If you're still on Windows 10, you've been given more time. It costs money, though, the price climbs each year, and all it buys is security patches. I'd use the extra year to move, not to stay put.
Some background. Windows 10 officially ran out of support on 14 October 2025. Since then, machines still running it have depended on Microsoft's paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme, a bridge that was due to end in October 2026. Now, in late June, Microsoft has extended that bridge into 2027, and announced it so softly you'd be forgiven for missing it.
What actually changed
ESU pricing is tiered by year, and each year roughly doubles in cost. 2026 was already "year one" for most businesses, and the new extension adds another paid year on top. Meanwhile Windows 10 machines are locked out of the tools Microsoft is actually investing in. Copilot and the wider AI feature set are Windows 11-only, and more Microsoft products hit their own end-of-support dates through 2026.
What it means for an Irish small business
You've three realistic options, and I'd rank them like this:
- Pay for ESU again. Only worth it if you have a specific reason to wait, like specialist software that isn't Windows 11-ready, or hardware being replaced next year anyway. Otherwise you're paying rising fees to stand still.
- Upgrade to Windows 11. Free if your hardware qualifies (TPM 2.0, 8th-gen Intel / Ryzen 2000 or newer, roughly 2018+). Many "old" machines qualify and just need an hour of work.
- Replace the machine. If it's pre-2018, an upgrade usually isn't possible. A properly specced replacement with an SSD pays for itself in saved staff time anyway. Think about insurance and GDPR too. Running an unpatched OS with customer data on it is a hard position to defend after a breach.
Check where you stand in 60 seconds
Tick what's true for your business:
What to do now
The 2027 extension is welcome breathing room, but it's the last cheap year you'll get. Use it to plan the move on your schedule instead of Microsoft's. An audit takes an hour: which machines qualify for the free upgrade, which need replacing, and what it all costs. Then there are no surprises in October.
