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title: Microsoft's Windows 11 push backfired, so it's quietly...
description: Microsoft has quietly extended the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for another free year, now through 2027, after its Windows 11 push failed...
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# Microsoft's Windows 11 push backfired, so it's quietly keeping Windows 10 alive for another year

**[XDA Developers](https://daily.dev/sources/xda-developers)** · 4 min read · 1 upvotes · 0 comments

## Summary

Microsoft has quietly extended the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for another free year, now through 2027, after its Windows 11 push failed to drive mass adoption. Consumer users (Home and Pro) can get security updates for free by signing in with a Microsoft account and enabling OneDrive, while business users face escalating costs ($61, $122, $244 per year). The forced upgrade to Windows 11 left millions of older PCs stranded due to TPM requirements. For those staying on Windows 10, the free ESU buys another year of protection, though Microsoft has not announced plans beyond 2028. Alternatives for old hardware include installing lightweight Linux distros like Zorin OS or MX Linux, or repurposing the machine as a home server.

## Full article

daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: <https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-extended-windows-10-another-year-for-free>

## Questions this post answers

### Is Microsoft extending free security updates for Windows 10 again?

Yes, Microsoft is offering another free year of Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10 consumer editions, following an earlier free one-year extension that required signing in with a Microsoft account and enabling OneDrive. This saves consumer users the $30 annual fee. Business edition users still pay $61 the first year, doubling to $122 in year two and reaching $244 by year three.

_daily.dev keeps IT teams tracking Windows 10 end-of-life and ESU pricing changes as they unfold._

### Why can't some PCs upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11?

Windows 11 requires TPM-based security hardware that many otherwise capable PCs lack, leaving them unable to upgrade despite still running fine on Windows 10. This forces affected users to either pay for Extended Security Updates, buy new hardware, or switch operating systems entirely, even though their current PC has no functional problems.

_Developers weighing hardware constraints against OS upgrades can follow this debate on daily.dev._

### How long will Windows 10 continue receiving security updates through ESU?

Microsoft has not announced plans to extend the Extended Security Updates program beyond 2028, at which point Windows 10 will be thirteen years old. Until then, consumer editions can receive free ESU coverage, while business editions face escalating annual fees reaching $244 by the third year.

_daily.dev helps IT planners stay current on Windows 10 support timelines and ESU deadlines._

## Similar posts on daily.dev

- [Microsoft quietly gave Windows 10 another year, but it can't keep kicking the can down the road](https://daily.dev/posts/microsoft-quietly-gave-windows-10-another-year-but-it-can-t-keep-kicking-the-can-down-the-road-cf51quzld) · XDA Developers · 0 upvotes · 0 comments
- [Microsoft extends Windows 10's extra security updates program to October 2027 for free](https://daily.dev/posts/microsoft-extends-windows-10-s-extra-security-updates-program-to-october-2027-for-free-yubc8f2ff) · XDA Developers · 0 upvotes · 0 comments
- [Microsoft quietly extends free Windows 10 ESU support to October 2027](https://daily.dev/posts/microsoft-quietly-extends-free-windows-10-esu-support-to-october-2027-yzellv0j0) · BleepingComputer · 0 upvotes · 0 comments
- [Windows 10 still clinging on after Microsoft pulls support](https://daily.dev/posts/windows-10-still-clinging-on-after-microsoft-pulls-support-cnmude6qw) · The Register · 0 upvotes · 0 comments

---

Tags: [#linux](https://daily.dev/tags/linux), [#microsoft](https://daily.dev/tags/microsoft), [#windows](https://daily.dev/tags/windows)

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