No step backwards for Microsoft, which despite the infinity of protests received from its customers has decided to leave the deadline for 14 October 2025 for Windows 10: starting from that date, in fact, the Redmond giant will no longer release any security updates for its operating system. Nonetheless, private users will also be granted an exceptional extension lasting just 12 months to allow them to move on to version 11 in the meantime. However, it will not be a free concession, with differences in price and duration support between companies and private individuals: here’s what will be possible to do in more detail.
End of support for Windows 10
Microsoft had announced for some time its intention to end support for Windows 10, but evidently it never expected that, despite the news being spread well in advance and the repeated invitations to move to version 11 of the OS, around two thirds of the personal computers spread throughout the world would still have the “old” operating system installed less than a year before the deadline. There are actually two main reasons behind this “hostility” towards Windows 11.
On the one hand we find those who, not even wanting to, can proceed with the upgrade, since i minimum requirements system systems are rather “rigid”: the most recent Microsoft operating system, in fact, cannot be installed on PCs released on the market before 2018 that do not support the TPM security module.
“If your PC meets the minimum requirements to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11, you should see an option to upgrade to Windows 11 for free in Windows Update. If your PC is not eligible to upgrade to Windows 11 or if you want to replace it, you can upgrade to Windows 11 by purchasing a new PC”explains Microsoft. An expense that not everyone can afford. But this is not the only category of users who have not yet made the leap to version 11 of the OS.
On the other hand, in fact, there are the hundreds of thousands of people who prefer not to abandon Windows 10 given all the infinite problems reported from time to time by Microsoft after the release of an update to version 11. One of the most recent ones caused problems connection to the Internet and even the dreaded BSOD, “Blue screen of death”.
Extended Security Updates
Whatever the reason for the choice not to upgrade, the Redmond giant has decided to grant both companies and individuals the possibility of receiving support beyond October 14, 2025 through the ESU program (Extended Security Updates).
For the first time in history the extension of support is also granted to consumer users: the subscription will cost 30 dollars computer-based and will only last one year. The protection will therefore expire on 14 October 2026.
However, the situation is different with regards to companies, to which Microsoft has always offered the possibility of purchasing ESUs, since the fleet of machines generally lasts longer over time. In this case, unlike what happens for private users, the subscription will be renewable for another two years, so a maximum of 3 in total: corporate PCs will see Microsoft’s support stop on October 14, 2028 at the latest. Access to the Extended Security Updates program for business customers will cost $61 per year for each computer, but only for the first year: for the other two it doubles, reaching up to 122 dollars for the second year and 244 dollars for the third.
Microsoft has specified that extended support will only cover updates related to safetytherefore excluding bug fixes, new features and technical support. Once the deadline arrives (2026 for private individuals and 2028 for companies), Windows 10 will continue to work, but may be more vulnerable to possible cyber attacks.
Once the deadline has arrived, the user will decide whether to continue with the old OS at his own risk, whether to change PC or in any case switch to Windows 11, whether to opt for other alternative operating systems or whether to “force” the installation of the newer OS. recent one from Microsoft using some tools available online.