Want Windows 10 Security? Microsoft Says It Will Be $30

Nothing lasts forever. When it comes to Windows 10, nothing is a security update. Security has never been a hot topic for Windows 10 users, with October 14, 2025 being the official end of support date for users who do not want to upgrade to Windows 11. The good news is that Microsoft isn’t completely abandoning you 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’ll cost you $30.

Prepare to Pay for Windows 10 Security Updates

Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s chief marketing officer for consumer products, announced the availability of expanded security in a post titled “How to prepare for Windows 10 end of support by upgrading to Windows 11 today” on the Windows “experience blog” on October 31. Update program for consumers. This is the first time consumers are being notified of the option to keep security updates if they stick with Windows 10, but it will only be available for a one-year period and for a one-time fee of $30.

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A large portion of Mehdi’s article was devoted to reasons why Windows 10 users might be better off switching to Windows 11; An argument I must admit is quite convincing. After all, upgrading to Windows 11 is currently free and overall provides a much more secure experience than Windows 10 out of the box. For example, dare I mention secure boot, intelligent application control, and memory integrity features?

“New Windows 11 computers are more secure,” Mehdi said, and continued: “A 62% drop in security incidents and a 3x reduction in firmware attacks have been reported.” Mehdi added that Windows 11 also includes phishing protection, offers strong defense mechanisms and provides an extra layer of security against widespread and persistent cyber attacks.

However, there are many reasons why some Windows users are determined to stick with Windows 10 as long as they can. This may be a long time coming considering some people are still using the likes of Windows XP. As a security guy myself, I can’t recommend this course of action and suggest you either swallow hard and upgrade to Windows 11 or take the ESU offer and bump up the $30 to keep things secure for at least another year.

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Expanded Windows 10 Security Updates Program for Consumers

Those who decide to stick with Windows 10 can at least take advantage of the Extended Security Updates program as they prepare to upgrade to Windows 11. “Registered computers 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 no longer be an issue. “For consumers, the ESU program will be a one-year option for $30,” Mehdi said, and enrollment in the program “will be available closer to the end of support in 2025.”