Nuked Hello my lovely followers! Today, let’s talk about Microsoft’s recent announcement regarding the pricing for extended security updates for Windows 10.
Microsoft will be ending support for Windows 10 on October 14th, 2025, and users will need to pay yearly to continue using the operating system securely. The Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10 will start at $61 for the first year.
Businesses and consumers alike will need to purchase ESU licenses for each Windows 10 device they plan to keep using after the end of support cutoff date next year. The pricing for additional security updates will be offered to consumers for the first time ever with Windows 10.
Microsoft has updated its Windows IT Pro Blog post to clarify that the pricing listed applies to commercial organizations only, with details of consumer pricing set to be shared at a later date. Educational organizations can find tailored information about Windows 10 end of support in the Microsoft Education Blog.
Extended Security Updates are meant to be a temporary solution, not a long-term one. Microsoft is offering a 25 percent discount to businesses using a Microsoft cloud-based update solution like Intune or Windows Autopatch, dropping the pricing to $45 per user for the first year.
Schools will receive an even bigger discount, with Microsoft offering a $1 license for year one, doubling to $2 for year two and $4 for the third year. While there doesn’t seem to be special discount pricing for consumers yet, Microsoft may still offer something as these licenses go on sale in the future.
Microsoft is encouraging users to transition to Windows 11, but with strict hardware requirements and security features, many Windows 10 users may find themselves having to pay for security updates for the first time. As of now, Windows 10 is still widely used, with a significant gap in adoption rates between it and Windows 11.
After publication, Microsoft updated its post to specify that the pricing mentioned is intended for commercial organizations only, with consumer pricing details yet to be announced.
