Windows 10 given an extra year of supported life, for $30

Microsoft has thrown a lifeline to Windows 10 users ahead of the OS going end-of-life, by offering an extra year of patches for $30.

Support for Windows 10 ends in October 2025 and Redmond is pushing people to upgrade to Windows 11, with mixed success to date – as of last month, Windows 10 had 62.75 percent of Redmond's OS market share, compared to 33.42 percent for the newer version ago.

Perhaps that's why the software behemoth has decided to offer Extended Security Updates – previously only available for business, education, and government users – to anyone who wants them.

"For the first time ever, we're introducing an ESU program for personal use as well," wrote Yusuf Mehdi, consumer chief marketing officer at Microsoft. "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."

This will be a boon to those who don't care to upgrade or who can't because their PCs aren't capable of running Windows 11.

Enterprise users can pay $61 per device for an extra year of support, but that doubles the next year to $122, and again to $244 in year three. Users in the education sector have it much easier – they pay $1 per license for the first year, then $2, and then $4 per Windows 10 machine.

• One-year countdown to 'biggest Ctrl-Alt-Delete in history' as Windows 10 approaches end of support
• After 3 years, Windows 11 has more than half Windows 10's market share
• AI to power the corporate Windows 11 refresh? Nobody's buying that
• Microsoft releases Windows 11 Insider Preview, attempts to defend labyrinth of hardware requirements

Windows 11 is one of Microsoft's most poorly performing operating systems, in part due to the powerful hardware it requires. Chipmakers and PC players expect the need for upgrades to bring a payday, but that hasn't happened yet.

Part of the problem, as The Register readers have noted on our forums, is that Windows 11 isn't a significant improvement over its predecessor. While Redmond repeatedly touts the benefits of Copilot and AI, it doesn't seem to be an incentive for many people to rip and replace their hardware to take care of it.

Microsoft also risks driving users to non-Windows machines. With Apple's market share steadily growing in the US – and the iPhone's popularity – many may consider making the switch.

Or perhaps 2025 will be the year of Linux on the desktop. ®