A version of Windows 10 released a decade ago is now eligible for additional security patches

[Alfonso Maruccia]

In a nutshell: Microsoft officially retired mainstream support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, but the situation is becoming more nuanced. End users can enroll in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program to receive additional security patches, and the option is now being expanded to select enterprise customers. At this pace, Windows 10 will continue receiving updates far longer than any previous Windows release.

Did Microsoft really retire Windows 10 in October 2025? The company is now offering additional options to further extend the lifespan of an operating system first released in 2015. Redmond's updated plans include several more years of security patches for Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 through the same Extended Security Updates program already available to home users.

Microsoft defines Extended Security Updates as a way to continue using consumer and professional editions of Windows 10 securely after October 14, 2025. Users who need more time to transition to Windows 11 can receive critical security patches – essentially for free – until the consumer version of the program ends on October 13, 2026.

The ESU program is also available to enterprise organizations, although they must pay a progressively increasing fee to participate. The newly announced ESU expansion for Windows 10 LTSB 2016 includes both critical and important security updates, along with limited technical support. Consumer ESU, in contrast, does not include official support.

Microsoft's announcement states that a long-term solution for keeping Windows up to date and secure is upgrading from Windows 10 LTSB to Windows 11 LTSC. The Long-Term Servicing Branch is a retired term previously used for enterprise editions with extended support plans; these editions are now part of the Long-Term Servicing Channel, adding some complexity to Microsoft's naming conventions.

Enterprise customers interested in the ESU program must purchase updates through Volume Licensing or a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider. ESU is priced at $61 per device for the first year, doubling in cost each consecutive year. The enterprise ESU program has a maximum timeframe of three years, although it remains uncertain whether this will truly mark the end of Windows 10's use in enterprise environments.

The "older" operating system is still used on hundreds of millions of PCs, including the gaming machine used by this writer. Meanwhile, Windows 11 is undergoing an embarrassing number of "rethinking" attempts, spectacularly bad ideas like killing the Control Panel for good, and broken monthly update cycles. The Windows ecosystem is in such a sorry state, third-party companies have built a legit business out of custom patching solutions to keep ancient Windows releases safe from cyber-threats.

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A version of Windows 10 released a decade ago is now eligible for additional security patches

 

[havok585]

You get one more year for free with ESU for any end user with just a click of a button.

if you install win10 IOT LTSC you get support until 2032.

So windows 10 was never dead.

 

[Anton Longshot]

Decade!
So thát's why it's called Windows TEN!
Hahaha

 

[Axiarus]

0Patch

 

[MasterMace]

I might just rollback to Tiny 7 and be done with all of this nonsense.

 

[NumberNine]

if you install win10 IOT LTSC you get support until 2032.

So windows 10 was never dead.

This is the way.
Louder for the people in the back!

This is objectively the best time in the lifecycle of Windows 10 to be using Windows 10 because they haven given up on extracting additional funding from it.

 

[Starfals]

Idk, they extended the time until 2026 for Europe and I think Asia? Still alive, still getting updates and stuff. Even new features that I actually dont want lol...

 

[FF222]

Microsoft has announced the inclusion of Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LTSB in the ECU already back in February. So, nothing new there. And - contrary to what the title says - the updates are not yet available. The linked MS article says they will be available in the second quarter.

So, tell me again, then what is this article actually about?

 

[pnntmp]

"Windows 10 is dead" is a truly idi0tic statement.
The so-called end of support was merely a trick which Microsoft used to push corporate users to 11.
A real end of support for 10 never happened.

Microsoft really fcked this up with the unnecessary and ridiculously easy to bypass 'requirements' to install 11.

 

[TheBigT42]

You get one more year for free with ESU for any end user with just a click of a button.

if you install win10 IOT LTSC you get support until 2032.

So windows 10 was never dead.

This is the way.

 

[LimyG]

Still on 10 pro here. No remote, lots of GPO hacks etc. No store, no updates at all.

Since "support," has dropped I really appreciate windows 10. Fast, secure (with common sense, FireWall blocks etc etc.). Not a single bug or any issue at all.

Tried windows 11 3x. Really tried to like it with lots of tweaks. Sadly it's trash. Plus with all the patches for patches, the amount of slop (yes, a lot can be removed) it feels like a house of cards to me.

Heck, it's such a mess I doubt it's even secure. An Out the box online install has so much crud, the attack surface is huge. MSlop are not competent.

W10 will be my last windows. In future, I guess I'll have to do linux properly. Won't touch W11 with a barge pole. By far the worst OS MicroSlop ever made.

 

[LimyG]

I might just rollback to Tiny 7 and be done with all of this nonsense.

Yes, it's an option. I'm not really confident enough in my own ability to really secure it, although I guess Tiny 7 makes it a very small attack surface? I don't know about gaming compatabilty either?

I'll stay on 10.

Having said that, if I was forced to choose between going Tiny 7, or W11, it would absolutely be Win 7.

 

[LimyG]

Idk, they extended the time until 2026 for Europe and I think Asia? Still alive, still getting updates and stuff. Even new features that I actually dont want lol...

Yes, you are correct, certainly for security patches. (I live/work in Japan).
In my case, I run 10 highly tweaked, and haven't opted into the ESU. Why? Because in Japan that requires using One drive and an MS account. That totally rules out extended support for me. Just no way!!

It wouldn't work on my W10 anyhow as I have no Store, no update components, plus other stuff removed/blocked the lot.

But all non MS programs update just fine. So far, no game incompatabiliites. Plus seeing as I play Solo and have a backlog of games to last decades, I have no need for the frustration and unwanted forced Slop than W11 telemetry OS provides.

 

[BobHome]

Idk, they extended the time until 2026 for Europe and I think Asia? Still alive, still getting updates and stuff. Even new features that I actually dont want lol...

I think part of it is Because of Europe. Countries are starting moving away from Windows as well as MS Office.
Even US corps could go that route since AI has made it cost-prohibitive to replace thousands of PCs, PC's that can't run Win 11.
Maybe they are starting to panic???

 

[LimyG]

Regarding home users who game, email and browse mostly, I don't think the lack of security updates for W10 is a big deal. It's a mature system. People on W11 often delay or refuse to update.
Turn off all Remote. Learn Group Policy and other tweaks. Check firewall settings and only use what's needed. Have one decent anti Malware prog (I use Malwarebytes and their browser guard.)
Most importantly use common sense.

I keep all progs I use (non of them of Mslop) up to date, edge is totally deleted as is the store.

I love having a speedy totally stable PC. No patches ever. I run a scan everyday as I am paranoid, and I guess it's good practice along with realtime protection.

I bet their are always vunerabilities on any Windows system. Even a fully patched W11. W10 has had the main issues ironed out years ago. Remote, or stupid user practice is risky of course.

Do you trust MicroSlop to keep W10 ESU, or W11 secure? How often have there been stories about "unknown," vunerabilities going unpatched for many months or even a year or more?

Business is different. If anything went wrong and data was stolen etc (which happens) and it was found that they were using out of date unpatched OS they would be in big trouble. But probably the problem would be their error. Not due to not patching every month.

Windows patches are sometimes as bad as a virus. So, I am happy using my locked down, but unpatched W10pro, heavily customized until third party programs or games don't run on W10.

End of support was the best thing that happened to W10. Frustration free, tweaked PC. Never to be screwed up by a patch again.

I would say MS as a whole are EOL. As for W10 EOL has been like a free upgrade.