Microsoft wants 30 US-$ for 1 year Windows 10 consumer support extension

[German]In one year, the Windows 10 operating system will no longer be supported. Companies can apply for a support extension (ESU). Microsoft has now commented on the end of support for Windows 10, is promoting the switch to Windows 11 and is making consumers an offer: for 30 US dollars, everyone will receive one year of further updates.

Windows 10 reaches EOL in October 2025

On October 14, 2025, Microsoft's support for Windows 10 (Home, Pro, Enterprise, Education) will end. This date has been communicated for some time and means that there will be no more regular security updates for Windows 10 from November 2025.

Microsoft praises Windows 11

Consumers and business users need a successor solution of some kind by the end of October 2025. For Microsoft, the matter is clear: simply switch to Windows 11 and the issue is over. But not everyone can switch to Windows 11 due to the hardware requirements. And not everyone wants to subject themselves to Microsoft's coercion with forced online accounts, cloud connection, CoPilot patronage and the numerous bugs, adverts etc. in Windows 11. Somehow, Windows 11 doesn't seem to be very popular with users.

A solution is needed

Not in the mood for Windows 11? How about simply continuing to use this Windows 10 – version 22H2 has finally brought some kind of stability and it works with existing hardware. That would be cool: An operating system just for working and without constant gimmicks from Redmond?

One option is to book the so-called Extended Security Update Program (ESU). Microsoft has announced that it will provide Windows 10 22H2 with security updates for a further three years via this ESU program (see Windows 10: Surprise, there is an ESU support extension; also for private users).

This ESU program is aimed at corporate customers. In April 2024, Microsoft had already announced the prices for the support extension via its ESU program for Windows 10. I took this up in the blog post Windows 10: Prices for Extended Security Updates announced.

In the first year, the ESU extension will cost 61 US dollars per device and will be available for purchase from October 2024. In an addendum dated October 31, 2024, Microsoft states in this document that the sale of ESU licenses will start on November 1, 2024. The ESU license will not start until October 2025 and guarantees updates for one year until October 2026.

The ESU license can be purchased for three years, i.e. until October 2028. The price for the ESU license for subsequent years doubles for each additional year. Anyone who only books an ESU license in the second year must also pay for the first year.

Microsoft is making a $30 offer for consumers

On October 31, 2024, Yusuf Mehdi, Executive Vice President, Consumer Chief Marketing Officer at Microsoft, published the article How to prepare for Windows 10 end of support by moving to Windows 11 today.

In the post, the Microsoft VP never gets tired of praising the advantages of Windows 11 to the skies, which can make your head spin. Apparently, users' "love for Windows 11" is not so glowing. According to my article Operating system/Windows share (October 2024), Windows 11 was running on 33.37% of all Windows desktop systems at the end of September 2024, while Windows 10 was running on 62.25%.

By the way, Microsoft is also making an offer. While the ESU prices for companies have already been fixed since April 2024 (see above), Redmond is offering consumers another year of security updates for Windows 10 at the bargain price of 30 US dollars.

I assume that in Europe it will then cost 30 euros for a year's supply of security updates. Microsoft states here that the details of how to get this support extension will be announced "during 2024, in time for the end of support".

There are still alternatives

The above offer also relieves private users of the pressure of having to switch to Windows 11 in a year's time. But private users will only get one year's supply of security updates according to current planning. But there are two possible alternatives.

From 2025, ACROS Security will secure Windows 10 for at least five years with so-called micro patches via its 0patch agent. I reported on this offer in the blog post Windows 10: 0patch provides 5 years of additional support. The current annual price for 0patch PRO is EUR 24.95 + VAT per computer – and there is even a free license for private users, which is free of charge but only provides micro patches for serious vulnerabilities.

The alternative for corporate environments are the so-called LTSC versions of Windows 10 Enterprise and the IoT counterparts of Windows 10 Enterprise. These will receive security updates until 2029 or Jan. 2032 (depending on the version). The prerequisite is a Windows 10 Pro version as a basic license.

Some time ago, Microsoft relaxed the license terms for the IoT versions of Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC so that there is no longer any link to hardware sales. A volume license agreement offered to corporate customers is sufficient. It would therefore also be conceivable to obtain the required licenses for Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC from used software providers. I have seen offers in the region of around 150 euros.

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