Consumer Extended Security Updates for Windows 10 end on 13 October 2026, according to Microsoft's end of support page. Many people are moving to a new Windows 11 PC this autumn. Files are the easy part. The things that catch people out are the small, hidden pieces: a saved signature, a digital certificate, a half-filled form, the app that opens PDFs.
1. Find all your PDFs
PDFs end up everywhere: Downloads, Desktop, Documents, email attachments, cloud folders. Before you move:
- Search the old PC for
*.pdfand sort by folder to see where they live. - Move anything important out of Downloads, which is often skipped in migrations.
- Delete what you no longer need. A migration is a good moment to tidy.
If your files are already in OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox, they will sync to the new PC when you sign in. Check that the sync has finished on the old PC first.
2. Save your signature images
If you sign PDFs with an image of your handwritten signature, find that image file and copy it. Many PDF apps store saved signatures in their own settings, which do not always move with your files. If in doubt, create a fresh transparent signature and keep the file somewhere safe.
3. Export digital certificates
If you sign with a digital certificate (common in legal, government and some business workflows), it lives in the Windows certificate store or a hardware token. Export it, including the private key if your organisation allows, using the certificate manager, and store it securely. Without it, you cannot sign on the new PC. Ask your IT team if the certificate was issued by your employer. For background, see digital signatures vs electronic signatures.
4. Finish or save half-filled forms
A form you were partway through may be saved inside an app's temporary storage rather than as a file. Open each one and save it as a PDF before you switch. If a form does not keep your entries, see fillable PDF form not saving.
5. Set the default PDF app
A new Windows PC opens PDFs in Microsoft Edge by default. If you prefer another app, change it in Settings → Apps → Default apps. See PDF opens in browser instead of app.
6. Check printing
Install your printer's latest driver on the new PC and print a test PDF before you need it urgently. If pages come out blank or wrong, see PDF printing blank fixes.
7. Wipe the old PC
Before you sell, recycle or give away the old machine, reset it and remove all personal data. PDFs often contain sensitive information: tax returns, IDs, contracts, medical letters. Windows' Reset this PC with the option to remove everything and clean the drive is a reasonable minimum.
Tools that need no migration
Browser-based tools need nothing moved. Docento.app runs in the browser and processes files on your device, so on the new PC you simply open the site. Your files are the only thing to bring.
Takeaway
Before switching PCs, gather PDFs from every folder, save your signature image, export any digital certificate, finish half-filled forms, then set default apps and test printing on the new machine. Wipe the old PC properly before it leaves your hands.
