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Windows 10 Extended Security Updates: Now Through October 2027

Windows 10 Extended Security Updates now run to Oct 12, 2027. Who qualifies, what ESU costs ($0, 1,000 points or $30) and how to enroll, step by step.

By Angela Updated 6 min read
Windows 10 Extended Security Updates: Now Through October 2027
Table of contents

The short answer (last checked 26 October 2026)

Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) for home users did not stop in October 2026. Microsoft’s consumer ESU program now runs until 12 October 2027, and you can enroll at any time before then. Enrollment is free if you sync your PC settings to a Microsoft account. The other options are 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points or a one-time $30 USD payment (or the local-currency equivalent). In the European Economic Area (EEA), the terms differ slightly; see below. ESU gives you security fixes only: no new features and no technical support.

Source: Microsoft: Windows 10 Consumer ESU

If you read last year that Windows 10’s free updates would end in October 2026, that was true at the time. Microsoft has since added another year, but many guides still show the old date. This guide covers what changed, whether your PC qualifies, what enrollment costs, and how to choose between ESU and upgrading.

What changed: the October 2026 vs October 2027 confusion

  • 14 October 2025: Windows 10 reached end of support. Since then, PCs only get security updates if they’re enrolled in ESU (Microsoft Learn).
  • Original plan: In June 2025, Microsoft said home PCs enrolled in ESU would get security updates “for one year after support ends in October”, which meant until October 2026 (Windows Experience Blog, 24 June 2025).
  • 25 June 2026: Microsoft added an editor’s note to that same Windows Experience Blog post. The note says the personal-use ESU program is “being provided for an additional year, with coverage now available through Oct. 12, 2027.” There was no separate announcement, and Microsoft’s ESU page was updated to the new date.
  • Today: Microsoft’s ESU page says: “If you’re already enrolled, your coverage will automatically continue through that date—no action needed.”

Already enrolled? You don’t need to do anything.

Timeline: Windows 10 end of support on Oct 14, 2025; consumer ESU originally planned to October 2026; extended on Jun 25, 2026; consumer ESU ends Oct 12, 2027
Source: Microsoft (Windows Experience Blog and ESU page), checked 26 October 2026.

What Windows 10 Extended Security Updates include (and don’t)

ESU delivers critical and important security updates for Windows 10, version 22H2. According to Microsoft Learn, it does not include:

  • New features
  • Non-security fixes requested by customers
  • Design changes
  • General technical support

Your PC keeps working without ESU. It just stops getting fixes for newly discovered Windows 10 security flaws.

Is your PC eligible?

Microsoft’s consumer ESU page lists these requirements:

Requirement What it means for you
Windows 10, version 22H2 Home, Pro, Pro Education or Workstations edition
Latest Windows update installed Run Windows Update first
KB5126256 (ESU Licensing Preparation Package) installed Delivered through Windows Update
Sign in with a Microsoft account that is an administrator Enrollment needs a Microsoft account sign-in
Not a child account Child accounts can’t enroll

The consumer program excludes these devices:

  • Kiosk devices
  • Devices joined to Active Directory or Microsoft Entra ID (Entra-registered devices are allowed)
  • Devices enrolled in mobile device management (MDM)
  • Devices that already have an ESU license

How to check your Windows 10 version

Press Windows + R, type winver, and press Enter. The window shows your version (for example, “Version 22H2”).

How much does Windows 10 ESU cost?

Option Cost Good for
Sync your PC settings to your Microsoft account Free Most people
Redeem Microsoft Rewards points 1,000 points People who already have points
One-time purchase $30 USD or the local-currency equivalent, plus applicable tax People who’d rather not sync settings

Source: Microsoft, checked 26 October 2026.

One ESU license covers up to 10 devices, according to Microsoft.

In the UK

Microsoft’s UK page lists the same three options. It gives the price as “$30 USD or local currency equivalent plus applicable tax”, not as a pound figure. You’ll see your exact price in pounds at checkout.

In the European Economic Area (EEA)

Terms differ in the EEA. According to Microsoft’s EEA page for Ireland:

  • Free option: ESU is free “as long as you continue signing in to Windows with your Microsoft account used to enrol.”
  • If you stop signing in with that account, “ESU updates will be discontinued for your device after a period of time, up to 60 days,” and you “will need to re-enroll to resume updates.”
  • Paid option: a one-time purchase of $30 USD or the local-currency equivalent, plus tax. You sign in to buy it, and afterwards you can keep using a local account.

That page lists these two options. It doesn’t list the Microsoft Rewards option. If you’re elsewhere in the EEA, check Microsoft’s page for your country.

Three ways to get Windows 10 ESU: sync PC settings for free, redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or pay $30 USD one time
EEA terms differ. Source: Microsoft, checked 26 October 2026.

How to enroll in Windows 10 ESU, step by step

These steps follow Microsoft’s published instructions.

  1. Update first. Open Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update and install everything available, including KB5126256.
  2. Look for the enrollment link. If your PC is eligible, the Windows Update page shows a link to enroll in Extended Security Updates.
  3. Select “Enroll now”.
  4. Sign in with your Microsoft account. It must be an administrator account.
  5. Choose an option. You can sync your settings (free), redeem 1,000 Rewards points, or pay $30 USD (or local equivalent). In the EEA, the options are as described above.
  6. Confirm. Windows Update keeps delivering security updates through 12 October 2027.

Windows 10 ESU “Enroll now” not showing? Check these first

Each item below matches a requirement on Microsoft’s eligibility list. This isn’t a complete troubleshooting guide.

Check Why it matters
Is the PC on 22H2? (winver) Older versions aren’t eligible
Is Windows Update fully up to date, including KB5126256? It’s a stated prerequisite
Are you signed in with a Microsoft account that has admin rights? A local account or standard user can’t enroll
Is it a child account? Child accounts aren’t eligible
Is it a work or school PC (domain-joined, Entra-joined or MDM-managed)? Your organization needs commercial ESU instead
Is the PC already enrolled? Enrolled devices don’t need to enroll again

If everything checks out and you still don’t see the link, see Microsoft’s ESU page and the Windows 10 end-of-support FAQ.

Windows 10 ESU for businesses and schools

The consumer program can’t be used in commercial settings. Organizations buy ESU separately. According to Microsoft Learn (page dated November 2025):

Detail
Year One price $61 USD per device, through Volume Licensing
Later years Price doubles each year, for up to three years
Purchase rules Sold by the year only. ESU is cumulative, so buying in Year Two means paying for Year One too
Year One start November 2025
Included at no extra cost Windows 10 virtual machines in Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, Azure VMs and several other Azure services

The 2027 extension covers the consumer program. Business ESU keeps its own paid schedule, shown above.

ESU, upgrade, or replace: which is right for you?

Your situation Sensible next step
Your PC meets the Windows 11 requirements Upgrade to Windows 11. It’s Microsoft’s recommended long-term option
Your PC doesn’t meet them Enroll in ESU (free with settings sync) to stay protected until 12 October 2027 while you plan a replacement
It’s a work PC managed by your employer Ask IT. The consumer program doesn’t apply
The PC is old and slow anyway Use ESU as a bridge and budget for a new PC before October 2027

Microsoft lists the hardware requirements on its Windows 11 specifications page. We don’t cover workarounds for installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, because Microsoft doesn’t support them.

Staying safer on Windows 10 in the meantime

  • Keep your browser updated. Browsers update separately from Windows. Check your browser maker’s support policy for Windows 10. If you use an AI browser, see Are AI browsers safe? as well.
  • Keep Microsoft Defender’s virus definitions current, or your other antivirus.
  • Back up your files before any major change.
  • A VPN won’t fix Windows security holes. It protects your connection on public Wi-Fi, but it doesn’t patch the operating system. See our NordVPN vs Surfshark comparison if you need one for other reasons.
  • Unpatched software is a common way in for attackers. Our PHP2Shell guide shows what that looks like on a website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Windows 10 ESU end in October 2026?

No. Microsoft extended the consumer program on 25 June 2026, and it now runs until 12 October 2027.

Is Windows 10 ESU free?

It can be. It’s free if you sync your PC settings to a Microsoft account (in the EEA, if you keep signing in with the Microsoft account you enrolled with). Otherwise you can redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points or make a one-time $30 USD payment (or the local equivalent). The Rewards option isn’t listed on Microsoft’s EEA page for Ireland.

I enrolled last year. Do I need to do anything?

No. Microsoft says coverage for enrolled devices “will automatically continue through that date—no action needed.”

Can I enroll without a Microsoft account?

No. You need to sign in with a Microsoft account to enroll. In the EEA, if you choose the one-time purchase, you can go back to a local account afterwards.

How much does ESU cost in the UK?

Microsoft lists $30 USD or the local-currency equivalent, plus tax. It doesn’t publish a fixed pound price; you’ll see it at checkout.

Will my PC stop working when ESU ends?

No. It keeps working, but it stops receiving security fixes.

Sources

Angela Editor

Angela is the editor of BytePicks. She builds websites with AI tools, hosting and SaaS products every day, and tests each tool on real projects before recommending it.