Microsoft charging for Windows 10 updates is a necessary evil – but will it get people to upgrade?
Microsoft has announced that it will no longer support Windows 10 from October 14, 2025 – and if you want to continue using the operating system, you'll have to pay for security updates.
While the idea of paying to update Windows 10 concerns many people, it is unfortunately a bit unavoidable. By the time Windows 10 reaches that “end of life” date, the operating system will be 10 years old.
At this point, it's likely that Microsoft will have released Windows 12 while still supporting Windows 11. The idea that even a company as big as Microsoft could offer full support for three different operating systems is quite fanciful.
As much as I hate to admit it, I think this is actually for the best. I would have much preferred Microsoft to focus on supporting its current operating system by releasing security updates, bug fixes, and new features, rather than spreading itself too thin with legacy support.
Sure, it would be nice to still get those Windows 10 updates for free, but I think this is a way for Microsoft to justify keeping a small team to release essential security fixes for people who want to stay on the platform .
The choice is yours
This move, which was announced in a blog post (en reported by MSPowerUser), leaves Windows 10 users with a choice.
First, they can upgrade to Windows 11. This is likely Microsoft's desired outcome, as the company has been trying to encourage people to move to the newer operating system for years, and despite various plans such as offering the upgrade for free, and Littering around users' desktops with pop-ups suggesting they switch, many Windows 10 users remain reluctant to do so.
The threat of having to pay for updates may be enough to make them switch. While I don't like that idea, Windows 11 is a decent operating system with some useful features that people who stick with Windows 10 miss. If you do upgrade, you'll get those new features, as well as free updates until Windows 11's end of life, which will be a while yet.
Another option is to stick with Windows 10. If you do, you'll have to pay to get security updates (no new features will be added once Windows 10 reaches end of life). Microsoft hasn't revealed how much this will cost, but it will likely be a subscription offering monthly updates.
You should also be able to use Windows 10 without paying for updates, as the operating system will continue to function beyond the date. This may sound appealing, but I really don't recommend it.
Without paying, you likely won't receive updates, which means that if a new virus emerges or a security issue is discovered, your PC will remain unpatched and exposed to the risk. After Windows 10 enters its end-of-life period on October 14, 2025, technical support will no longer be offered, so you're really on your own.
Malicious actors will know that Windows 10 won't be getting any more free updates, so it's likely they'll start targeting unpatched versions.
Finally, you could switch the operating system to open-source Linux. Linux distributions come in all shapes and sizes, can run on virtually any PC hardware, and offer many of the same features and applications as Windows 10 – all for free. Many distributions, such as Ubuntu, openSUSE and Mint, offer Long Term Support (LTS) versions, which are committed to being updated and supported until dates well into the future – and most of these are free too.
Naturally, this is the option Microsoft would least like to use (which might be enough to convince you, if you're feeling particularly disappointed by the company's decision to charge for Windows 10 updates).
In any case, you don't have to choose an option quickly, because there is still a while until October 14, 2025 – and hopefully we will all be playing GTA 6 by then. Still, it is worth keeping it in mind for now, so that you are not suddenly using a compromised version of Windows 10.