Microsoft reopens Home windows 10 beta testing for ‘new options’ and enhancements

Microsoft is ending assist for Home windows 10 in October 2025, however the firm is now taking the bizarre step of reopening its beta program for Home windows 10 to check new options and enhancements.

Home windows 10 already bought the AI Copilot function that was initially unique to Home windows 11, and it could nicely get different options quickly. “To convey new options and extra enhancements to Home windows 10 as wanted, we’d like a spot to do energetic function growth with Home windows Insiders,” explains Microsoft’s Home windows Insider crew in a weblog submit. “So as we speak, we’re opening the Beta Channel for Home windows Insiders who’re at the moment on Home windows 10.”

Microsoft hasn’t revealed what further Home windows 10 options it plans to check subsequent, however Home windows Insiders can choose into the beta channel to get them early. Crucially, the Home windows 10 finish of assist date of October 14th, 2025 remains to be unchanged. “Becoming a member of the Beta Channel in your Home windows 10 PC doesn’t change that,” says Microsoft.

Microsoft initially stated it was achieved with main Home windows 10 updates final yr, earlier than its change in strategy to convey extra options to an OS that might be formally unsupported in round 16 months time. The software program large describes this modification as a approach “to verify everybody can get the utmost worth from their present Home windows PC.”

Customers utilizing Home windows 10 may even be provided paid safety updates for the primary time ever as soon as the OS hits finish of assist in October 2025. Microsoft lately revealed companies might want to pay $61 per system for a yr of safety updates. That charge doubles to $122 for the second yr after which doubles once more in yr three to $244. Pricing for shopper safety updates hasn’t been revealed but, with Microsoft promising it “might be shared at a later date.”

Microsoft continues to try to get customers to improve to Home windows 11, however thousands and thousands of PCs can’t improve formally to Home windows 11 resulting from its strict {hardware} necessities and Microsoft’s safety push with its newest OS. Home windows 11 is simply supported on CPUs launched from 2018 onward and with gadgets that assist TPM safety chips.

Home windows 11 utilization has lagged behind Home windows 10, with StatCounter itemizing Home windows 11 at almost 28 p.c of all Home windows model market share for Could 2024. Home windows 10 remains to be at 68 p.c, 9 years after its launch in 2015.