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There will be no more feature updates or security patches. On paper, that would mean that any Windows 10 PC will beat risk of any new vulnerabilities that researchers uncover. Morethan half of Americans (59.1 percent) still run Windows 10, according to September 2024 data (fave.co/3NZAucG) from StatCounter. If your PC is eligible, you'll be given the option to upgrade from the Windows Update menu within the Windows 10 Settings. If your PC is not eligible, you still have options:
Consumers can pay $30 for an extended support update that allows you to stay on Windows 10fora bit longer.
As you may know, support for Windows 10 expires in just underayear'stime. Butifyou're reluctant to upgrade to Windows 11, there's a new alternative: You can pay a little extra to keep receiving security patches with a new extended consumer support option.
Microsoft has confirmed a consumer version of its Extended Security Updates plan (fave.co/3NWEOJG). For$30,you'll receive "critica!" and "important" security updates-basically security patches that wil continue to protectyour Windows 10 PCfrom any vulnerabilities. That $30 isforoneyear's worth of updates, and that's the only option at this time. (You won't be able to resubscribe at the end, thus ending Windows 10 support.)
Microsoft has been warning users for years that Windows 10 support wil I expire in 2025, specifically October 14, 2025 (fave. co/453alLS). At that point, Windows 10 will officiallyfall out of support: There will be no more feature updates or security patches. On paper, that would mean that any Windows 10 PC will beat risk of any new vulnerabilities that researchers uncover.
Previously, Microsoft had quietly hinted that consumers would be offered the same ESU protections offered to businesses and enterprises, as it did in December 2023 (fave. co/40wz5lm) and again in an "editor's note" shared in an April 2024 support post (fave. co/3YzFhqd), in which thecompanysaid that "details will be shared at a later date for consumers." That time is now, apparently.
Back in December 2023, Microsoft offered the ESU on an annual basis to businesses for three years, one year at a time. The fees would doublé each year (fave. co/3UEUUeG), which means charging businesses hundreds of dollars for the privilege. Consumers won't be offered the same deal, as a Microsoft representative said via email that it'll be a "one-time, one-year option for $30."
WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS?
Morethan half of Americans (59.1 percent) still run Windows 10, according to September 2024 data (fave.co/3NZAucG) from StatCounter. That means millions of PCs wil need to upgrade in a year's time, something that both chipmakers like AMD and analysts are counting on to reinvigorate the PC market. Consumers, on the other hand, may feel differently.
Ifyou wantto upgrade to Windows 11, our how-to guide (fave.co/3FccfS2) will help you out. I'vealso explained whyyou should upgrade to Windows 11 (fave.co/3WhBo9s)!
Microsoft essentially makes an ad to upgrade to Windows 11 now part of the default Windows 10 upgrade process, and l've seen this on several PCs. It's just one of several ads injected into the Windows experience (fave. co/3 KI AEhv). If your PC is eligible, you'll be given the option to upgrade from the Windows Update menu within the Windows 10 Settings.
If your PC is not eligible, you still have options: Buying a new Windows 11 PC is probably the easiest option. Onealternative could be Opatch (fave.co/4hApArn), a new subscription service that promises to protect your PC.
What we would not recommend is waiting until the end-of-support date expires and taking the risk of continuing to use Windows 10 without proper security updates. That's just asking fortrouble.El
Copyright Foundry Dec 2024