Windows 10 updates won’t be free after 2025 — here’s why | Mashable.

Windows 10 updates won’t be free after 2025 — here’s why

End of an era.

Credit: Microsoft

Windows 10 is unfortunately coming to the end of its life cycle. In 2025, Microsoft's OS will no longer receive free updates and support as the company transitions its efforts to Windows 11 and potentially Windows 12.

Why is Microsoft ending support for Windows 10?

According to a blog post from Microsoft on Tuesday, starting Oct. 14, 2025, the company will start charging for Windows 10 security updates. The reasoning is quite simple; Windows 10 is almost a decade old at this point and Microsoft is not willing to give full support to a potential three operating systems. As it phases out Windows 10, the company hopes to entice users to transition to Windows 11, which is free for eligible PCs at the moment.

If you want to upgrade to Windows 11 right now, it's easy and free. Launched in 2021, it's not the most revolutionary Windows OS to exist, but it's suitable for those looking for a change — but not too much change. You can also keep Windows 10 and not pay for the updates, but that leaves you vulnerable to bad actors looking to exploit soon-to-be abandonware.

If you want to wait, recent rumors suggest Windows 12 will see a 2024 release, but that information is a bit sketchy. If true, Windows 12 won't be a free update like Windows 11, but what that OS will offer in terms of AI advancement is exciting. Or you can switch to Linux if that's your thing.

Either way, 2025 is a long time away so there's no need to make a decision now. Microsoft did not make it clear how much it'll charge for future updates.

Topics Microsoft

Comments

  1. Good. The whole free internet is the culprit of many privacy and security scams

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  2. Good, I'm tired of them updating my setup like they own it after they sold me the OS.

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  3. No problem switched to linux and happy about it

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  4. I'm not worried. Windows XP lets me know every so often when I boot it back up reom a restaurant

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  5. Mac updates will still be free

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  6. Guess I’ll keep my Windows 7 until they pry it from my cold dead fingers

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  7. Stop paying for Windows. Use Google tools.

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  8. Wassup guys I'm Paying this December bill of 7 lucky people that message me with this phrase
    "GOD DID" stay bless y'all❤️
    Merry Christmas🎁🎄in advance

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  9. 🤣🤣 joke right?

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  10. The never ending pursuit of profits.

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  11. They could also allow the f!@#£% taskbar vertically, but they dont

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  12. cya wouldn't want to be ya

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  13. never really were free and the ones out didnt agree with microsoft agreements....i found, running one now wants enrollment when it was free download.

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  14. I've used Linux for 23 years with no issues

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  15. I would bet money they are going to extent that date, just like they did with XP and 7.

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    Replies
    1. Better, saying as one dragged kicking and screaming onto 10. Oh well, only had to reinstall twice.

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  16. Apparently there isn't enough e-waste being thrown into landfill

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    Replies
    1. And now you know why Linux exists. :-D

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  17. People are still using Windows 7 soo... It's just their official cut off.

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  18. Come late 2025, you just stop receiving updates. Your computer will still continue to function, just like any computer running Windows XP to this day. You can upgrade to Windows 11 for free, or if your PC is not supported it likely would be over a decade old at that point and worthy of replacement anyway.

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    Replies
    1. Hell, my PC is faster than 99% of computers in most offices, and schools. The only ones it would be slower than is another gaming computer or some computer at a University for something more than word processor or web browser.

      If I am happy with 1080p gaming it would work just fine.

      We should be at the 5000 series of graphics cards from Nvidia, and 9000 for AMD.

      I don't see some integrated graphics beating a Titan in the year 2025.

      Honestly it should be working just fine for me for programming, web browsing, 3D modeling, and animation. But I have to go and buy a whole computer to game at that point for modern games.

      Honestly if all my games ran on Linux at the same level on windows and all my apps worked on Linux I would switch fully.

      As it is now I have 2 computers. 1 for Web browsing with linux, and Windows for gaming and everything.

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  19. Dunno, but it is a golden opportunity for Linux... if they ever decide to finally grab it.

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  20. well its business is business.. we cant controll that, they own the product.

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    Replies
    1. And we own the money that makes it all possible.

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    2. Hmmm, yeah that makes sense, but once we buy the product we can do watever we like eith it...

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  21. Local man surprised planned obsolescence is a thing, more at 6:00.

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  22. ltsc 1809 is supported till 2029, ltsc iot 2021 is supported till 2031, though licensing is trickier

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  23. I think the question is if in 2025 Microsoft is able to offer a solution that suits my needs. (Can run on my hardware, can do what I need, doesn't try to annoy me too much, etc) Then we'll see what will happen.

    Right now, at least for my personal needs they don't offer anything I cannot live without. Some loss at gaming could be a minor inconvenience, but even this can change in the next three years.

    So, I'll definitely won't tinker just to put their OS on my unsupported hardware. They are the ones who need to make the effort.

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  24. That's the latest date MSFT expects nuclear war :P if not then nothing, you don't get updates for Win10, and we will all be doing cloud VMs pretty soon, so it doesn't matter

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  25. Or everything will be monthly subscription they are and will be working on that.

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  26. If Microsoft continues on the same path I'm seeing it take on Windows 11 and if I'm forced to "upgrade", I'll switch to Linux.

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  27. Microsoft is finding itself competing against ChromeOS devices now. I really believe cOS was why Microsoft did a 180 and decided to release 11 after saying, after 10, Windows would receive "service releases". It's a Marketing strategy more than anything else.

    So they're not doing away with the whole "New release" method. They'll market Windows 12 as a "huge improvement", etc.

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