ESU (Extended Security Updates) is a paid option that will allow users to receive security updates for Windows 10 after its end-of-support date, which is after October 14, 2025. This solution is positioned as temporary, providing a grace period for those who have not yet upgraded to Windows 11.
Recently, Microsoft published the ESU terms for Windows 10.
ESU can be purchased for a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years. The price for the second and third years will double (for the second year the price will be 2 times higher, for the third - 4 times). Below are the prices for the USA, prices may vary in other countries.
It's important to note that ESU provides only critical and important security updates ("Critical and Important" by this classification) and nothing more. They do not grant access to support for Windows 10 and do not convert Windows 10 to Windows 11.
Three options are offered for commercial customers:
For schools and other educational institutions, the options are similar, but the prices are significantly lower: customers who meet the requirements can get ESU for $1 for the first year ($2 for the second year, $4 for the third year).
It is stated that private (home) users may also be able to use ESU, but the conditions for them have not been announced yet.