Support for Windows 10 is scheduled to end on Oct. 14. Although the older operating system is 10 years old, it’s still used by up to 400 million computers and nearly 41% of PC owners. If you’re among them, you’ll have to either upgrade your device or continue using outdated software if your device doesn’t support Windows 11.
To give its users more time to upgrade their software and hardware to Windows 11, Microsoft has promised to continue supporting Windows 10 with one more year of security updates. Anyone with Windows 10 can enroll in the Extended Security Updates program and continue receiving updates through Oct. 13, 2026.
Microsoft says the ESU program is “not intended as a long-term solution, but rather as a temporary bridge to stay secure while one migrates to a newer, supported platform.”
Windows security vulnerabilities are serious business, so the ESU program is necessary for any users who can’t or don’t want to upgrade to Windows 11. The cost to enroll in Microsoft’s ESU program is $30, but Europeans can enroll free.
Luckily for the rest of the world, there are two more free enrollment options: You can either use Windows Backup and sync your settings to your OneDrive account or redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source on Chrome.
How do I enroll in Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates for Windows 10?
You’ll need to make sure you’re running the latest version of Windows 10, version 22H2. You can check your Windows version in Settings. Then, click Windows Update and select View Update History. You’ll also need to have administrative privileges on your PC.
Once you’re sure you’re up to date, visit Settings and Windows Update again and look for the links in the top right corner of the interface. It should read, “Windows 10 support ends in October 2025” and “Enroll in Extended Security Updates to help keep your device secure.”
Below that messaging is a link to enroll, which will pop-up the Extended Security Updates enrollment wizard. You’ll need to decide whether you want to sync your settings with OneDrive, pay $30 or use 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points for the ESU program.
You can enroll in the ESU program at any time from now until before the program ends on Oct. 13, 2026. The ESU program is only a temporary solution designed to give users more time to upgrade, although businesses are able to purchase up to three additional years of updates.
Microsoft provides detailed instructions on how to enable Extended Security Updates for Windows 10, but the option to enroll in the program may not be available yet for all eligible users.
It appears that Microsoft is still in the process of rolling out the enrollment wizard to all locations and devices. We were unable to get the “Enroll now” link or messaging on our CNET test computer running Windows 10, even though we had installed the necessary update (the August 2025 patch KB5063709).
We reached out to Microsoft for clarification on the timeline for the ESU program. A spokesperson said, “We’re working to restore the availability of the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates program in a subset of markets.”
How do I get Windows 10 security updates free?
There are two ways to enroll in the Windows Extended Security Updates program free. You can sync your Windows settings with a OneDrive account connected to your PC or redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
Unless you have a surfeit of Microsoft Rewards points sitting around, you’ll need to save your PC’s data with Windows Backup to get the free security updates for Windows 10. Normally this feature is intended to help you save your files as you transfer them from one PC to another.
In the ESU enrollment wizard, you’ll see the three choices. To sign up free, select the first option, Back up your PC settings, and click Next to start the process of syncing your settings with OneDrive using your Microsoft account.
There is one possible drawback to syncing with OneDrive to get free security updates — you may not have enough storage space. Microsoft only provides 5GB of free storage. If you have a lot of settings data to back up, you might end up paying more.
Windows 10 has had an impressive 10-year run, but the operating system isn’t likely to receive updates beyond 2026. Still, for many users not yet ready to dive into Windows 11, Microsoft’s free ESU program is a welcome stopgap.
Read the full article here