Microsoft has announced the prices for Windows 10 updates after the end of its support.
In October 2025, Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 operating systems used by businesses. And from November next year, support for home versions will also be discontinued. If the customer wants to continue using this OS securely, he will have to pay an annual fee.
To do this, Microsoft suggests purchasing Extended Security Updates (ESU). In the first year after support ends, they will cost $61, in the second - 122, and in the third - 244. If you join the ESU program from the second year, you will have to pay for the first, because the updates are cumulative.
It is specifically emphasized that these prices apply only to commercial organizations. For individual consumers, the cost will be determined later. The company also notes that this is not a long-term solution, but a temporary step that allows users to smoothly transition to Windows 11.
Microsoft will offer 25 percent discounts on ESU purchases to businesses that use the company's cloud solutions such as Intune and Autopatch. Special prices are also available for schools. In the first year, updates will cost 1 dollar, in the second - 2, in the third - 4.
All these updates will be aimed only at supporting the security of Windows 10. They do not provide any new design solutions or new functions. Microsoft is committed to getting users to switch to Windows 11.
However, the biggest obstacle to migrating to the latest operating system remains its hardware requirements. Millions of computers cannot upgrade to Windows 11 due to strict hardware criteria.
According to StatCounter, Windows 10 is still used by 69 percent of all Microsoft operating system users. Only 27 percent use Windows 11. And this gap is unlikely to be bridged before Windows 10 support ends, meaning that for the first time, many users will have to pay for OS upgrades.