It's been mentioned almost too often: Windows 10 security update support will end in mid-October 2025, unless you use the ESU program, which provides security updates for another one to three years for a fee ("Swiss IT Magazine" reported).
Microsoft's own Edge browser, on the other hand, will be supported on Windows 10 for significantly longer. This is stated in an updated support announcement: "Microsoft Edge and the Microsoft Webview2 Runtime will continue to receive updates until at least October 2028. This coincides with the end of the ESU program." However, in order to continue receiving security updates for Edge, you don't need to subscribe to the ESU program – Edge updates are delivered automatically and are free of charge. Microsoft likely wants to ensure that Windows 10 users continue to use its own browser even after the official end of support for the operating system, which is in line with Edge's market share: Almost half of Windows PCs worldwide still run on Windows 10.
The decision to extend Edge support also makes sense from a technical perspective, as Edge is the foundation for Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and Copilot apps based on Webview2. Furthermore, applications are increasingly web-based, making browser security at least as important as the security of the operating system itself, especially since browsers are arguably the most important target for cyberattacks – even phishing campaigns rely on clicking a link in an email message that points to a website.
