The official support phase for Windows 10 is set to conclude on October 14, 2025. Following this date, Microsoft will discontinue offering technical support, feature enhancements, or security updates. Users who choose to persist with Windows 10 have the option to extend their security updates by an additional year through enrollment in the Extended Security Update (ESU) program. Alternatively, they may decide to forgo security updates altogether. Microsoft firmly advises users to transition to Windows 11, cautioning that reliance on an unsupported Windows 10 system will leave them vulnerable to a host of cybersecurity threats. These threats encompass four primary areas of concern: vulnerabilities in endpoint security, risks associated with compliance and auditing, weaknesses in access control mechanisms, and ineffective data governance practices.
The ESU program requires home users to pay a fee of $30, while enterprise customers are charged $61 per device for a one-year subscription. However, Microsoft also provides avenues for users to access ESU at no cost. These include logging into a Microsoft account and activating cloud backup capabilities, or redeeming Microsoft Rewards points.