Approaching the end of official support for Windows 10 in October 2025, Microsoft is preparing to introduce Extended Security Updates (ESU) to fill the support void. Through this, organizations and individual users can prolong the lifespan of their systems for at least three years, albeit necessitating an ESU subscription.
Initially launched for Windows 7 as it neared the end of its lifecycle, Extended Security Updates were initially exclusive to organizations with a price tag of $50 in the first year, $100 in the second year, and $200 in the third year. Despite being intended for organizations, some individuals found ways to apply these updates to their personal PCs.
Despite the availability of Windows 11 for three years now, Windows 10, which is still widely used, is now presenting ESU to all users, including individual users. Recently, Microsoft divulged the pricing specifics for ESU aimed at companies and institutions.
Windows 10: ESU Pricing Options
Entities seeking to extend support for Windows 10 updates can select from a 5-by-5 activation key, cloud-based activation, or a subscription-based activation through Windows 365.
The initial choice involves a 5-by-5 subscription key priced at $61 per device for the first year, escalating annually to $122 in the following year and $244 in the third year for continuous access to extended security updates.
On the other hand, Windows 10 PCs accessed via Windows 11 Cloud PCs are automatically enrolled in ESU at no additional charge. Entities using Microsoft’s cloud-based update management tools like Microsoft Intune may be eligible for a 25% discount on ESU licensing, reducing the cost to $45 per user in the first year (for up to five devices) with progressively doubling costs in subsequent years.
Considerations for Individual Users
While Microsoft has not yet disclosed the ESU pricing specifics for individual users, there is ample time before the official end of support for Windows 10. Microsoft appears to be nudging entities and individual users towards migrating to Windows 11. Nevertheless, for users who are unable or choose not to transition to Windows 11, a challenging decision awaits, with ESU providing a means to secure three additional years of updates.
Another approach to extending Windows 10 support is through 0Patch services. This third-party micro-patching service produces security patches for several unsupported Microsoft products, with plans to offer the same for Windows 10 after its support ends. The subscription fee for this service stands at approximately $25 per annum.
Concluding Remarks
Acquiring Extended Security Updates comes at a cost, with a three-year subscription amounting to $427 ($315 for the cloud-based alternative). If the pricing is consistent for individual users, opting for this extension could potentially be relatively expensive.
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