Microsoft Will Stop Supporting Windows 10 in One Year (for Free)

Windows 10 continues to be an incredibly popular OS for PC users around the world. Whether people are reluctant to relearn a new set of features and UI, or they simply enjoy the stability of using a PC with a familiar OS, Windows 10 is in full force in 2024. Unfortunately, Microsoft doesn’t feel it should be.

In one year, on October 14, 2025, Microsoft will officially stop supporting Windows 10 for the general public. The company has already dropped software update support for Windows 10, but following that date, Microsoft will no longer issue public security patches, either. That means if you’re using Windows 10 on your PC after October 14 of next year, any security vulnerabilities that are discovered will not be fixed by Microsoft, leaving your PC security in jeopardy.

At least, that’s the case for some users. Microsoft won’t drop Windows 10 support entirely: The company will offer security updates for paying customers on an annual basis. They call it the Extended Security Update program, or ESU for short. Windows 365 subscribers also qualify for ESU for no additional charge.

That means that, if you pay Microsoft directly, belong to a qualifying organization, or subscribe to Windows 365, you can safely continue using Windows 10 for the foreseeable future. Microsoft will continue to patch any security vulnerabilities it finds, and update your PC as needed. However, you will not receive and new features, nor will you be able to request updates for items that are not security related.

If you want to try new features and keep your PC secure, Microsoft wants you to update to Windows 11. However, so long as you quality for security updates, you can keep using the OS you’re comfortable with without issue.