Microsoft will now offer individual users of Windows 10 a way to get critical security updates after the operating system’s impending 2025 end of support date, but it will cost them.
First released in July of 2015, Microsoft Windows 10 will officially reach its end of support date on October 14, 2025, meaning the company will, at least for free, “no longer provide bug fixes for issues, security fixes for vulnerabilities, time zone updates, or technical support for problems that might occur.”
Two years away seems like more than enough time for PC users to bite the bullet and upgrade to Windows 11, but it’s not always an option. Some software, particularly apps developed for very specific purposes, may not be compatible with newer operating systems. Or a company may not be in a position to initiate a wide rollout of new hardware that’s compatible with Windows 11. While Microsoft has previously given security updates to larger organizations even beyond it prior Windows end of life dates, this is the first time the same option is being extended to regular users.
In a post shared to the Windows IT Pro Blog today, Microsoft explained that the Extended Security Updates will be available as a paid annual subscription that’s “renewable for three years,” with enrolled devices receiving monthly security and critical updates during that time. What the ESU doesn’t include are “new features, customer-requested non-security updates, or design change requests.” Additional technical support will also not be included.
What Microsoft hasn’t yet revealed is exactly how much the ESU program will cost Windows 10 users. It could be a cheap way to avoid the hassle of upgrading to Windows 11, or it could be a financially compelling reason to upgrade before October 2025 arrives.
