Microsoft revealed last year that it will charge consumers $30 for a year of extra security updates to Windows 10. Now, it’s allowing consumers to enroll into its Extended Security Updates (ESU) free of charge ahead of the Windows 10 end of support on October 14th. But there’s a catch.

While consumers can now get a year of extended security updates for Windows 10 for free, enterprises will still have to pay if they want to keep systems secure after Microsoft's October 2025 end-of-life deadline.

As we edge closer to Windows 10's end-of-support on October 14, 2025, Microsoft is throwing its more stubborn users another bone. The company previously announced that, for the first time, consumers would be able to purchase one year of Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESUs) for $30.