The short answer: Windows 10 stopped receiving free security updates on 14 October 2025. Businesses can pay Microsoft for Extended Security Updates (ESU), but the first year of cover ends on 13 October 2026, the price doubles for year two, and joining late means paying for every year you missed. For almost every business the cheaper and safer answer is to upgrade eligible PCs to Windows 11, which is still free, and replace the rest.
Last updated: 30 September 2026. ESU dates and pricing checked against Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates documentation and partner coverage dates on that date.
In this guide
- What Windows 10 end of life means
- What changes on 14 October 2026
- What Extended Security Updates cost
- Your three options
- Can your PCs run Windows 11?
- The risks of staying on Windows 10
- How to plan the move
- Frequently asked questions
What does Windows 10 end of life mean?
Windows 10 reached its end of support on 14 October 2025. Since then Microsoft has stopped releasing free security updates, bug fixes and technical support for it. The PCs still switch on and work, but every vulnerability discovered since that date stays open unless the device is enrolled in paid Extended Security Updates.
That matters because attackers look for exactly this. Unpatched operating systems are one of the easiest ways into a business network, and the list of known, unfixed Windows 10 flaws grows every month.
What changes on 14 October 2026?
Two deadlines land together in October 2026, and both affect businesses:
| Date | What happens | Who it affects |
|---|---|---|
| 13 October 2026 | Year one of Windows 10 Extended Security Updates ends | Businesses paying for ESU on Windows 10 PCs |
| 14 October 2026 | Year two of ESU begins, at double the year-one price | Anyone who wants Windows 10 security updates to continue |
| 13 October 2026 | Windows 11 version 24H2 stops receiving security updates on Home and Pro | Businesses that upgraded to Windows 11 but have not updated since |
The last row catches out businesses that think they are finished. Upgrading to Windows 11 is not a one-off: each annual version has its own support end date. Our Windows 11 for business guide lists every version and date.
How much do Windows 10 Extended Security Updates cost?
For businesses, Microsoft charges $61 per device for year one, and the price doubles every year for a maximum of three years. Microsoft publishes business ESU pricing in US dollars only; if you buy through a UK Microsoft partner you will be invoiced in pounds at the partner’s price.
| ESU year | Cover runs | Price per device (Microsoft list) | Cumulative cost if you join this year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year one | 15 October 2025 to 13 October 2026 | $61 | $61 |
| Year two | 14 October 2026 to 12 October 2027 | $122 | $183 (years one and two) |
| Year three | 13 October 2027 to 10 October 2028 | $244 | $427 (all three years) |
The column on the right is the part most businesses miss. Microsoft states that ESUs are cumulative: “If you decide to purchase the program in Year Two, you have to pay for Year One too.” So a PC that joins ESU in October 2026 costs three times the year-one price, just to stay patched until October 2027. Devices must also be running Windows 10 version 22H2 to receive ESU updates.
For comparison, the Windows 11 upgrade itself costs nothing on an eligible PC. On most machines, ESU only makes sense for a device that genuinely cannot be moved yet, such as one running software that has no Windows 11 version.
There is one exception worth knowing: Windows 10 virtual machines in Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop get ESU at no extra cost, and Windows 10 PCs connecting to Windows 365 Cloud PCs are covered while the subscription is active.
What are your options?
Every Windows 10 PC in your business falls into one of three groups:
| Option | When it fits | Cost | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upgrade to Windows 11 | The PC meets Microsoft’s requirements | Free licence; time to plan and test | Check business applications and printers first |
| Replace the PC | The PC fails the requirements or is near the end of its life | New hardware | Buy to a sensible spec so it lasts five years |
| Pay for ESU | The PC cannot move yet for a specific reason | Doubles each year and is cumulative | A bridge, not a plan; ends in October 2028 |
Microsoft confirms the upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is free on eligible PCs. Your data, applications and settings normally carry across, although we always recommend testing business-critical software on a pilot machine first.
Can your PCs run Windows 11?
A PC needs to meet all of Microsoft’s Windows 11 requirements:
- A compatible 64-bit processor on Microsoft’s supported list. For the current versions of Windows 11 that broadly means Intel 8th generation Core or AMD Ryzen 3000 series and newer.
- At least 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
- UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability.
- Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0.
- A DirectX 12 compatible graphics card with a WDDM 2.0 driver.
Many business PCs bought since around 2018 pass, and sometimes the only blocker is TPM or Secure Boot switched off in the firmware settings, which is a quick fix. Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app will tell you for a single machine. For a whole office, your IT provider can pull a report across every device at once.
Treat the minimums as a floor. For business use we recommend at least 16GB of RAM and a solid-state drive, so a PC that only just passes may still be worth replacing.
What are the risks of staying on Windows 10?
Staying on Windows 10 without ESU creates problems well beyond the PC itself:
- Unpatched vulnerabilities. Every security flaw found since October 2025 stays open, and attackers actively scan for unsupported systems.
- Cyber Essentials. The current requirements say unsupported software must be removed or isolated from the internet in a separate sub-set. A Windows 10 PC without ESU is unsupported software, so it will fail the assessment if it is in scope. See our Cyber Essentials requirements guide.
- Cyber insurance. Insurers commonly ask whether your systems are supported and patched. An unsupported operating system can make a claim harder, so check your policy wording.
- Software support. Microsoft 365 Apps still receive security updates on Windows 10 until 10 October 2028, but Microsoft treats Windows 10 as unsupported for them and feature updates end with Version 2608. Other vendors are withdrawing support too.
How should a business plan the move?
With the ESU price about to double, the aim is to have as few Windows 10 PCs as possible left by 13 October 2026, and a firm date for the rest. A practical plan:
- Audit every device: its age, processor, TPM, RAM, disk and whether it is still on Windows 10.
- Sort into upgrade, replace or bridge. Only put a device on ESU if there is a specific reason it cannot move yet, and write that reason down.
- Test first: line-of-business software, printers, scanners and VPN on one or two pilot machines.
- Back up anything stored locally, and make sure OneDrive is syncing desktops and documents.
- Roll out in waves, out of hours where possible, so nobody loses a working day.
- Harden as you go: turn on BitLocker, check multi-factor authentication and bring devices under central management.
- Keep Windows 11 current, so PCs move to each new version before the old one loses support.
ATS Connection handles Windows 10 to 11 migrations for businesses across Sussex and the UK, from the device audit to the rollout, as part of our managed IT services or as a one-off IT consultancy project. If you are not sure where you stand, our free IT review covers your devices, network and Microsoft 365, and tells you plainly what to fix first. You can also call us on 01903 255 159.
Frequently asked questions
Is Windows 10 still supported?
No. Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025. It only receives security updates on devices enrolled in Microsoft’s paid Extended Security Updates programme.
When does Windows 10 ESU year one end?
Year one of Extended Security Updates covers 15 October 2025 to 13 October 2026. Year two runs from 14 October 2026 to 12 October 2027, and year three ends on 10 October 2028.
How much does Windows 10 ESU cost for a business?
Microsoft lists business ESU at $61 per device for year one, doubling each year to $122 and then $244. It is cumulative, so a device that joins in year two costs $183 in total. Microsoft publishes these prices in US dollars; UK partners invoice in pounds.
Can I still upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free?
Yes. Microsoft states that the upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is free on eligible PCs.
Will Windows 10 pass Cyber Essentials?
Not without Extended Security Updates. Cyber Essentials requires software in scope to be supported by its vendor, so an unsupported Windows 10 PC must be upgraded, covered by ESU, removed, or isolated from the internet in a separate sub-set.
What happens if I do nothing?
The PCs keep working, but they receive no security fixes, which makes them an easy target, can cause a Cyber Essentials failure and may complicate an insurance claim. The longer you wait, the more ESU costs if you need it.
Does Microsoft 365 still work on Windows 10?
Yes, for now. Microsoft 365 Apps receive security updates on Windows 10 until 10 October 2028, but Microsoft treats Windows 10 as unsupported for them and feature updates end with Version 2608.
Sources
- Microsoft: Windows 10 end of support
- Microsoft Learn: Extended Security Updates for Windows 10
- Microsoft Partner Center: Windows 10 ESU coverage dates
- Microsoft Support: Upgrade to Windows 11 FAQ
- Microsoft UK: Windows 11 specifications
- Microsoft Learn: Windows 11 release information
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10
- NCSC: Cyber Essentials Requirements for IT Infrastructure v3.3
