NICEVILLE, Fla. — Windows 10 users now have more time before the operating system’s end of life, but Microsoft says it will cost $30 for continued support under a new Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.
There was fresh news from Microsoft this week about the Windows 10 end-of-life that’s been on everybody’s mind lately.
Just to refresh you, Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. That means anyone still running it after that date will be left without security and bug updates, which puts at risk everything from personal data to the very integrity of the system itself.
Unfortunately, Microsoft also chose to implement a strict set of base requirements for systems to run Windows 11, and many older PCs don’t meet those criteria.
Apparently, Microsoft just expects that segment of people to either subsist on the no-longer-supported Win 10 or shell out money for a new computer.
I’m going to state for the record that it is my opinion that no company should be in the position to force such decisions on their (very large) user base. And, Microsoft should have put a whole lot more thought into this than they did—especially considering that when it was first introduced, Windows 10 was touted as being “the last version of Windows,” meaning people wouldn’t have to deal with these upgrade issues anymore.
But that’s not the final word on this story!
In June of this year, Microsoft made a sudden and unexpected offer to extend Windows 10 support into 2026. Could it be that they are feeling the heat (and the likely impending class-action lawsuit)?
The rhetoric in the trades is that PCs that are eligible for the upgrade will be force-updated to Windows 11 whether their owner wants it or not.
As for the rest, they will suddenly be left without critical updates, bug fixes, and security patches.
Gee, thanks, Bill!
As I said at the start, there was news this past week on this topic. In typical Microsoft fashion, they have swung the pendulum in the opposite direction. Again.
As Forbes put it,
“Microsoft’s controversial U-turn on Windows 10’s end of life has morphed into a free update offer, whereby the problem for 700 million users is postponed.”
Don’t celebrate just yet.
First of all, there’s that word: postponed. It’s still going to happen; you just have a little more time to prepare for it.
There is also what’s being called a “catch” to take part. First of all, it’s not free. This extension comes to you in the form of Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates or ESU.
This program extends the end of support by a year if you are a consumer, and up to three years if you are a business.
The big announcement is that this is the first time ESU has been available to home users.
One very important thing I haven’t mentioned is that it costs $30 if you want to receive this extra year of updates.
Is it worth the cost?
Hey, I’m only reporting the facts. Whether it is worth it or not is a decision that only individuals can make.
Would it surprise you if I told you that it doesn’t end there? Because of course, it doesn’t.
There are other options, some of which Microsoft is touting as “free,” but which involve trading something that supposedly has value for membership in the ESU program.
For example, in lieu of a $30 charge, you may also join by redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Reward points, or by using Windows Backup to synchronize your system settings to the cloud.
Don’t know how many points you have?
I can help you with that. Just visit TinyURL.com/IGTM-0941 for all the details.
The playing field with the Windows 11 update keeps shifting beneath our feet.
It’s entirely possible that this latest announcement won’t be Microsoft’s final word on the topic.
I sense an immense amount of pressure on Microsoft to do what it can to ease the burden that they have purposely imposed on people with older systems who may not be able to or just don’t wish to upgrade.
They shouldn’t be forced to do so.
What do you think? Visit my website and share your thoughts.
To view additional content, comment on articles, or submit a question, visit my website at ItsGeekToMe.co (not .com!)
Jeff Werner, a software engineer based in Niceville, Florida, has been writing his popular “It’s Geek to Me” tech column since 2007. He shares his expertise to help readers solve everyday tech challenges.
