Understanding extended support options for Windows 10

17 July 2025 Gill Hibbins

Summary:

The Extended Support Program for Windows 10 may be a useful—but costly and limited—safety net for those not ready or able to transition to Windows 11. Upgrading to Windows 11 remains the cheaper, smarter long-term route for security, compliance, and access to new features.

Introduction

Microsoft’s approach to the Windows 10 end-of-support deadline has changed, offering a temporary lifeline to users hesitant or unable to upgrade to Windows 11. This article explains the updated options for extending Windows 10 support, what’s included, costs, and considerations for both home users and businesses.

Microsoft initially announced that official support—including patches, updates, and security fixes—would end for Windows 10 in October 2025. The looming deadline raised concerns:

Security risk: No more security patches means increased vulnerability.

Compliance issues: Lack of updates will affect CE and GDPR.

Software compatibility: New apps and programs may not work on unsupported systems.

Microsoft’s Extended Support Program (ESP)

Responding to user feedback, Microsoft introduced the Extended Support Program (ESP):

What’s offered:

Security updates: Access to critical and urgent security fixes until October 2028.

Feature updates: Only available until August 2026.

No bug fixes: Only critical security issues are addressed.

Who can access ESP?

Home users:

Cost: Free, if devices are enrolled using a personal Microsoft account and configured with Windows Backup.

Limitations: No technical support from Microsoft for the updates themselves.

Businesses:

Cost: Requires purchasing an Extended Security Update (ESU) license for every device – $61 per device for year 1, price doubles each subsequent year (maximum 3 years)

Complexity: Enrolment and setup are technical and can be time-consuming.

Not yet available: The program is not open for registration at the time of writing.

Is Extended Support worth it?

Pros:

Buys time: Useful for legacy applications not yet supported on Windows 11.

Security buffer: Reduces short-term security risks.

Cons:

Escalating cost: The annual price doubling makes long-term use unattractive for businesses.

Limited scope: Only critical security updates are provided – no bug fixes or feature updates.

Technical hurdles: Businesses without in-house IT may find setup challenging.

Delays the inevitable: Migration to Windows 11 or another OS will still be necessary soon.

Table: Key Differences in Support Options

Aspect	Home users (ESP)	Businesses (ESU)
Security updates	Until Oct 2028 (free)	Until Oct 2028 (paid, escalating price)
Feature updates	Until Aug 2026	Until Aug 2026
Bug fixes	No	No
Tech support	No	No
Enrolment	Microsoft account & backup	ESU purchase per device, technical setup

Our recommendation

For both businesses and individual users, Extended Support should only be seen as a short-term “safety net” if upgrading to Windows 11 is not possible. The financial and technical costs, along with missing features and bug fixes, only ever make this a stopgap at best, since updating to Windows 11 will be required eventually. Purchasing ESU “may” defer some costs in the very short-term but ultimately is a more expensive route than adopting Windows 11 now. If ESU is purchased for the full three years on offer, then the extra costs will be significant.

Migrating to Windows 11 sooner rather than later is more cost-effective and secure for most users and organisations. If your key business applications cannot run on Windows 11, extended support buys you crucial time but plan your transition as soon as possible.

Need help deciding?

We’re here to help, whether you need:

Guidance on migrating to Windows 11

Support enrolling in Extended Support

Honest advice tailored to your organisation’s needs

For more insights, see our previous post: “Windows 10: The final countdown.”