Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. The PCs still boot, Outlook still opens, and the receptionist’s computer still prints. That is exactly why so many San Antonio and Hill Country offices still have a few Windows 10 machines on desks a year later.
This guide is for owners and office managers who want a straight answer: for each Windows 10 PC you still run, should you upgrade it, pay for Extended Security Updates (ESU), or replace it? It is a decision guide, not a sales pitch, and every date and price below comes from Microsoft’s own pages.
Where Windows 10 stands today
Since October 14, 2025, Microsoft no longer provides technical support, feature updates, or quality updates (including security fixes) for Windows 10 devices that are not enrolled in ESU (Microsoft: Windows 10 end of support; Microsoft Learn lifecycle page).
A few things that often get confused:
- The PC keeps working. End of support does not switch anything off. It means new vulnerabilities in Windows 10 stop getting fixed unless the device is covered by ESU.
- Antivirus alone does not close the gap. Microsoft says it plainly: antivirus “can help, it’s not enough on its own. Without regular security updates from Microsoft, the operating system remains exposed to new threats.”
- Microsoft 365 apps are on a separate clock. Microsoft says it will keep providing security updates for Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 through October 10, 2028. That protects the apps, not the operating system underneath them.
What ESU covers (and doesn’t)
According to Microsoft Learn’s ESU page, ESU delivers critical and important security updates only. It does not include:
- New features
- Non-security fixes you request
- Design changes
- General technical support
Devices must be running Windows 10, version 22H2 to be eligible. If a PC is on an older release, it has to be brought up to 22H2 first.
There are also two different programs, and it matters which one applies to you:
- Commercial ESU is for organizations and is bought through Microsoft Volume Licensing.
- Consumer ESU is for personal devices. Microsoft lists it as running through October 12, 2027, and it is not meant for organization-managed business PCs.
If your business PCs are joined to a company domain or managed through Microsoft 365, plan on the commercial program.
What ESU costs a business
Microsoft’s published commercial terms (Microsoft Learn):
- $61 USD per device for Year One, through Volume Licensing.
- The price doubles every consecutive year, for a maximum of three years.
- It is bought by the year. You cannot buy six months.
- It is cumulative. If you join in Year Two, you pay for Year One too.
- The minimum purchase is one license.
Microsoft’s Learn page states that “Year One starts in November 2025.” Microsoft’s pages we checked do not publish a specific end date or renewal deadline for the first paid business year, so this guide does not give one. Before you budget, confirm your coverage dates with your licensing partner or in your Volume Licensing agreement.
There is one big exception. Microsoft lists ESU at no additional cost for Windows 10 virtual machines running in Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, and several other Azure services. Windows 10 PCs that connect to Windows 365 Cloud PCs are also entitled to ESU for up to three years with an active Windows 365 license. For some offices, that changes the math.
Because the price doubles each year, ESU works best as a short bridge for specific machines. It is not a long-term plan.
Upgrade, ESU, or replace: sorting your PCs
Go through your Windows 10 machines one at a time and put each in one of three groups.
1. Upgrade in place. The PC meets Windows 11 hardware requirements, it has years of useful life left, and its business software runs on Windows 11. These should move first. Microsoft offers the upgrade at no cost to eligible PCs.
2. Bridge with ESU. The PC runs something that can’t move yet, like a line-of-business app waiting on a vendor update, an instrument controller, or a machine scheduled for replacement next quarter. ESU buys time, so write down the date the machine is supposed to leave the network.
3. Replace. The hardware can’t run Windows 11, or it is old enough that paying for ESU and then upgrading makes no sense. Retire it, wipe it properly, and get its data off.
A fourth question cuts across all three groups: does this PC need to be a local PC at all? If staff mostly use Microsoft 365 and a browser app, a cloud PC may be worth pricing next to new hardware.
Things to record for each device:
- Device name, user, and location
- Windows version and build (is it 22H2?)
- Windows 11 eligibility
- Business software that must keep working
- The group you picked and a target date
A staged plan before the next renewal
Don’t let the next licensing year make the decision for you. A practical sequence:
- Inventory every Windows 10 device, including the one in the shop, the one at the ranch office, and the one hooked to the label printer.
- Confirm backups for each machine before anything changes. If you are not sure they are running, see our off-site backup and disaster recovery service.
- Upgrade the easy group first. Most offices can move these in batches after hours.
- License ESU only for the bridge group, and set an exit date for each machine.
- Order replacements with lead time so you are not stuck buying in a rush.
- Check endpoint protection and patching on every machine, including the new ones. ESU fixes Windows; it does not manage your antivirus or EDR.
- Revisit before the next ESU year. Every machine still on Windows 10 at that point costs twice as much to keep covered.
If older PCs feel slow, a quick tune-up may help while you plan (see five ways to speed up your PC). It won’t fix the support problem, though.
How AEH helps
AEH Solutions works with businesses across San Antonio and the Hill Country. For a Windows 10 transition, that typically means:
- A free IT assessment that reviews endpoint and patch status and produces a written summary of what we found
- Sorting your devices into upgrade, ESU, and replace groups
- Scheduled upgrades and replacements, with backups confirmed first
- Ongoing patching and endpoint protection through our cybersecurity services
If you’d rather hand the whole thing off, see how our managed IT services cover device lifecycle and patching.
FAQ
Will my Windows 10 PCs stop working?
No. They keep running, but without ESU they no longer get Windows security fixes.
How much is ESU for a business?
Microsoft lists $61 USD per device for Year One through Volume Licensing. The price doubles each year, for up to three years, and the program is cumulative.
Can my business use the $30 consumer ESU?
Microsoft describes consumer ESU as being for personal devices. Organization-managed PCs fall under the commercial program.
Does ESU include support if something breaks?
No. ESU is critical and important security updates only. It does not include general technical support or new features.
Is antivirus enough without ESU?
Microsoft says no. Antivirus helps, but an operating system that no longer gets security updates stays exposed.
Get a Windows 10 device inventory
Want to know how many Windows 10 PCs you really have and which group each belongs in? Book a free IT assessment or call (210) 721-5080.
AEH Solutions · 4333 State Highway 16 S, STE 100, Bandera, TX 78003 · (210) 721-5080