You can use Windows 10 after October 14, 2025, but you'll have to pay Microsoft

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As you may already know, Microsoft plans to end software support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. After that date, the operating system will no longer receive security updates, making it unsafe to use. And unfortunately, many machines currently running Windows 10 will not be able to upgrade to Windows 11, due to Microsoft’s hardware requirements.

In particular, Windows 11 requires a component called TPM 2.0 that is not present on all machines currently running Windows 10. As a result, many Windows users will be forced to buy a new PC running Windows 11, or replace Microsoft's OS with an alternative like Linux or Chrome OS Flex. But as Windows 10 approaches its end-of-life date, Microsoft is announcing a new option: paying to continue receiving security updates for a year.

Microsoft is offering extended support to consumers

As it has done for previous versions of Windows, Microsoft plans to offer extended support for Windows 10. This paid option is intended to give more time to businesses that haven’t completed their transitions to Windows 11 after October 14, 2025. But what’s new is that next year, for the first time, Microsoft will also offer this extended support to consumers.

“[…] we are also introducing an ESU program for personal use. The ESU program for consumers will be a one-year option available for $30. Enrollment in the program will be available toward the end of support in 2025,” Microsoft said in a statement. The company also said that PCs that benefit from this service will continue to receive critical and important security updates for Windows 10. However, the offer does not include new features, bug fixes, and technical support from Microsoft. In other words, even though the support extension will add another year, Microsoft’s preferred option is for consumers to buy a new PC that runs Windows 11.