Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025. Organisations can keep receiving critical and important security updates for up to three more years through the paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme, to October 2028. The one-year consumer ESU option ended on 13 October 2026.
Windows 10 end-of-life dates at a glance
| What | Date |
|---|---|
| End of support (22H2, the final version) | 14 October 2025 |
| Consumer ESU ends | 13 October 2026 |
| Organisation ESU year 1 ends | 13 October 2026 |
| Organisation ESU year 2 ends | 12 October 2027 |
| Organisation ESU year 3 ends (final) | 10 October 2028 |
ESU for organisations is bought per device, one year at a time, through volume licensing or a Cloud Solution Provider. Microsoft priced year 1 at US$61 per device, doubling each following year. Devices that access a Windows 11 Cloud PC through Windows 365, and Windows 10 running in Azure Virtual Desktop or on Azure virtual machines, get ESU at no extra cost.
What end of support means for your PCs
Windows 10 PCs without ESU no longer receive security updates. ESU adds security fixes only: no new features, no non-security fixes and no technical support. It is a bridge to Windows 11, not a destination, and its price rises every year.
What to do now
- List every Windows 10 device and check which can run Windows 11 (TPM 2.0, supported CPU).
- Upgrade the eligible devices to Windows 11 first; it is a free upgrade.
- Plan replacements for devices that cannot run Windows 11, and budget for them.
- Buy ESU only for the devices you genuinely cannot move in time, and only for the years you need.
- Track each device until it is upgraded, replaced or retired.
Frequently asked questions
When did Windows 10 reach end of life?
Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025. Version 22H2 was the final release.
How long can organisations get Windows 10 security updates?
Organisations can buy Extended Security Updates for up to three years, one year at a time. The final year ends on 10 October 2028.
What should I do with Windows 10 PCs?
Upgrade devices that meet the Windows 11 requirements, replace those that don’t, and buy Extended Security Updates only for devices you cannot move in time.
Sources
Dates from Microsoft: Windows 10 Enterprise and Education lifecycle and Extended Security Updates for Windows 10. Always confirm dates with the vendor before making decisions.