Good News! How to Use Windows 10 Safely for an Extra Year for $30 (or less!)

Good News! How to Use Windows 10 Safely for an Extra Year for $30 (or less)

Windows 10 will reach its end-of-support date on October 14, 2025. After that date, Windows 10 will no longer receive critical and important security updates that keep users safe. Using Windows 10 after its end-of-support date is risky.

But the big problem that many Windows 10 users have is that their current computers don’t support Windows 11 so upgrading is impossible. And some Windows 10 users don’t have the money to buy a new Windows 11 computer. And others just don’t want Windows 11.

Whatever the reason, if you want to keep using Windows 10 at least through October 14, 2026, you’ll be happy to learn that Microsoft, for the first time, will be offering Extended Security Updates to home users for $30.

According to a blog post on Microsoft’s Windows Experience Blog written by Microsoft Executive Vice President Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft will offer extended support available for the first time to home (personal) users. He wrote…

“…We understand that some of you may require additional time while moving to a new Windows 11 PC or Copilot+ PC. During this period, you may wish to take steps to help secure your existing PC. As previously announced, we will offer our Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. Enrolled PCs will continue to receive Critical and Important security updates for Windows 10; however, new features, bug fixes and technical support will no longer be available from Microsoft.

“And for the first time ever, we’re introducing an ESU program for personal use as well. The ESU program for consumers will be a one-year option available for $30. Program enrollment will be available closer to the end of support in 2025…

If your computer doesn’t meet the requirements to run Windows 11, or if you can’t afford to buy a new computer, or if you just want to keep using Windows 10 because you like it, paying $30 to use Windows 10 safely for an extra year seems like a good choice. Microsoft will be releasing more details about ESU for home users closer to Windows 10’s end-of-support date which is October 14, 2025.

There’s even a way to safely use Windows 10 past its end-of-support date for free.

There’s another way to keep using Windows 10 past its end-of-support date, and that’s using 0patch… there’s even a free version. Read more about 0patch here.

It’s not safe to use Windows 10 past October 14, 2025, without security updates.

Remember: Using Windows 10 past October 14, 2025, without any critical security updates is risky and could leave you and your Windows 10 computer vulnerable.