If you haven’t heard by now, Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 this October. You have a few options if this catches you off guard, including a free year of extended support if you sync your Windows settings via Windows Backup or outright paying $30 for the ESU plan.
But what happens if you don’t extend security updates for Windows 10? Or what about later down the road when that extra year of extended security updates comes to an end? If you keep using Windows 10 after end of support, you’ll be vulnerable to hacks, malware, and other security risks—doubly so if you’re also using an unsupported browser.
The good news is that Microsoft has quietly committed to supporting its Edge browser and the Microsoft WebView2 Runtime until 2028, according to an update in the Microsoft Edge Lifecycle Policy (spotted by Windows Latest).
This means that PCs running Windows 10 22H2 will continue to get Edge updates and that Edge will continue to support progressive web apps (PWA), even after Windows 10 support lapses. “The ESU program won’t be required for devices to continue receiving Microsoft Edge or WebView2 Runtime updates,” Microsoft writes.
So, if you plan to continue using Windows 10 after end of support hits, you’ll likely be safest using Edge as your browser. It’s still unclear whether Chrome and other browsers will extend support on Windows 10.
