#0029 Should you pay for Windows 10 extended support?

The End of An Era

Windows 10 support officially ends on October 15, 2025. After that, users will stop receiving updates, including important feature updates, bug fixes, and security patches.

Extended Suppport Option

For the first time, Microsoft is offering extended support to home users, a service that has been available to businesses for many years. If you sign up for extended support, it will cost you $30 for the first year. This program will only provide security updates. So, if a new security flaw is found, Microsoft will release an update to fix it. If you’re not on the extended support program, you won’t get that patch. Think of this support like an insurance policy—it keeps your system secure, but doesn’t add new features.

Free Extended Suppport Option

Microsoft does offer a free option for Extended Support. If you subscribe to Office 365 or OneDrive, you can use it to backup your system online. If you aren't using either of these two services, they would need to be purchased directly from Microsoft. You will be required to create and use a Microsoft Account. Using OneDrive will entitle you to Windows 10 Extended Support for up to three years. However, many users see the Microsoft account and OneDrive as an invasion of privacy. They don't want Microsoft storing their files. I'll leave that for you to decide.

If You Say No

Even without extended support, Windows Defender (Microsoft’s built-in antivirus) will continue to receive updates until at least 2028, so you’ll still have basic protection against viruses. You’ll have to decide if that’s enough for your needs. You’ll also be able to keep using Windows 10 as usual, even without the extended support. If a new vulnerability to Windows 10 is found - Microsoft will NOT address the issue or release any new security patches or bug-fixes. You're on your own.

Cheating the System

Yes. There are multiple ways to cheat the system to bypass the Windows 11 hardware requirements. Various articles on how to do this are easily found online. Of course this is NOT sanctioned by Microsoft. There is NO guarantee that Microsoft won't change the Windows 11 installation process to prevent this from working. (Some of these installation methods have already been blocked.) Once Windows 11 is is installed on unsupported hardware; there may also be a future Windows 11 update that will use a different method to detect your hardware and cause 11 to stop working on the older device. You probably shouldn't go this route if the computer is used for anything important. You’re taking a big a gamble.

My Opinion

Ultimately, the decision is up to you. If you’re a casual user who mainly browses the web or plays games like Solitaire, you might be okay without paying for the extended support. But if you store important files or have sensitive data on your computer, I’d recommend paying the $30 for the extra year of security. Keep in mind, if you have multiple computers, the cost can add up. It’s your choice whether the Windows 10 extended support is worth the $30 annual investment. Of course you can bite the bullet and replace your computer with one thats newer.