Microsoft finally reveals that it will charge consumers $30 for a year of additional security updates for Windows 10. Support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025, but consumers will be able to purchase a single year of Extended Security Updates (ESU). . for $30 for the first time.
While businesses will be charged $61 for a single year of ESU, they also have the option of paying $122 for a second year and then $244 for a third year of upgrades. Microsoft will only offer consumers one year if they are willing to pay the $30 fee. “Enrolled PCs will continue to receive critical and important security updates for Windows 10; however, new features, bug fixes, and technical support will no longer be available from Microsoft.” explains Yusuf Mehdiexecutive vice president and chief consumer marketing officer at Microsoft.
Consumers will be able to enroll in the ESU program “closer to the end of support in 2025.” Naturally, Microsoft is once again encouraging consumers to upgrade to Windows 11 instead of purchasing extended security updates for Windows 10. “With Windows 10 ending support, now is the time to move to Windows 11 with confidence.” “says Mehdi.
That switch to Windows 11 may involve purchasing a new PC. Millions of PCs cannot officially upgrade to Windows 11 due to stricter hardware requirements and Microsoft's security push with its latest operating system. Windows 11 is only compatible with CPUs released after 2018 and devices that support TPM security chips.
Windows 11 adoption has lagged behind Windows 10 in recent years, but there are signs that people are starting to upgrade more or upgrade their hardware. Windows 11 briefly became the most popular operating system for PC gaming among Steam users in August, before falling behind Windows 10 again in September. Windows 10 usage is likely to remain strong through 2025 and beyond.
After originally saying it would get major Windows 10 updates in 2023, Microsoft changed its approach earlier this year in a confusing move that could help Windows 10 usage remain strong. The software giant took the unusual step of reopening its beta program for Windows 10 users in June to test new features and improvements to an operating system whose support is supposed to end next year.
