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Will My PC Stop Working When Secure Boot Certificates Expire in 2026?
What Actually Happens When Secure Boot Certificates Expire?
You might be worried about the upcoming expiration of Windows Secure Boot certificates in June 2026. This event affects the UEFI Secure Boot, a critical safety feature. Microsoft confirmed in a February 10, 2026, update that systems will handle this transition smoothly, provided they receive the necessary updates.
The Expiration Timeline
Secure Boot certificates deployed in your device’s UEFI are reaching their 15-year limit. These certificates, originally issued for Windows 8, will begin expiring in June 2026. A second critical certificate follows suit in October 2026. Microsoft has attempted to replace these certificates through standard updates for years, but technical hurdles often caused installation failures or boot issues.
To address this, Microsoft launched a new wave of certificate updates in January and February 2026. These updates are now rolling out to compatible machines to ensure continuity before the deadline passes.
Will Your Computer Freeze?
Many users fear their computers will fail to boot once the certificates expire. Microsoft has clarified this specific concern. If your device does not receive the update before June 2026, it will not stop working.
Your system will continue to boot, and your applications will run as expected. However, your device will enter a “restricted security state”. In this state, the device cannot accept future security updates for the boot process. This leaves the system vulnerable to sophisticated boot-level threats, such as rootkits, which Secure Boot was designed to prevent.
Compatibility Concerns
While your current Windows installation will function, future problems may arise. Devices in this restricted state may struggle to load newer operating systems, firmware, or hardware that depend on valid, updated Secure Boot keys.
For most Windows 10 and 11 users, the immediate impact is minimal. However, as Windows 11 evolves and hardware requirements increase, maintaining valid Secure Boot certificates becomes essential for system health and security compliance. Newer devices shipped recently likely already contain the 2023 updated certificates and will not be affected.