Official support for the Windows 10 operating system, which was introduced on July 29, 2015, will end on October 14, 2025, but it will be possible to continue using it safely, since Microsoft guarantees security patches for this version at any time. From that date… as long as you pay.

$61 a year for peace of mind. The Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 users will be activated when official support ends in October 2025. The first year starting cost will be $61.

For business users as well as end users. In this case, the innovation is that Microsoft will offer these security updates not only to users using Windows 10 in companies, but also to end users. Both will need to purchase ESU licenses for each Windows 10 device they plan to keep updated.

It will become increasingly expensive to continue using. For companies, the first year, as we said, will cost $61 per device, but in the second year the price will double to $122, and in the third year it will double again to $244. Additionally, the cycles are cumulative: if you enroll in the ESU program in the second year, you will also have to pay for the first year of updates.

Price is a secret for users. It is currently unclear how much these licenses will cost end users, and Microsoft states that details on this matter will only be “shared later.”

They want you to upgrade to Windows 11. Microsoft’s offer is a striking strategy to force users to upgrade to Windows 11. The cost of ESU licenses is high – especially if we want to continue using the operating system for a longer time – this measure may convince those who have so far resisted change. At Microsoft, they clearly state that this program is “intended to be a temporary solution and not a long-term solution.”

Windows 10 is the king of Windows. As Statcounter GlobalStats data shows, Windows 10 has been the most popular version of Windows for years, currently holding a 69.07% share compared to Windows 11’s stealth share of 26.68%. Microsoft’s clear goal is that these percentages could reverse over the next 18 years. months, but it will be difficult.

Windows 10 will continue to work even if you don’t pay (be careful). The fact is that Microsoft, as in the past, creates lifecycles for its products and disables support for them, which does not always make users switch to new versions. In fact, anyone can continue to use Windows 10 indefinitely, but they will be exposed to security vulnerabilities that can put their computers and data at risk.

Armenia case. It’s already common to find actual life cycles much longer than what Microsoft officially recommends for Windows systems. The best example of this is Windows Market share in Armenia is 77.34%; This is unusual, although some organizations need this version to maintain compatibility with older software developments.

in Xataka | Windows 11’s market share is expected to continue to increase. The opposite just happened.