Here’s how much Windows 10 could cost if you don’t upgrade this year

Businesses looking to keep using Windows 10 past the approaching end of life (EOL) date will face steep costs, Microsoft has confirmed.

The firm clarified the cost of its extended service updates (ESU), which allow users access to critical security updates for up to three years past the Windows 10 EOL date, set for 14 October 2025.

ESU updates will require users to pay an annual fee which increases incrementally over the three year eligibility period. It will cost $61 per device for the first year, doubling every consecutive year to $122 per device in year two and $244 in year three.

They can only be purchased in yearly iterations, the tech giant noted, with year-one starting in November 2025. Importantly, if you decide to purchase the program in year two or three, you’ll have to pay cumulatively for the previous years.

There are exceptions to the fees. ESU is available for free for Windows 10 virtual machines (VMs) running in Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop, as well as for Windows 10 endpoints connecting to Windows 365 Cloud PCs.

No technical support is included in ESU, Microsoft said, though the firm will assist customers who encounter challenges related to the updates themselves. Windows 10 ESU are available in volume licensing now.

Windows 10 migration problems persist

Windows 10 EOL has not been a straightforward process so far, with a report from last summer showing that 82% devices are still not running on Windows 11 - partly due to enterprise anxiety about making the switch.

Companies are wary of repeating the transition to Windows 10, which was often time-consuming and disruptive, Cloudhouse director Mark Gilliand told ITPro at the time of the study.

There was also an indication that the EOL could create a huge volume of e-waste as millions of devices are condemned to the scrap heap, research from Canalys suggested at the end of 2023.

Businesses wary of the looming deadline should put security and sustainability front and center, Circular Computing’s Steve Haskew told ITPro in October.

They should also conduct an audit of device eligibility for Windows 11 and create backups of data.