Microsoft has announced pricing for Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021, which reaches end of support on January 12, 2027. Organizations wanting to continue receiving security patches beyond that date will pay $61 per device for the first year, with costs doubling each subsequent year until the three-year ESU program concludes on January 8, 2030. ESU licenses become available for purchase on September 1, 2026, and are cumulative, meaning organizations joining in Year 2 must also pay for Year 1.
While free support for most Windows 10 editions ended in 2025, Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 has continued receiving updates. The ESU program offers a lifeline for organizations unable or unwilling to migrate to Windows 11, though it does not apply to Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC, which remains supported until January 13, 2032. Organizations using Microsoft cloud-based update services such as Intune or Autopatch qualify for a 25 percent discount, reducing Year 1 costs to $45 per device. All other organizations must pay full price through Volume Licensing or a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider.
Windows 10 continues to maintain significant market presence despite Microsoft's migration efforts. According to Statcounter data, the operating system still accounts for nearly 30 percent of the market. Asset tracking service Lansweeper reported in July that 16.9 percent of monitored devices run Windows 10, with migration rates slowing considerably as organizations that could transition to Windows 11 have already done so.
Several factors contribute to organizations remaining on Windows 10. Specialist applications and hardware configurations, particularly in healthcare environments, may not function properly with Windows 11. Additionally, Windows 11's strict hardware requirements, including specific processor and TPM compatibility rules, exclude many devices otherwise capable of running the operating system. Microsoft's recent optimization efforts for systems with 8 GB of RAM do not address these fundamental compatibility barriers.
Organizations running Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 should begin planning their migration strategy or budgeting for ESU costs before support ends in January 2027. The cumulative pricing structure and annual doubling of costs make early planning essential for organizations that cannot immediately transition to Windows 11. IT administrators should evaluate whether their hardware meets Windows 11 requirements or if ESU purchases represent a more cost-effective short-term solution while planning longer-term infrastructure upgrades.
Source: https://www.theregister.com/os-platforms/2026/08/06/windows-10-ltsc-2021-has-five-months-before-security-updates-cost-extra/5283904