Windows 10 will no longer receive free security updates from October 14, 2025. Microsoft therefore recommends that users switch to Windows 11 before that date. If not, protection can only be obtained through the Extended Security Updates program. This is associated with high costs.
Microsoft explains that it is best for organizations to migrate to Windows 11. Supported PCs can be upgraded to the new OS via Windows Autopatch or Microsoft Intune. There is also the option to migrate to the cloud and run Windows 10 via Windows 365 Cloud PC. Microsoft does not charge extra costs for the latter option; security remains guaranteed.
However, support for certain LTSC (Long Term Servicing Channel) versions of Windows 10 will continue after 2025. For example, Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 will receive regular security updates until January 12.
Always expensive option
The option to extend Windows 10 support can already be purchased. The base price per device is $61 in the first year, but this amount doubles every year. Anyone who enters the ESU program later will still have to pay for year 1. The doubling applies for a maximum of three years. Anyone who needs three years of extra support for one Windows 10 machine will have to pay $427 per device.
Microsoft therefore not only explicitly advises users to switch to Windows 11 or Windows 365, but manages to emphasize this by making the purchase of new PCs more attractive in most cases. ESUs are intended to allow organizations to gradually transition to the new operating system.
Microsoft has been offering ESU programs for some time. For some versions of Windows, it meant a very long lifespan extension: for example, while mainstream support for Windows 7 (launched in 2009) ended in January 2015, the Embedded variant continued to receive security updates until October 2023.
Read our previous article about the end dates of Windows 10 and Windows 11 here.
