Yesterday, Microsoft announced the price that organizations have to pay to extend Windows 10 support after October 2025. What Microsoft did not say was how much consumers will have to pay to keep their Windows 10 systems supported.
The Windows 10 operating system will reach end of support in October 2025. This means, that Microsoft won’t release security updates or any other form of update for the operating system after end of support.
There is a way out though. Extended Security Updates allow organizations and home users to continue using a patched system. Microsoft established ESU when its Windows 7 operating system ran out of support in 2020. Organizations could extend support by up to three years through extra payments.
To extend Windows 7 support, they had to pay $50, $100, and $200 in the first, second, and third year. Consumers were ignored back then, as Microsoft did not make an Extended Security Updates offer.
Windows 10: extended security updates
Microsoft announced that Windows 10 would also get Extended Security Updates. Unlike Windows 8, which ran out in 2023 and did not receive any, Windows 10 is widely used.
It is the most used Windows operating system today and hundreds of millions of users will still use it in the second half of 2025.
Extended Security Updates are available for organizations and consumers this time.
Microsoft announced the price that organizations have to pay yesterday. The company bumped the price significantly to $61, $122, and $244 respectively. Summed up, it means that organizations have to pay $427 to extend Windows 10 for three years for a single machine.
Other options are available, but they depend on the use of update management systems or Microsoft 365.
And consumers?
No information was provided. Price and conditions are unclear. Microsoft provided the following comment:
Final pricing and enrolment conditions will be made available closer to the October 2025 date for end of support.
It is almost certain that Microsoft knows the conditions and set the price for extended security updates for consumer machines already.
Keeping customers in the dark may give Windows 11 a push. Most Windows 10 customers are probably unaware of ESU and that the option will become available in 2025.
These may update their machines to Windows 11, if compatible, or even buy a new PC with Windows 11 as a consequence.
If Microsoft would tell them now that they could extend support for their current machine by up to three years, for this much, it would certainly slow down Windows 11 adoption further.
Consumer pricing is a wildcard. Clearly, Microsoft won’t charge consumers more than it charges organizations. Apart from that, anything is possible. From doubling the price each year or a fixed sum per year, to linking ESU to a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Would you pay for extended security updates for Windows 10? If so, what is your limit?