Microsoft has announced that it will be ending support for Windows 10 in October 2025. However, in a surprising move, the company is reopening its beta program for Windows 10 to test new features and improvements. This decision comes as a way to bring new enhancements to Windows 10 before its official end of support date.
The Windows Insider team at Microsoft has stated that in order to introduce new features and improvements to Windows 10, they need a platform for active feature development. As a result, they have reopened the Beta Channel for Windows Insiders who are currently using Windows 10. This will allow users to opt into the beta channel and receive new features early for testing.
While Microsoft has not disclosed the specific features that will be tested next in Windows 10, Windows Insiders in the beta channel will have the opportunity to try them out before anyone else. It is important to note that the end of support date for Windows 10 remains unchanged at October 14th, 2025. Joining the Beta Channel will not affect this date according to Microsoft.
One major announcement is that consumers using Windows 10 will have the option to purchase paid security updates for the first time once the OS reaches its end of support in October 2025. Microsoft unveiled that businesses will need to pay $61 per device for a year of security updates, with the price increasing in subsequent years. Pricing for consumer security updates will be disclosed at a later date.
Although Microsoft is encouraging users to upgrade to Windows 11, many PCs are unable to do so due to the strict hardware requirements and security features of the new operating system. Windows 11 is only compatible with CPUs released from 2018 onwards and devices with TPM security chips. As a result, many users are still using Windows 10, which holds a market share of 68 percent compared to Windows 11, which is at nearly 28 percent as of May 2024.
The decision to reopen the beta program for Windows 10 demonstrates Microsoft’s commitment to providing continuous improvements to its users. With the end of support approaching, users can expect new features and enhancements to be tested in the coming months. Additionally, the introduction of paid security updates for consumers marks a significant change in Microsoft’s approach to end-of-life support for Windows 10.
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