Windows 10 reached end of life on 14 October 2025. For users who cannot or are not ready to move to Windows 11, Microsoft offers Extended Security Updates (ESU) — a paid programme that keeps security patches coming for up to three more years. This guide explains what ESU covers, how much it costs and whether it is worth it.
What Are Windows 10 Extended Security Updates?
Extended Security Updates (ESU) is a paid subscription that delivers security patches for Windows 10 after its official end of life date of 14 October 2025. ESU provides the same type of security updates that Windows 10 was receiving during its supported lifetime — covering critical and important vulnerabilities as they are discovered.
What ESU includes:
- Monthly security patches for critical and important vulnerabilities
- Out-of-band emergency patches for actively exploited vulnerabilities
What ESU does not include:
- New features
- Bug fixes for non-security issues
- Technical support from Microsoft
- Compatibility updates for new hardware
- Any updates to Microsoft Edge, .NET, or other components (unless separately supported)
ESU is a security-only lifeline. It extends the safety of your system but does not add any new capabilities or address software bugs.
How Long Does Windows 10 ESU Last?
Microsoft is offering up to three years of Extended Security Updates for Windows 10:
- Year 1: October 2025 – October 2026
- Year 2: October 2026 – October 2027
- Year 3: October 2027 – October 2028
After October 2028, no further support for Windows 10 will be available under any programme. This is a hard end date.
Windows 10 ESU Pricing
For the first time, Microsoft has made ESU available directly to consumers (not just businesses), following the precedent set with Windows 7 for enterprise only.
Consumer pricing (per device per year):
- Year 1: approximately $30
- Year 2: price increases (typically doubles)
- Year 3: price increases again
Business pricing (per device per year):
- Year 1: $61
- Year 2: $122
- Year 3: $244
The escalating pricing structure is deliberate — Microsoft wants to incentivise moving to Windows 11 rather than staying on Windows 10 indefinitely. Businesses that wait until Year 3 will pay $244 per device, which for most organisations makes hardware replacement more cost-effective.
How to Get Windows 10 Extended Security Updates
For consumers: ESU for individuals is available through the Microsoft Store or the Windows Update settings. You will need a Microsoft account and a payment method. Once purchased, updates are delivered automatically through Windows Update just as they were before end of life.
For businesses:
- Organisations with Microsoft 365 Business Premium or Microsoft 365 E3/E5 subscriptions and enrolled in Windows Update for Business or Intune may access ESU through their existing licensing
- Volume Licensing customers can purchase through their Microsoft reseller or the Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Centre
- ESU can also be applied to devices enrolled in Azure Arc (including on-premises devices)
Is Windows 10 ESU Worth It?
ESU is worth it in specific circumstances:
ESU makes sense if:
- You have a PC that is not compatible with Windows 11 and you need time to budget for a replacement
- You are a business that needs compliance coverage (Cyber Essentials, GDPR) while completing a phased hardware refresh
- You have specialist software that only runs on Windows 10 and you are waiting for a Windows 11 compatible version
- Year 1 cost ($30/$61) is cheaper than the disruption of switching now
ESU is not worth it if:
- Your PC already meets Windows 11 requirements — upgrading is free and better
- You would need to pay for all three years — at that point, a new Windows 11 PC is almost certainly cheaper
- You are looking for a permanent solution — ESU ends in October 2028 regardless
Alternatives to ESU
If ESU does not fit your situation, the main alternatives are:
- Upgrade to Windows 11 — free if your hardware qualifies. See: How to Upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11
- Buy a new PC — Windows 11 comes pre-installed on all new consumer PCs
- Switch to Linux — free, runs on older hardware, good option for everyday computing tasks. See: Best Linux Distros for Beginners
Summary
Windows 10 ESU is a paid safety net that gives you up to three extra years of security patches after end of life. At Year 1 pricing it is affordable and a sensible bridge for those who need time to plan. But it is not a permanent fix — October 2028 is the absolute end of Windows 10 support. Use ESU as a transition tool, not a replacement for upgrading.
