Microsoft reveals how much businesses will have to pay to keep using Windows 10 securely

Microsoft is ending assist for Home windows 10 on October 14th, 2025, and also you’ll have to pay yearly if you wish to proceed utilizing the working system securely. Microsoft will provide Prolonged Safety Updates (ESU) for Home windows 10 customers, with pricing beginning at $61 for the primary 12 months.

The pricing for added safety updates can be supplied to shoppers for the primary time ever with Home windows 10. Companies and shoppers might want to buy ESU licenses for every Home windows 10 gadget they plan to maintain utilizing after the top of assist cutoff date subsequent 12 months.

For companies, the primary 12 months is priced at $61. It then doubles to $122 for the second 12 months after which doubles once more in 12 months three to $244. If you happen to enter into the ESU program in 12 months two, you’ll should pay for 12 months one as properly because the ESUs are cumulative.

On Wednesday, Microsoft up to date its Home windows IT Professional Weblog put up to notice that the pricing listed applies to business organizations solely and that particulars of shopper pricing “can be shared at a later date.”

Editor’s word 4.3.2024: The main points and pricing construction outlined on this put up apply to business organizations solely. Particulars can be shared at a later date for shoppers on our shopper finish of assist web page. Instructional organizations can discover tailor-made details about Home windows 10 finish of assist within the Microsoft Training Weblog.

Microsoft sometimes solely gives subscriptions for Prolonged Safety Updates to organizations that have to hold operating older variations of Home windows. This time round, it’s totally different, as there are nonetheless numerous folks on Home windows 10, almost 9 years since its launch in 2015.

“Prolonged Safety Updates are usually not meant to be a long-term resolution however quite a brief bridge,” explains Microsoft in a weblog put up. “You should purchase ESU licenses for Home windows 10 units that you just don’t plan to improve to Home windows 11 beginning in October 2024, one 12 months earlier than the top of assist date.”

Microsoft is providing a 25 p.c low cost to companies that use a Microsoft cloud-based replace resolution like Intune or Home windows Autopatch. This drops the pricing to $45 per consumer (as much as 5 units) for the primary 12 months. If you happen to’re utilizing Home windows 10 laptops and PCs to attach as much as Home windows 11 Cloud PCs via Home windows 365, then Microsoft is waiving the charges for safety updates since licenses are included within the Home windows 365 subscription price.

Faculties will get an excellent greater low cost, with Microsoft providing a $1 license for 12 months one, which then doubles to $2 for 12 months two and $4 for the third 12 months. It doesn’t appear like Microsoft goes to supply any particular low cost pricing for shoppers, however we’re nonetheless months away from these licenses happening sale, so the corporate might nonetheless provide one thing for shoppers.

Naturally, Microsoft desires shoppers to maneuver to Home windows 11 as a substitute. Tens of millions of PCs can’t improve formally to Home windows 11 as a consequence of extra strict {hardware} necessities and Microsoft’s safety push with its newest OS. Home windows 11 is just supported on CPUs launched from 2018 onward and with units that assist TPM safety chips.

In consequence, Home windows 11 has lagged behind the Home windows 10 rollout, which was supplied to Home windows 7 and Home windows 8 customers as a free improve. Home windows 11 was additionally a free improve, however just for Home windows 10 machines that met the strict minimal {hardware} necessities.

StatCounter says Home windows 10 remains to be utilized by 69 p.c of all Home windows customers, in comparison with simply 27 p.c for Home windows 11. That’s an enormous hole that Microsoft is unlikely to shut over the approaching 18 months, leaving many Home windows 10 customers having to contemplate paying for safety updates for the primary time.

Correction April third, 8:40PM ET: After publication, Microsoft up to date its put up to notice this pricing is for business organizations solely. Pricing for shoppers has not been introduced but.