One year after Windows 10 support ended, the OS remains in use on 16.9% of devices tracked by Lansweeper and 23.56% of Steam user machines. While basic functionality persists, critical system layers like firmware, boot chains, and driver branches have faced significant degradation.
Microsoft extended the consumer Extended Security Update (ESU) program for Windows 10 version 22H2 until October 12, 2027. Commercial ESU pricing starts at $61 per machine for the first year, doubling annually until the final deadline on October 10, 2028.
A major issue emerged with Secure Boot certificates expiring in 2024. New certificates issued in June 2024 are only available to ESU-enrolled devices. Systems without these updates cannot receive future boot-level protections, leaving them vulnerable to exploits like BlackLotus.
Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 stopped receiving new features in August 2026 with version 2608. Security updates for these apps will continue until October 10, 2028, provided the subscription is active. OneDrive sync client support ended on August 15, 2026, for versions 21H2 and older.
NVIDIA will provide quarterly security updates for Windows 10 drivers until October 2029, but full Game Ready and Studio driver optimizations ceased in October 2026. Meanwhile, browsers like Edge, Chrome, and Firefox continue to support Windows 10, with Edge and Chrome updates scheduled through October 2028.
