Windows 10 end of support: your options
Windows 10 stopped getting free security updates on October 14, 2025. Here's what that means, what Extended Security Updates cost, and how to plan your upgrade.
- Windows 10
Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Windows 10 PCs still turn on and run, but they only get security fixes if they’re enrolled in Extended Security Updates (ESU). Without those updates, every newly discovered vulnerability stays open.
Symptoms
- Windows Update shows a message that Windows 10 has reached end of support.
- Your cyber-insurance questionnaire or a client security review asks whether you run unsupported operating systems.
What changes
- No more free security updates unless the PC is enrolled in ESU.
- Compliance risk: PCI DSS, cyber-insurance carriers and many client contracts require supported, patched systems.
- Microsoft 365 apps and many third-party apps are phasing out Windows 10 support too.
Your options
Option 1: Upgrade to Windows 11 (recommended)
Free on eligible hardware. To check a PC:
- Open Settings › Update & Security › Windows Update. Eligible PCs show an offer to upgrade.
- Or run Microsoft’s PC Health Check app.
Windows 11 needs, among other things, a TPM 2.0 chip and a supported processor. Many PCs from about 2018 onward qualify.
Option 2: Enroll in Extended Security Updates
Home and personal PCs: Microsoft’s consumer ESU now runs to October 12, 2027. You can enroll at no extra cost by syncing your PC settings to a Microsoft account, or by redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points. Otherwise it’s a one-time US$30 purchase.
Business PCs: commercial ESU is priced per device and doubles each year:
| ESU year | Covers updates until | Price per device (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | October 13, 2026 | $61 |
| Year 2 | October 12, 2027 | $122 |
| Year 3 | October 10, 2028 | $244 |
ESU is cumulative: a business that joins in Year 2 also has to pay for Year 1. ESU only buys time; it contains security fixes only, with no new features or other fixes.
Option 3: Replace the PC
For PCs that can’t run Windows 11, three years of ESU (US$427 per device) often costs more than a new business laptop.
When to call us
We can:
- assess every PC in your office for Windows 11 eligibility,
- price ESU against replacing hardware,
- and run the upgrades after hours so nobody loses a workday.
Book a consult to get started.
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