Windows 11 had a rocky start, but it’s been getting better lately — good enough that PCWorld’s March Hachman can finally bear it, in fact. But there are still plenty of good reasons to stay on Windows 10 if you’re comfortable with it. Unfortunately, security isn’t one of them. The OS will stop getting updated in 2025…unless you pay for extended security updates. And pay a lot.
Late last year we learned Microsoft will offer paid security updates past the end of full support on October 14th, 2025. But the company didn’t mention any prices. Now it has, and you might want to brace yourself. For consumers and businesses who want Extended Security Updates (ESU) on Windows 10, they’ll need to purchase a license similar to a standard Windows key, which will then unlock the updates.
Update: Microsoft reached out to us to clarify that the ESU program will only be available to commercial organizations and educational institutions (EDU), not ordinary consumers.
The price: $61. A year. And that’s only for the first year. “The price will double every consecutive year, for a maximum of three years,” says Microsoft’s information post. That would make year two (starting in October 2026) $122, and year three (October 2027) a whopping $244.
What’s more, you can’t just hop on the train later to save some dough. If you decide to enroll in the ESU program after October 2026 you’ll be charged for the first year, enroll after October 2027 you’ll be charged for the first and second year. Whenever you get the update, you’ll be paying a total of $427 for security support through the end of the program. Ouch.
Licenses can be redeemed online in a browser, through Windows 365, or with an old-fashioned 25-digit code. Businesses can get a 25 percent discount if they buy volume ESU licenses through the Windows Autopatch system, bringing the per-PC price down to $45 for year one. But it’s still an expensive proposition, especially if you want to keep a network of hundreds of PCs ticking over nicely.
Needless to say, Windows 11 users will continue to receive free security updates along with the regular maintenance and feature patches they’re used to. And Microsoft is really hoping you’ll upgrade if you haven’t already. Though previous patch versions of Windows 11 have gone out of support, there’s no end-of-life date set for the OS as of yet. Windows 12 (or whatever Microsoft calls it) is still on the horizon.
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he's the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop "battlestation" in his off hours. Michael's previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he's covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he's always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.