Windows 11 reaches 71.5% share as Windows 10 security costs double
Windows 11's market share has risen to 71.5% as the first year of Extended Security Updates for Windows 10 comes to an end, according to Statcounter data. Microsoft is doubling the cost of these security updates from $61 to $122 per device for commercial users in the second year, making it increasingly expensive to remain on the ageing operating system. This pricing shift is expected to push more enterprises towards upgrading to Windows 11, though many may find the economics of holding onto older hardware still favour staying put.
Windows 10's standard support ended on 14 October 2025, but Microsoft introduced the Extended Security Updates programme to allow commercial customers to pay for continued security patches. The price structure doubles annually for up to three years: year one at $61 per device, year two at $122, and year three potentially at $244. However, not all users are affected equally—consumers can receive free updates through Microsoft Rewards or Windows Backup, EEA residents get free security updates regardless, and Windows 365 subscribers are exempt. According to Lansweeper data, many enterprises have already migrated away from Windows 10, but the remaining devices are "sticky," with organisations likely to continue paying ESU fees where replacing hardware would prove more expensive.
- Windows 11 market share rises to 71.5% as ESU costs double
- Extended Security Updates for Windows 10 rising from $61 to $122 in year two
- Many enterprises likely to stick with Windows 10 despite price increase
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Windows 10 is a popular operating system made by Microsoft, used by businesses and individuals worldwide. On 14 October 2025, Microsoft ended its free support for Windows 10, meaning the company stopped providing free security updates and patches. The newer version, Windows 11, is now available as an alternative, though upgrading requires organisations and individuals to replace existing hardware or pay for new software licences.
To help businesses that cannot immediately switch to Windows 11, Microsoft introduced an Extended Security Updates programme. This allows organisations to pay for continued security patches for Windows 10 beyond the standard support period. The cost structure is designed to be increasingly expensive: $61 per device in year one, $122 in year two, and potentially $244 in year three, encouraging migration to Windows 11 as older hardware becomes costlier to maintain.
Not all users face the same costs. Consumers can often access free security updates through alternative Microsoft programmes, residents in the European Economic Area receive free updates as standard, and Windows 365 subscribers are exempt from these charges. For many businesses, the decision to migrate to Windows 11 or continue paying for extended updates comes down to economics: sometimes purchasing new hardware is cheaper than paying ESU fees, but other organisations find it more cost-effective to continue using older machines whilst paying for security patches.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Microsoft's pricing strategy reasonably incentivises enterprises to modernise their infrastructure, which delivers genuine security and compatibility benefits. The company provides transparent alternatives for different user groups—free updates for consumers and EEA residents—and has set a limited three-year window, giving organisations time to plan. Rather than indefinitely subsidising legacy systems, recovering costs from those who choose to extend support creates appropriate incentives for upgrading to current technology.
The case against
The escalating cost structure places unreasonable pressure on enterprises with genuine hardware and budget constraints who cannot simply replace thousands of devices simultaneously. Many organisations face a false choice between expensive ESU fees and expensive hardware replacement; the 'stickiness' of legacy systems means they will pay regardless, suggesting this is profit extraction rather than genuine incentivisation. The uneven treatment of users—free for EEA residents and some consumers but paid for enterprises—indicates the strategy prioritises revenue rather than promoting modernisation.
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Originally published by The Register as “Windows 11 market share creeps upwards as cost of staying on Windows 10 set to double”.