates

• Apple security releases

• Windows 10 end of support

• Windows 11 lifecycle

• Chromebook auto update policy

• ChromeOS Flex

• Ubuntu release cycle