Microsoft's Windows 11 push backfired, so it's quietly keeping Windows 10 alive for another year

Published Jul 26, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT Abhishek is an author at XDA who covers computing. He has loved computers since he got the Lenovo G570 in 2012. Abhishek holds a master's degree in computer applications and began his writing career in 2018. He loves writing how-to articles, listicles, and informational posts on popular operating systems and web services. He closely follows the Windows Insider program and tests new Insider builds to discover upcoming experimental features and upgrades. His past work includes long-term collaborations with reputed publications like Tom's Hardware, and Windows Latest. When not writing anything, he is busy watching new episodes of One Piece or searching for something binge-worthy. Microsoft eagerly waited for users to recognize and appreciate the new look and feel of Windows 11. The OS had a few glaring decision changes when it launched, but Microsoft backtracked on some of them. It has now announced that it'll focus on fixing some core areas like the Taskbar and will restore features that it earlier scrapped from the new OS. Parallelly, Microsoft wanted to phase out Windows 10, and even announced a date for it. October 14, 2025, was the day Windows 10 should have retired permanently, but it keeps getting extensions. Earlier, Microsoft announced a free one-year extension for Windows 10 that would ensure security updates. It would protect the users and exclude any feature upgrades whatsoever. It was supposed to be the last saving grace, but now you can extend your security coverage for an additional year at no charge. The Windows 10 ESU program is weird Consumer edition users benefited a lot When the news of the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program first appeared, I was surprised by the “pay $30 a year to get security updates” decision. The enterprise customers had to pay even more, $61 per year, to keep one PC protected. It was rare to offer ESU for consumer editions because it's more beneficial for businesses that cannot upgrade the hardware immediately. After a few months of back and forth, Microsoft began offering free ESU to Windows 10 users by merely signing in with a Microsoft account and enabling OneDrive. I thought that the free one-year extension was just to pacify angry Windows 10 users, but offering the same freebie again is surprising. But from a Windows 10 user standpoint, it's good news because you saved $60 that would've gone for maintaining an already defunct operating system. Credit: Woopinah9 While consumer edition users (Home and Pro) saved money, the business edition users haven't been so lucky. Microsoft planned a $61 fee for the first year, which would double to $122 for the second year. The third-year pricing would follow the same pattern, resulting in a $244 fee just for getting security updates. The total cost is enough to purchase an entry-level desktop or laptop, or even a slightly better one if you trust used hardware. I can't understand why Microsoft didn't try to budge from its decision initially, but it is now slowly extending the deadline. Windows 11’s upgrade demands ignored old hardware Unnecessary reasons to force upgrade If you were using Windows 10 on a slightly old PC like mine, the Windows 11 hardware requirements felt unrealistic. I can understand the need for more powerful hardware because the operating system needs it for better visuals, new features, more performance, and whatnot. But enforcing requirements like a specific TPM 2.0 version wasn't a wise idea. There are many capable PCs with powerful hardware that remain stuck on Windows 10 just because they lack TPM 2.0. Microsoft built its OS security features that use TPM, and while it's good from a security perspective, it leaves millions of otherwise capable PCs stranded. The obvious choice is to remain at the mercy of the ESU program or just move out of the Windows ecosystem. It's not a conscious decision, but a forced choice for someone who has stuck with Windows for years and now has to become familiar with another OS. Microsoft's complete disregard for capable PCs is to urge users to upgrade. Buying a new PC while your old one works fine isn't a feasible choice for everyone, and even if you try to bypass the requirements, you end up with partial security features. Businesses with ten or more systems cannot upgrade in an instant, and their expensive ESU plans make the next purchase even more unfeasible. Delaying the inevitable Could work for another year or two If you are a Windows 10 user who doesn't face problems with the software, apps, and features your current OS offers, the free ESU subscription can help delay the inevitable. You can use your PC and stay protected with security updates for one more year. Microsoft hasn't announced any plans to extend the ESU program beyond 2028, and Windows 10 will be thirteen years old by that time. You already have two years' worth of free security updates, and even if Microsoft charges you for the third year, it won't be as gut-wrenching as paying for three whole years. However, you must plan and save up for a PC upgrade before hitting the OS termination point if you plan to stay with the Windows ecosystem. Microsoft has a lineup of AI-capable PCs along with regular Windows laptops and desktops from multiple OEMs that you can choose from. Rather than phasing out your older system or selling it as cheap scrap, you can put it to good use. The simplest option is to install a basic Linux distro and use it as a backup/learning PC for children or other family members. There are great options like Zorin OS or MX Linux that can work fine on low-end systems, and you can use them for web browsing, apps, and lightweight games. If you don’t want it as a backup PC, building a home server is a wise idea. I’ve converted my old laptops to servers that host my media files, work as a local cloud storage, and run other tools. There’s a slight learning curve to it, but you’ll save a lot on subscriptions and control your data. Windows 10 remains alive Microsoft is very generous to Windows 10 users for now, as getting ESU and a two-year free plan doesn’t happen often. But you shouldn’t stay on it for long and devise a strategy. Windows 10 will feel outdated and feature-deficient after a while. You can either move to Windows 11, which means purchasing a new PC. Switching to Linux doesn’t require any investment and keeps you protected and secure, just like Windows updates. Windows 11 Pro A USB installation drive and license key for Windows 11 Pro, with additional features like Hyper-V and Windows Sandbox support.