Overview

• Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, closing a 10‑year lifecycle for the operating system.
• Consumers can purchase Extended Security Updates for about $30 to receive security patches for one additional year, with no feature updates or technical support.
• A no‑cost path grants a year of ESU updates by linking a Microsoft account with the Windows Backup app, excluding local accounts and subject to OneDrive’s 5 GB free tier limit.
• Germany’s BSI advises against using the unsupported OS online and recommends moving to a supported system, while ComputerBase calls ESU a short‑term stopgap and urges upgrades to Windows 11 or a switch to Linux.
• Statcounter data show bumpy migration patterns: Windows 11 slipped below 50% in August as Windows 10 gained share, and Windows 7 rose from roughly 2% in July to nearly 5% by mid‑September.