As Microsoft gears up to end support for Windows 10, a third-party service is stepping in to provide an additional five years of updates for the popular operating system. The offer comes from Slovenia-based 0patch, known for patching out-of-date Windows operating systems, including Windows 7, and now plans to supply critical security patches for Windows 10 post-2025.
The service, in a blog post, stated, “With 0patch, you will be receiving security ‘micropatches’ for critical, likely-to-be-exploited vulnerabilities that get discovered after October 14, 2025.”
The catch is that users will need to trust 0patch, an unofficial Microsoft service, to maintain their Windows 10 installation securely, with extended support costing €24.95 per year. While Microsoft also offers extended security updates, the cost for business customers starts at per device per year, doubling each consecutive year for up to three years. Consumer pricing has yet to be announced, but it is expected to be higher than per year to encourage upgrading to Windows 11.
Appealing to Incompatible PCs
For those with PCs incompatible with Windows 11, estimated at 240 million, the 0patch service may be an attractive option. In a blog post, 0patch criticized Microsoft’s Windows 11 changes, citing concerns such as bloatware, Start Menu ads, and privacy issues, including the controversial Recall AI feature.
0patch promises to maintain Windows 10 by providing critical security fixes in small, efficient patches that can be applied to running processes in memory without the need for a system reboot. The service plans to focus on important security vulnerabilities exploited in the wild or those lacking official vendor patches.
If there is high demand for 0patch’s Windows 10 support, the service intends to extend its support beyond the initial five-year period.