Microsoft on Tuesday introduced that it is extending Home windows 10 Prolonged Safety Updates (ESU) for an additional yr by letting customers both pay a small payment of $30 or by sync their PC settings to the cloud.
The event comes forward of the tech large’s upcoming October 14, 2025, deadline, when it plans to formally finish help and cease offering safety updates for gadgets operating Home windows 10. The desktop working system was launched in July 2015.
The Home windows maker describes ESU as a “final resort choice” for purchasers who have to run legacy Microsoft software program that has reached end-of-life (EoL) standing. That is meant to be a short lived resolution whereas migrating to a more recent supported platform.
Based on StatCounter knowledge as of Could 2025, Home windows 10’s market share stands at 53.19% globally, making it probably the most broadly used model of Home windows. That is adopted by Home windows 11 at 43%.
As a part of the brand new enrollment choices introduced by Microsoft, people can opt-in to this system from their private Home windows 10 PC by means of an “enrollment wizard” out there within the Settings app. Customers can select one of many three choices –
- Use Home windows Backup to sync your settings to the cloud (at no further value)
- Redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards factors (at no further value)
- Pay $30 (native pricing might change)
As soon as the suitable choice is chosen, customers’ PCs might be robotically enrolled into this system. ESU protection for Home windows 10 gadgets runs from October 15, 2025, to October 13, 2026.
The enrollment wizard is at present out there within the Home windows Insider Program, and is anticipated to be rolled out to Home windows 10 clients in July, with expanded availability set for mid-August.
Industrial organizations may subscribe to ESU for $61 per gadget for one yr, after which the subscription could be renewed yearly at an growing value for as much as three years. This selection, nevertheless, doesn’t cowl markets like Russia, Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria.
It is value noting that ESUs don’t cowl new options, non-security updates, or design change requests. One other key side to consider is that utilizing Microsoft Rewards or Home windows Backup requires customers to enroll in a Microsoft account, if they do not have it already.
“People or organizations who elect to proceed utilizing Home windows 10 after help ends on October 14, 2025, may have the choice of enrolling their PCs right into a paid ESU subscription,” Microsoft notes.
“The ESU program allows PCs to proceed to obtain vital and necessary safety updates by means of an annual subscription service after help ends.”
