Microsoft will officially retire support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Following this date, the company will cease issuing security updates, bug fixes, and feature enhancements for the OS. While your Windows 10 computer will continue to operate, it will become increasingly exposed to malware and cyber threats. Additionally, as developers focus on newer systems, certain applications may start to malfunction or become incompatible, potentially creating software-related challenges.
There are some exceptions to the end of support. Microsoft 365 applications such as Word, Excel, and Outlook will keep receiving security updates on Windows 10 until October 2028, while feature updates will continue through August 2026. Additionally, Microsoft Defender Antivirus will continue to get security intelligence updates until 2028, giving users who haven’t upgraded yet a few extra years of protection.
Microsoft will keep rolling out security intelligence updates:
Even though Windows 10 support ends, Microsoft will keep rolling out security intelligence updates for Microsoft Defender Antivirus until October 2028. This move ensures users still receive a layer of protection even after the operating system stops getting regular updates.
Microsoft has launched the Extended Security Updates:
To assist users in moving to the next version of Windows, Microsoft has launched the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10. Beginning October 15, 2025, users can subscribe directly through their device settings.
For personal devices, there are three ways to access ESU: using Windows Backup at no cost, redeeming Microsoft Rewards points for free, or purchasing an annual subscription for $30 per device.
For businesses, the ESU plan costs $61 per device each year and can be renewed for up to three years.
Cloud-based environments, such as Windows 11 Cloud PCs and Windows 365 virtual machines, will receive ESU automatically without any extra fees.