Windows 10 Extended Security Updates Available Until 2028, Says Microsoft

Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 on October 14 this year. This means that the tech giant will not offer software support or critical bug fixes, and will not roll out any security patches in the future. With this, all Windows 10 users will be highly susceptible to zero day attacks after the October 14 deadline. For those who cannot upgrade to Windows 11, Microsoft has announced some respite. It has confirmed that the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 will run until 2028.

For those who aren’t aware of what ESU’s are, the Extended Security Update (ESU) program is a last resort option for customers who need to run Windows 10 past the end of support. They are not intended as a long-term solution, but rather as a temporary bridge. ESU support will begin on November 11 this year and will go till October 10, 2028. After the 2028 deadline, Microsoft will offer no support whatsoever, paid or free, to Windows 10 users.

ESU support paid plans start from $30 per year for individuals and $61 per year for business users. The ESU program includes ‘critical or important’ security updates up to three years. To reiterate, ESU support should be the last resort for Windows 10 users.

Microsoft still recommends all users to upgrade to Windows 11. Simple ways in which you can do that is:

Head to Settings > Privacy and Security > Windows Update.

If your PC meets the minimum system requirements and is able to upgrade, you should see an option in Windows Update to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11.

These are the minimum system requirements for installing Windows 11 on a PC. If your device does not meet these requirements, you may not be able to install Windows 11 on your device and might want to consider purchasing a new PC. To see these minimum requirements, head here.