Microsoft is starting to deploy a tool that must facilitate access to Internet users who cannot or wish to leave Windows 10 to a special program. This proposes to extend the support of the bone of one year, exceptionally, while it must stop on October 14, 2025.
Microsoft seems to face the facts: it will be impossible to reduce the market share of Windows 10 to zero by October 14, 2025, when the extended (and free) support of the operating system will cease. In June, this generation of OS still weighed just over 48 % of all Windows versions in circulation, according to Statcounter.
While the deadline set by Microsoft is in less than three months, a new policy emerges, in order to avoid throwing millions of computers into a world in which they would no longer be entitled to security fixes to fill the vulnerabilities identified after the fateful date. This is what a blog post indicates on July 22:
« We understand that the transition to a new PC can take time, and we are there to support you throughout the process »Writes the company. For this, a decided program, Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) had been launched to continue to protect PCs, including after October 14, 2025.
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Originally, this ESU program was primarily intended for companies as well as administrations which have important IT parks and whose switch to Windows 11 is a difficult task, for one reason or another. But it’s not free: count $ 61 per position, a price that doubles each year, over a maximum period of three years.
And for individuals? You also have to pay, but only $ 30 and just for a year. This was what the company had indicated at the end of November and which was repeated again in the announcement of July 22 as well as in another explanatory article and a faire for dedicated questions. And to prevent the public from the existence of this offer, Microsoft has a plan.
Deployment of an ESU program registration assistant
« To partir [du 22 juillet]an registration assistant will appear in notifications and settings, which will simplify the selection of the best option for you and registration to ESU directly from your personal Windows 10 computer “Writes the group. It is also via this assistant that alternatives will be offered:
Indeed, in addition to the entry ticket at $ 30, Microsoft decided at the end of June to also plan to ” New free membership options ». Thus, it may be possible to trade 1,000 reward points (Microsoft Rewards) for one year of SUB Subscription, without additional cost. These points collect for example via activity with the Xbox application.
Once the option has been chosen and the various registration steps, a PC will be automatically registered, with a coverage which will go from October 15, 2025 to October 13, 2026. As for the registration assistant, it will be deployed on all compatible computers by mid-August 2025, enough time before October 14.
Obviously, it is in no way compulsory to register for this service. Those who are still on Windows 10 have several other options:
- Stay on Windows 10, without protection;
- Stay on Windows 10, with protection, for one year (compared to 30 dollars or 1,000 points);
- Pass on Windows 11 (if the PC is compatible);
- Top on another operating system (Linux, Mac, etc.).
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