Microsoft will ask $30 for the ability to safely use Windows 10 until October 2026

Microsoft has finally officially announced that regular users will be able to extend support for Windows 10, but only for one year. To receive security updates after October 14, 2025, when the operating system’s support period ends, you will have to join the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program and pay $30.

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For businesses, the first year of ESU updates will cost $61, the second year will cost $122, and the third year will cost $244. Microsoft will offer consumers the opportunity to receive updates for one year at a more affordable price of $30. “Eligible PCs will continue to receive critical and important security updates for Windows 10, but Microsoft will no longer provide new features, bug fixes, or technical support,” said Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft vice president in charge of for the development of Windows.

He also said that consumers will be able to join the ESU program “closer to the end of support in 2025.” It is only natural that against this backdrop, Microsoft again encouraged consumers to upgrade to Windows 11 instead of purchasing access to security updates for Windows 10. “Now that the end of support for Windows 10 is approaching, it’s time to upgrade to Windows 11,” says Mehdi.

However, upgrading to Windows 11 may require purchasing a new computer. Millions of PCs won’t be able to officially upgrade to Windows 11 due to Microsoft’s strict hardware requirements. Windows 11 is officially supported only on PCs with processors released in 2018 or later and equipped with a TPM chip.