Ever since Windows 11 came along a couple of years ago, most of us stuck on Windows 10 have probably known that it wouldn’t be long before Microsoft stops updating their older operating system. Until 14 October 2025 specifically, as that’s the date that Microsoft says will mark the end-of-support for Windows 10.
Well, that’s the end for your Windows 10 PC if you don’t pay for more updates anyway. As spotted by PCMag, Microsoft had published a blog post recently that mostly talks about getting enterprises and businesses on track towards updating older machines for Windows 11. However, it does also go on to mention that Microsoft understands not everyone can make the jump to Windows 11, and so says that an Extended Security Update program for Windows 10 is on the way.
That’s basically what it is, as Microsoft says they will offer your business or organisation a chance to extend security updates for up to three years, on a yearly subscription basis. Curiously, the blog post also mentions an Extended Security Updates program for individual users is in the works too. This means that you could technically be using Windows 10 up until October 2028 and still have an up-to-date system security-wise.
“Your organization will be able to purchase a yearly subscription to security updates. The yearly commitment is renewable for three years. Devices enrolled in ESUs will receive monthly security updates to keep these Windows 10 PCs secure.
Stay tuned for more ESU program updates as we approach availability, including an ESU program for individual consumers,” – Jason Leznek, Microsoft
At the moment though, Microsoft has not revealed just how much this Extended Security Updates subscription will cost, with few details on how it’ll work too. However, it seems that it will likely offer nothing more than just the essential critical security updates needed to stay secure, with no feature updates, customer-requested non-security changes or design tweaks for your aging operating system.
Of course, depending on how expensive it is, it might be easier for the everyday user to just make the jump over to Windows 11, especially if their PC can support it. Not only does it get all of the latest security updates from Microsoft, you’d also get all of their new shiny features such as Windows Copilot, their generative AI tool.
