Windows 10 users who are hesitant to upgrade to Windows 11 now have an option to receive continued support. Micropatch provider 0Patch has announced that it will extend its support for Windows 10 beyond the end-of-life date in October 2025, offering critical security updates and bug fixes, as reported by Tom’s Hardware.
Unlike the general consensus that Windows 10 will eventually become obsolete, 0Patch’s commitment provides various types of patches for Windows 10, including “0day” patches for critical vulnerabilities, “Wontfix” patches to address neglected apps and features, and “Non-Microsoft” patches to fix exploits in third-party Windows apps. These Extended Security Update (ESU) updates will be available until 2030, a much longer timeframe than Microsoft’s three-year extended support.
However, 0Patch’s updates are not free and are offered through two-year plans. The personal plan is priced at €25.95 (approximately $27), providing more updates than those from Microsoft.
0Patch has previously extended support for operating systems, including offering security patches for Windows 7 after Microsoft discontinued support in 2020. The cost of Microsoft’s ESU system remains unknown, with Education tier users paying $7 for three years and Enterprise organizations paying $427 for the same period.
While these security updates may prolong the life of Windows 10, many users may still opt to upgrade, contributing to the expected sales of Windows 11 computers. The U.S. PC market saw a 5% growth in the first quarter of 2024 and is projected to grow by 8% in 2025.
In addition to the end of support for Windows 10, users may also consider upgrading to access PCs with AI support, such as Copilot+ PCs.
