The life cycle of Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025, when Microsoft will end technical support for almost all editions of this operating system. However, there are official ways to extend it and Microsoft has just announced the price that the ESU program will cost.

You already know the situation in desktop operating systems. Many of us continue to keep our production PCs on Windows 10 and don’t plan to migrate to Windows 11 until there is no other option… Or change the platform to a non-Windows alternative that exists and is very good.

End of Windows 10 lifecycle It is a commercial measure, not a technical one.. Microsoft has regulated the duration of each of its operating systems before its release, and it is clear that Windows 10 could last much longer. While it hasn’t generally been getting new features for a long time, Microsoft has added them from time to time when it felt like it. We are talking about the AI ​​assistant, Copìlot and other components that theoretically should not be in previous systems.

Another sign that Windows 10 could last a lot longer on our PCs is a program we have on hand that says If you pay, you can continue to use it. This is an Enhanced Security Program (ESU) that Microsoft has announced for Windows 10 and which, as defined by the company, “gives people and organizations of all sizes the ability to more securely extend the use of Windows 10 on devices beyond the end of support date”.

Windows 10 Lifecycle How much does ESU cost?

Microsoft just announced the ESU price for Windows 10 and it will $61 per year per device. It will be the first year because the cost will double in subsequent years. Obviously this is a program aimed at businesses and not at the end user, although many customers would be all we need to extend the life cycle of Windows 10. We will see when it is implemented, since the Windows 7 ESU allowed us to run (unofficially ) system security updates.

The Extended Security Program for Windows 10 will be available for purchase starting in October 2024 (one year before the end of technical support) and It can be activated in three different ways:

• The traditional way with an activation key for individual devices.
• Through Windows 365.
• A special cloud offer for Microsoft Intune or Windows Autopatch that can reduce the price of the program.

Finally, please clarify that ESU is not a technical support program, nor does it include new functional or design features for the operating system and is limited to providing monthly security updates. In fact, Microsoft continues to recommend using Windows 11 and describes this ESU as a temporary help to give it more time to perform migrations.