Overview

• From October 14, 2025, Windows 10 stops receiving security patches, bug fixes and standard support, increasing exposure to new threats.
• Extended Security Updates are available for Windows 10 version 22H2, with reports diverging between a free one-year consumer extension (activated via a Microsoft account, with a paid option for local accounts) and enterprise pricing starting at $61 per device and escalating in later years, with some coverage described as region-limited.
• Microsoft says the cutoff is driven by security needs and recommends hardware that supports Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 to move to Windows 11.
• LA NACION reports Microsoft Defender and Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 will continue to receive security updates through October 2028, softening the immediate impact for some users.
• The shift affects a large base—roughly 40% of PCs still run Windows 10 and about 33.74% of Steam users use it—prompting choices between upgrading, buying new hardware, or switching to alternatives such as Linux or ChromeOS Flex, with PC vendors already seeing higher sales.