You Can Keep Using Windows 10 Past October 14, 2025, but It Will Cost You
Many Windows 10 users have not updated to Windows 11 because their computers won’t run Windows 11. For some, buying a new computer would be a heavy financial burden and for others, it seems to be wasteful to stop using a perfectly good Windows 10 computer and buy a new one. But now all Windows 10 users have a choice.
Microsoft recently announced a change to its End-of-Life (EOL) policy for Windows 10, offering paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) to individual users who want to keep using Windows 10 and keep their systems protected beyond the official October 14, 2025, deadline. This marks a first for Microsoft, as previously Extended Security Updates (ESU) was only available for enterprise customers.
The ESU program will be offered as an annual subscription service, but pricing details haven’t been made public yet – at the end of this article we’ll give you our guess as to what it may cost.
While Microsoft is providing this option, it emphasizes that ESU doesn’t include technical support.
With Windows 10’s official end-of-life (EOL) approaching, the ESU program extends security updates for an additional three years for those willing to pay. This extension is likely meant to ease the transition between Windows 10 and Windows 11, as research indicates Windows 11 adoption is exceeding expectations. While Windows 11 now runs on over 400 million devices and is expected to reach 500 million by early 2024, Windows 10 still maintains dominance in the business sector, powering 80.5% of devices.
Here’s what the new ESU program means for you:
- If you want to continue using Windows 10 after October 14, 2025, you’ll need to pay for the ESU program.
- The ESU program will only provide security updates, not technical support.
- Microsoft recommends migrating to Windows 11 for the best experience and comprehensive support.
According to Microsoft, Windows 11 adoption is growing faster than expected, but Windows 10 remains dominant in the business world.
The new ESU program offers Windows 10 users more flexibility, but it also comes at a cost. Ultimately, the decision of whether to upgrade to Windows 11 or pay for the ESU program is up to you.
How much do we think it will cost you to keep Windows 10? This is only a guess but our guess is somewhere between $69 and $99 a year. We could be wrong – but stay tuned.
While your estimate doesnt seem to be a lot of money spread over a year, the fact Microsoft needs to do this leaves me a little angry.
If their intent is to lose more customers to Apple and Google OS’s, then in my opion, is good way to do it!
jr
Appreciate your comments. I find it odd when folks compare Apple to Microsoft. If you pay for let’s say a MacBook. Starting at $1,599, the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro comes with 8GB of unified memory. I’m using a Windows 11 16″ laptop with an 8-core processor, 16GB of RAM, and Windows 11 Pro. It cost around $500. If I’m doing the math right, 1600-500 is $1100 more for the smaller-screen Apple laptop with less RAM. You can buy three good Windows 11 laptops for the price of one 14″ Apple laptop. So, pardon the put, I’m comparing Apples to oranges and the oranges look pretty good.
Google Chromebooks cost a lot less than Apple, but I’m not sure how many Windows users would enjoy having everything they do on the Chromebook done in the cloud.
And let’s be fair. Windows 10 was a free upgrade from Windows 7 and Windows 8x. And Microsoft will have provided 10 years of free support by the time the EOL date of 10/14/2025 comes.
The only problem I have is that Microsoft said that Windows 10 would the last named version of Windows – which turned out not be true. Right now they’re working on Windows 12 & you know what that means.
Cant argue with that!
At least W11 users wont be surprised when its their turn to pay.
Best wishes…
jr
Sooo, will the Windows 10 computers not work at all after 10/14/2025? Or is it that they just won’t update it? My lap top has Windows 11 and I hate it…but my desktop has 10 and I would like to leave it like it is….also I have some elderly friends that in no way can afford to buy a new computer or upgrade to 11 or pay any kind of yearly fee to use their computers.
Windows 10 computers will continue to work but they’ll not get any security updates or security patches after October 14, 2025. So, the longer you continue to use Windows 10 after that date the more likely it is your computer will be compromised. Windows XP still “WORKS”. Windows 7 still “Works” but those who are still using them are making the web less safe for all of us because hackers can easily subvert those out-of-date computers and use them to distribute spam and malware and the people who own those computers have no idea that their computers are being used as spam-sending zombies.
Windows 10 will be secure through 10/14/2025. After than it will be less and less secure as time goes by. But they won’t stop working.
Thanks for the update. By the Microsoft security cutoff date, I will have saved enough to purchase a MacBook. Right now I use my IPad more than my Windows 10 laptop so it’s a no brainer for me. I started computing with DOS but now at 80 I’m tired of Microsoft lies.