Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, and you’ll need to pay annually if you want to continue using the operating system safely. Microsoft will offer Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10 users starting at $61 for the first year.
Pricing for additional security updates will be offered to consumers for the first time with Windows 10. Enterprises and consumers must purchase an ESU license for each Windows 10 device they plan to use after the end-of-support date next year.
For businesses, the first year costs $61. It then doubles to $122 for the second year and doubles again to $244 in the third year. If you enroll in the ESU program in the second year, you will also have to pay for the first year as the ESUs are cumulative.
On Wednesday, Microsoft Updated the Windows IT Pro Blog post Note that the prices mentioned are for commercial organizations only and details of consumer prices will be “shared at a later date”.
Editor’s note 4.3.2024: The details and pricing structure shown in this article are for commercial organizations only. Details will be shared later on our page for consumers end of consumer support page. Educational organizations can find tailored information about Windows 10 end of support here Microsoft Education Blog.
Microsoft typically only offers subscriptions for Extended Security Updates to organizations that need to run older versions of Windows. This time is different, because Windows 10 still has a lot of people, nearly nine years after its 2015 release.
“Extended Security Updates are intended as a temporary bridge, not a long-term solution,” Microsoft explains. in a blog post. “Starting in October 2024, you can purchase ESU licenses for Windows 10 devices that you do not plan to upgrade to Windows 11 one year before the end of support.”
Microsoft is offering a 25 percent discount to businesses that use a Microsoft cloud-based update solution, such as Intune or Windows Autopatch. That brings the price down to $45 per user (up to five devices) for the first year. If you use Windows 10 laptops and PCs to connect to Windows 11 Cloud PCs through Windows 365, Microsoft waives charges for security updates because the licenses are included in the Windows 365 subscription price.
Schools will get a bigger discount Microsoft offer a $1 license for the first year, then increases to $2 for the second year and $4 for the third year. It looks like Microsoft won’t be offering any special discounted pricing for consumers, but those licenses are still months away from going on sale, so the company can still offers something for consumers.
Of course, Microsoft wants consumers to switch to Windows 11 instead. Millions of PCs can’t officially upgrade to Windows 11 due to stricter hardware requirements and security pushes with Microsoft’s latest operating system. Windows 11 is only supported on CPUs released from 2018 and on devices that support TPM security chips.
As a result, Windows 11 lagged behind the release of Windows 10, which was offered as a free upgrade to Windows 7 and Windows 8 users. Windows 11 was also a free upgrade, but only for Windows 10 machines that met strict minimum hardware requirements.
StatCounter says Windows 10 is still used by 69 percent of all Windows users, compared to only 27 percent on Windows 11. This is a huge loophole that Microsoft will not be able to close in the next 18 months, and many Windows 10 users will have to consider paying for security updates. first time.
Correction April 3, 8:40 PM ET: Since publication, Microsoft has updated its post to note that this price is for commercial organizations only. Prices for consumers have not yet been announced.