That's a definite maybe.
Microsoft has announced something new and unique: the ability to keep getting security updates to Windows 10 after its "end of support" date.
To be pedantic, that makes it the "end of free support" date since Extended Security Updates (ESU) beyond that date will not be free.
Let's look at what's happening, what it might be good for, and whether I think it's worth it.
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Extended Security Updates for Windows 10
Microsoft will offer a paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) option for Windows 10 Home and Pro users, providing an extra year of security updates past the October 2025 end-of-support date for $30. While this adds protection, users can continue safely using Windows 10 with vigilant security practices. Microsoft Defender updates will also continue until 2028.
Past end-of-[free]-support support
Microsoft's published end-of-support date is not changing (yet). On October 14, 2025, Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10. That means no feature updates, no bug fixes, and perhaps most concerning, no security updates (with one important distinction regarding Microsoft Defender that I'll discuss below).
In the past, corporate customers have had the option to sign up for extended security updates, meaning that for some (large) amount of money, they continue to receive security-related updates after the end-of-support date. There are still no feature updates or bug fixes other than those relating to identified security issues, and even then, presumably only those of significant enough impact.
I believe this program has been in place for prior versions of Windows as well. As you might imagine, large corporations with a large investment in a specific version of an operating system are loath to take on the expense of upgrading and are typically willing to shell out the money for security updates instead.
Related
What Happens at Windows 10 End of Support?
The end of support for Windows 10 means Microsoft will no longer issue security updates. Here's how to continue using it safely.Extended Security Updates For Windows 10
For the first time, Microsoft is making the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program available to consumers who use Home and Pro editions. Sort of.
Via How to prepare for Windows 10 end of support by moving to Windows 11 today:
And for the first time ever, we’re introducing an ESU program for personal use as well. The ESU program for consumers will be a one-year option available for $30. Program enrollment will be available closer to the end of support in 2025.
For $30, you get one year of security updates beyond the October 14, 2025 cutoff date. One year. After that, you're once again on your own.
Again, this includes no feature updates and no bug fixes other than sufficiently serious security issues. What's a "serious security issue"? Good question, we don't know what Microsoft's criteria will be. My sense is that it's something that would put significant numbers of Windows 10 users at risk of compromise if left unfixed.
I think of it as buying an extended warranty for your car. For an additional fee, you're getting a year's worth of additional protection. You may never need it, but if you do, it's there. (Though given that updates are transparent, you may never realize that you needed it.)
Windows Security
Support for Windows 10 security issues ends on either October 14, 2025, or a year later if you sign up for ESU.
Windows Security -- more specifically Microsoft Defender, the anti-virus software running on your Windows 10 machine -- is on a different schedule. Again, quoting the Microsoft post:
- Microsoft will also continue to provide Security Intelligence Updates for Microsoft Defender Antivirus through at least October 2028.
This means that while Windows itself will no longer get fixes for most security issues, the anti-malware software will continue to get database updates, allowing it to detect current threats through 2028.
Should you buy ESU?
Maybe.
On one hand, I've long said that you can continue to use Windows 10 safely after the end of support as long as you pay attention to what you're doing and take the responsibility of maintaining proper security. It's my response to people who believe they're being forced to purchase a new computer: you're not. Just keep on using Windows 10.
On the other hand, $30 doesn't seem a horrific price for an extended warranty to increase your protection for an additional year.
On the other other hand, $30 per machine could add up if you have multiple Windows 10 machines. (This hasn't been made clear yet, but my assumption is that the fee is per installation.)
I don't have a strong opinion either way. I'll certainly sign up for at least one computer just to test and experience it.
Do this
For now, there's nothing you can do, as Microsoft hasn't opened up the program enrollment yet.
When the time comes, sign up for it or not as you see fit. If $30 isn't in your budget, you don't have to worry -- you can still keep using Windows 10 safely on your own.
Until then, subscribe to Confident Computing! More information about Windows 10 as it nears its end of life, as well as less frustration and more confidence, solutions, answers, and tips in your inbox every week.
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Extended support will be included with MS-365 subscriptions. I would hope that includes extended support for all machines under that subscription.
I read on Microsoft’s website that ESU for Windows 10 will be free for subscribers to Windows 365 (MS’s “cloud-based service that automatically creates a new type of Windows virtual machine (Cloud PCs) for your end users,” which appears to be for business users. I was not able to find a mention of ESU being free with a Microsoft 365 (Microsoft Office) subscription.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/extended-security-updates
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-365/overview
My tongue-in-cheek reply is “Hope is a nice sentiment, but don’t rely on it unless there is no other option.”
Could this be a program to squeeze $30 a year out of people with old computers?
Not having a machine compatible with Windows 11 and not really wanting to throw away a perfectly good computer, if there is a chance this program will continue, maybe it will be worth it.
My 2¢
Microsoft offers extended support to enterprise customers for a large fee. Microsoft is, now, able to make more money on these updates by licensing them to the general public. Upgrades to Win 11 are free, so these subscriptions are extra money for Microsoft and a bargain for users.