If you have a PC running Windows 10, your machine will stop receiving security updates on Tuesday, Oct. 14. The decade-old operating system is still used by nearly 41% of PC owners and up to 400 million computers. But after Tuesday, devices without Windows 11 support will officially be outdated.
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.
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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 until it ends on Oct. 13, 2026. The ESU program is only a temporary solution designed to give users more time to upgrade, although businesses can 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 yet be available for all eligible users.
It appears that Microsoft is still 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 for free?
There are two ways to enroll in the Windows Extended Security Updates program for 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 surplus of Microsoft Rewards points, you’ll need to save your PC’s data with Windows Backup to get the free security updates for Windows 10. This feature is normally intended to help you save your files as you transfer them from one PC to another.
In the ESU enrollment wizard, you’ll see three choices. To sign up for free, select the first option, Back up your PC settings, and click Next to start 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.
