Microsoft announces pricing details for Extended Security Update program for Windows 10
Microsoft has announced a paid Extended Security Update (ESU) program for businesses that require additional security updates for their Windows 10 devices. As Windows 10 is set to reach its end of support on October 14, 2025, except for certain LTSC editions, businesses can enroll their PCs in the ESU program to continue receiving critical security updates.
The ESU program is designed to provide a temporary solution for organizations that need more time to transition to Windows 11. Post the end-of-support date, while Windows 10 PCs will still operate, they will no longer receive security updates, bug fixes, feature improvements, or security issue resolutions. By enrolling in the ESU program, organizations can continue to receive monthly security updates for their Windows 10 devices.
The ESU program, however, does not include new features, non-security fixes, or design change requests. It also does not extend technical support for Windows 10, limiting it to the activation of the ESU licenses, the installation of ESU monthly updates, and addressing issues that may arise due to an update.
Businesses can purchase ESU licenses for Windows 10 devices not intended to upgrade to Windows 11 starting in October 2024, a year before the end-of-support date. The base license will cost $61 USD per device for the first year, mirroring the Windows 7 ESU Year 1 price. For those with a Windows 365 subscription, the license is included at no extra cost with a one-year commitment. Additionally, organizations using a Microsoft cloud-based update management solution can avail a roughly 25% discount on ESU licensing.
- Operating System
- Paid • Proprietary
Related news
External links
- When to use Windows 10 Extended Security UpdatesMicrosoft • Official source
- Microsoft reveals how much businesses will have to pay to keep using Windows 10 securelyThe Verge
- How much will it cost to keep Windows 10 alive next year? You’ll have to wait to find outTechRadar
- Want to keep getting Windows 10 updates next year? Here's what it will costZDNET
- Microsoft reveals subscription pricing for using Windows 10 beyond 2025, and it's not cheapWindows Central
- Microsoft Shares Pricing Details For Windows 10 Extended Security UpdatesThurrott.com
Comments
Microsoft has finally understood that people are not going to switch to Windows 11 / 12 easily. And M$ wants to keep getting money from their main product Windows, and the fact that 60% of Windows users are still using Windows 10 is not a good thing for them.
And they know that many companies and users could move to Linux, basically to prevent new exploits and hacks on Windows 10, if Microsoft don't update their operating system.
I hope more people appreciate open-source software and donate / collaborate with it.
Ha! Since it feels like people always want to continue using old versions of Windows, i.e Windows XP, Windows 7 and now Windows 10. Its kind of brilliant to charge for users to use old systems 🙂
Can't blame them in this case :) in the eternally stable cycle of Microsoft alternating between releasing somewhat usable versions of Windows, and complete duds, Windows 11 falls firmly in the dud category.
Windows Me -- crap Windows XP -- OK Windows Vista -- crap Windows 7 -- OK Windows 8 -- crap Windows 10 -- OK Windows 11 -- crap
I mean, I don't remember anything that Windows 11 can do that Windows 10 can't, but dozens of features that have been removed or made more difficult to work with. Almost everything I have to do in the OS daily, takes at least one additional click or indirection. Everything in the start menu has been hidden at least one level deeper. The context menu has everything hidden one layer deeper. The settings screens have everything hidden layers deeper. Worst of all for me personally is that I still can't move my task bar back to the side of the screen -- what the hell, Microsoft, it's 2024 and I've heard that some people have a fancy new thing called "widescreen monitors" now!
I can handle the Windows 11 upgrade once I'm forced to (if the workarounds to still run it with TPM disabled and local-only accounts still work), but the fact that I have to install a third-party tool (Explorer Patcher) to only kind of reach the same level of productivity and efficiency again, is a pathetic display of incompetence from Microsoft's side, and a clear sign that Windows 11 would have needed probably several years more in development to get it to a state where it would have been fit for release.