With support for Windows 10 ending on October 14, 2025, Microsoft is trying to get users of the operating system to switch to Windows 11 by giving an alternative to pay $30 to continue using Windows 10.
You can upgrade to Windows 11 by updating your existing PC or by purchasing new hardware. But what if you want to keep using Windows 10 for another year after 2025? You will need to pay $30 according to Microsoft, otherwise it will be vulnerable to security issues. This is because Microsoft will stop releasing security updates for Windows 10 starting October 14, 2025.
Windows 10 was released on July 19, 2015, and Microsoft promised 10 years of support, which means until October 14, 2025.
After this date, Microsoft will stop all updates for Windows 10 Home and Pro. So there will be no possibility for monthly, optional, cumulative security updates and other critical updates for the devices that will still be running Windows 10.
You can purchase Windows 10 security updates
For its enterprise customers, Microsoft has always had an additional Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which was limited to Windows 7. Now it's coming to Windows 10 as the operating system's days of support are coming to an end.
The idea behind ESU is to help businesses slowly transition to Windows 11. So Microsoft thought that there will be regular users who want to continue using Windows 10 for another year.
In a updated support document, Microsoft confirmed that for the first time, it is offering the ESU program to consumers as well. It will be available for a one-year subscription for $30. You can only buy it once.
For enterprise users, the ESU plan spans up to three years, with prices doubling each year. In the first year, ESU updates cost $61 per device, then increase to $122 per device in the second year, and finally $244 per device in the third year.
For educational institutions, the cost is $1 per device in the first year, $2 per device in the second year, and $4 per device in the third year.
George is still wondering what he is doing here….
