Microsoft announced the price it will pay to keep the Windows 10 operating system alive. Free support will last until October 14, 2025, after which corporate and casual users will have to pay if they want to continue receiving security updates for the operating system.

Updates will be released as part of the Windows 10 ESU (Extended Security Updates) program. According to an official blog post, Microsoft will charge enterprise customers $61 per year for a PC. Conditions for regular users have not been announced yet, but are expected to be announced soon.

The program will run for three years, and those who plan to join later will have to pay for the previous period, as each update is cumulative and includes all previously released security fixes. IT administrators will be able to enroll Windows 10 devices in the program using the traditional 25-digit key activation method.

Finally, the Windows 10 Advanced Security Update program will be free for businesses that use Windows 365 to access a cloud PC with Windows 11 installed. ESU is included in a one-year Windows 365 license.

Microsoft specifically emphasized that companies should not consider the Advanced Security Program as a long-term solution. Instead, Microsoft recommends using it as a “temporary bridge” while moving to a more modern supported version of Windows.