Nothing is forever. In the case of Windows 10, nothing is a security update. With October 14, 2025 being the official end of support date for users who don’t want to upgrade to Windows 11, security has never been a hotter topic for Windows 10 users. The good news is that Microsoft won’t Don’t give up completely if you want to stick with Windows 10 and do so with security in mind. The bad news is that extended security update support is both time-limited and not free: it will cost you $30.

Prepare to pay for Windows 10 security updates

In an October 31 post on the Windows “Experience Blog” titled “How to Prepare for Windows 10 End of Support by Upgrading to Windows 11 Today,” Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s chief marketing officer for consumer products , announced the availability of extended security. consumer update program. This is the first time consumers have been informed that they can keep security updates if they stick with Windows 10, but it’s only for a period of one year and for a fee unique $30.

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The vast majority of Mehdi’s article was devoted to why Windows 10 users would be better off upgrading to Windows 11, an argument that I have to admit is quite compelling. After all, upgrading to Windows 11 is currently free and overall provides a much more secure experience than Windows 10 right out of the box. Dare I mention the Secure Boot, Intelligent Application Control, and Memory Integrity features, for example?

“New Windows 11 PCs are more secure,” Mehdi said, “with a 62% drop in security incidents and a 3x reduction in firmware attacks.” Mehdi added that Windows 11 also includes phishing protection, offers robust defense mechanisms, and provides an additional layer of security against common and persistent cyberattacks.

That said, there are plenty of reasons why some Windows users are determined to stick with Windows 10 for as long as they can. Which could take a long time since some people are still using Windows XP. As a security manager myself, I cannot recommend this course of action and would suggest either swallowing hard and upgrading to Windows 11, or accepting the ESU offer and shelling out the $30 to ensure security for at least one year.

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Windows 10 Expanded Security Updates Program for Consumers

Those who decide to stick with Windows 10 can, at least while preparing to upgrade to Windows 11, take advantage of the Extended Security Updates program. “Enrolled PCs will continue to receive critical and important security updates for Windows 10,” Mehdi said. However, ESU users will not receive new feature updates or bug fixes, and technical support will also cease to exist. “The ESU consumer program will be a one-year option available for $30,” Mehdi said, with enrollment in the program “available near the end of support in 2025.”