Windows 10 Support Beyond 2025: Microsoft Unveils Pricing on Extended Update Plans

Quincy Jon, Tech Times 03 April 2024, 04:04 pm

Microsoft has announced that it will cease Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. Now, the tech giant is offering annual Extended Security Updates (ESU) for users who want to use the operating system securely beyond this date.

According to a report from The Verge, these security updates cost $61 for the first year. Businesses and consumers using Windows 10 machines beyond the Windows 10 support cutoff date will need ESU licenses.

ESU licenses cost $122 for the second year and $244 for the third, increasing yearly. Users who join the ESU program in the second year must pay for the first year since ESUs are cumulative.

How Long Will ESU for Windows 10 Last?

Microsoft says ESU is a short-term solution. Starting in October 2024, one year before support ends, Windows 10 users may buy ESU licenses for machines they will not update to Windows 11.

"Extended security updates are not intended to be a long-term solution but rather a temporary bridge. ESUs do not include new features, non-security fixes, or design change requests. The ESU program does not extend technical support for Windows 10," according to Microsoft's blog, which also states that the scope of Windows 10 technical support includes activating ESU licenses, installing monthly updates, and resolving update-related issues.

Microsoft is discounting cloud-based update solutions like Intune and Windows Autopatch by 25% to $45 per user for the first year to encourage companies. ESU licenses will cost $1 for the first year, $2 for the second, and $4 for the third, giving schools an even bigger savings.

However, Microsoft urges users to switch to Windows 11, which has stricter hardware requirements and enhanced security features. It is important to note that only 2018 CPUs and TPM-enabled devices support Windows 11.

Bill Gates Steps Down From Microsoft's Board

A signage of Microsoft is seen on March 13, 2020 in New York City. (Photo : Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)

Despite being a free update for qualified Windows 10 devices, these tougher criteria have delayed the uptake of Windows 11. As of March 2024, Windows 10 still dominates the market, while Windows 11 trails behind.

Windows 11 lost market share to Windows 10 in March 2024. The latter rose to 69.04 % from 26.72 % the month before, while the former plummeted, according to The Register.

Microsoft Offers Makes Teams More Flexible

This Windows 10 news comes after Microsoft announced that it will internationally separate Teams, its workplace messaging and video conferencing service, from Office. The decision follows EU antitrust regulators' ongoing inquiry. As recently reported by TechTimes, Microsoft unbundled Teams from Office in Europe last year to avoid EU sanctions.

Microsoft unbundles Teams from Office internationally to meet European Commission concerns and clarify consumer expectations. The move allows businesses worldwide to purchase Office products without Teams, offering them more flexibility in making purchases.

Microsoft Teams, a 2017 addition to Office 365, gained popularity, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, owing to its video conferencing features. Microsoft's competitors say combining the two programs gives it an unfair market edge.

In August 2023, the European Commission investigated Microsoft for antitrust violations following a complaint from Salesforce-owned Slack. The study examines whether Microsoft's Office Teams bundle breaches EU competition law.