Is Windows 10 Still Supported? End-of-Life Dates (2026)
Short answer
Windows 10 is in paid extended support only: standard support ended on 14 Oct 2025, and paid extended support ends on 10 Oct 2028 (in 23 months). CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog lists 97 vulnerabilities that affect Windows 10, matched to its versions through NVD data.
Windows 10 version 22H2 reached end of support on 14 October 2025; devices now receive security updates only if they are enrolled in Extended Security Updates. Organisations pay for up to three years, to 10 October 2028; Microsoft's separate consumer programme, free with Windows Backup or Microsoft Rewards points or $30, runs to October 2027.
Legacy Technology Tracker · Status as of 16 Oct 2026. Data checked 7 Oct 2026; refreshed monthly, with quarterly snapshots kept unchanged.
Risk rating
Elevated: standard support ended 14 Oct 2025; paid extended support runs to 10 Oct 2028; 97 vulnerabilities on CISA's KEV list. How ratings work
Key facts
Every value links to its source and shows when we last checked or retrieved it. Data checked 7 Oct 2026; status as of 16 Oct 2026.
| Fact | Value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support status | Paid extended support onlyWindows 10 version 22H2 (Home, Pro, Enterprise, Education). LTSC/IoT editions excluded. | ||
| End of mainstream support | |||
| End of standard support (security updates) | |||
| End of paid extended support | |||
| Extended support offer | Microsoft Extended Security Updates (ESU) for organisations (vendor), until 10 Oct 2028Pricing basis: $61 per device for year one through volume licensing; the price doubles each consecutive year, for up to three years | ||
| Known exploited vulnerabilities (CISA KEV) | 97 CVEs all time; 40 added in the last 24 monthsNewest added 8 Sep 2026Scoped to these versions through NVD product (CPE) data. Scoped via NVD CPE (all Windows 10 builds); KEV itself lists 'Microsoft Windows' without versions. | ||
| Job postings and salaries | Not tracked for this entry | — | — |
Versions in scope
Windows 10 version 22H2 (Home, Pro, Enterprise, Education). LTSC/IoT editions excluded. Dates per version, each with its source.
| Version | Status | Standard support ends | Extended support ends | Latest release | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-22h2 | Paid extended support only | 10.0.19045 |
If you still run Windows 10
Windows 10 22H2 left standard support on 14 October 2025. The first ESU year ends on 13 October 2026, so organisations that bought ESU must renew for Year 2 to keep receiving updates. A customer cannot skip Year 1 and join in Year 2 without paying for it. The final ESU date is 10 October 2028.
The realistic options:
- Upgrade to Windows 11. This restores full support. Check hardware against Windows 11 requirements first; devices that fail them need replacing.
- Buy ESU for the devices that cannot move yet. Microsoft lists $61 per device for Year 1, doubling each year. Treat it as a bridge: the price rises each year, and it covers security updates only.
- Use a cloud desktop. Windows 10 virtual machines on Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop and several other Azure services get ESU at no extra charge.
- Keep devices unpatched and isolated. Only for devices with a retirement date, such as lab or single-purpose machines, with no access to sensitive systems.
Windows 10 LTSC and IoT editions have their own lifecycle pages, so check the exact edition before planning around the dates above.
For server-side dependencies that sit behind Windows 10 clients, see cost ranges for modernization work.
Frequently asked questions
Is Windows 10 still supported?
No. Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 version 22H2 on 14 October 2025 (lifecycle page). Devices enrolled in Extended Security Updates still receive Critical and Important security updates. Windows 10 LTSC editions follow separate lifecycles.
When does Windows 10 ESU end?
Year 1 ends on 13 October 2026, Year 2 on 12 October 2027 and Year 3 on 10 October 2028 (Microsoft ESU FAQ). ESU is sold by the year, and a customer who starts in Year 2 must also pay for Year 1.
How much does Windows 10 Extended Security Updates cost?
For organisations Microsoft lists $61 per device for Year 1 through volume licensing, doubling each consecutive year for a maximum of three years. ESU is free for Windows 10 virtual machines in services such as Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop (Microsoft).
What can replace Windows 10?
Windows 11 on hardware that meets its requirements, or a cloud-hosted desktop such as Windows 365. Devices that cannot run Windows 11 either need replacing or have to stay on paid ESU until they are retired.