Microsoft has announced that it will begin charging for an extended support option to allow users to keep using Windows 10 beyond its official end of support date. It will charge consumers $30 for an additional year of security updates to keep Windows 10 protected beyond its end-of-support date on October 14, 2025.
Unlike businesses, consumers will only be eligible for this one-year extension and will need to pay $30 if they choose to keep their devices secure on Windows 10. Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s executive vice president and consumer chief marketing officer, explained that while PCs enrolled in the ESU program will continue receiving critical and important security patches, they won’t receive new features, bug fixes, or technical support from Microsoft.
Enrollment for consumers will open closer to the end of Windows 10 support in 2025, with Microsoft urging users to upgrade to Windows 11 instead. “With the Windows 10 End of Support moment, now is the time to move to Windows 11 with confidence,” Mehdi said.
Key details
- Target Audience: ESUs are generally aimed at businesses and organizations with critical legacy systems still reliant on Windows 10. However, individuals who need or prefer to remain on Windows 10 might also be able to purchase this extended support option.
- What’s Included: The ESUs will cover only essential security updates, not new features or quality-of-life improvements. This helps prevent vulnerabilities but does not enhance functionality.
Why Microsoft Is Charging:
- Microsoft aims to encourage users to transition to Windows 11 or future Windows versions. However, for organizations with complex systems and compatibility challenges, upgrading right away might not be feasible, so extended support is offered as a transitional option.
- if you’re planning to stick with Windows 10 post-2025, you might need to consider the ESU cost or plan to transition to a newer OS.
