Microsoft has extended the free Windows 10 Extended Security Update program for consumers for an additional year. Devices enrolled in the program will continue to receive security updates until October 12, 2027.
This change was made without any formal announcement; It appeared in an update to Microsoft’s Windows 10 ESU documentation and as an editor’s note on a Windows Experience blog post published a day earlier.
Originally, the consumer ESU program was scheduled to end on October 12, 2026. Already enrolled users will be automatically covered until the new end date in October 2027.
What Microsoft said about the extension and how to enroll for free
The Editor’s Note on the Windows Experience Blog states that the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for personal devices is being extended for another year, now available until October 12, 2027.
This extension gives users more time to transition to new Windows 11 PCs while receiving necessary security updates.
When asked why the extension was implemented, Microsoft told BleepingComputer that they understand the transition to new PCs can take time.
As part of their ongoing effort to support customers during the transition, the Windows 10 ESU program for personal devices will now be available for an additional year, giving users more flexibility in finding a suitable PC while staying safe.
Consumers can continue to receive free Extended Security Updates in several ways: paying $30, backing up Windows settings to a Microsoft account, or redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
For users in the European Economic Area, signing in to Windows 10 with a Microsoft account also grants access. ESU licenses can be used on up to 10 devices linked to the same Microsoft account. Users in the EEA have the simplest option, requiring no payments, backups or rewards redemptions.
What the restrictions and extra year mean for Windows 10 users
The consumer ESU program has a number of restrictions:
It is only available for personal devices and cannot be used with Active Directory domain joined systems or Microsoft Entra joined devices.
Additionally, devices managed through Mobile Device Management are not eligible. However, Microsoft Entra-registered devices can participate instead.
Enterprise customers have access to a separate paid ESU program that provides up to three years of security updates at a total cost of $427 per device.
For users who have not yet upgraded to Windows 11, the extension offers an additional year of support. This is especially important given the rising cost of new PCs in 2026, driven by the memory pricing crisis, making hardware upgrades more expensive than in previous years.
Users who have not enrolled in the Consumer ESU program should do so now to maintain continued coverage. Enrollment options have not changed. Those who are already enrolled will automatically receive an extension.
For users running Windows 10 on systems that don’t meet the hardware requirements for Windows 11, this extension can be quite important.
Approximately 400 million active PCs cannot officially upgrade to Windows 11 due to TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, or supported processor requirements.
The free ESU extension gives these users until October 2027 to either purchase new hardware or switch to an alternative operating system like Linux.
The transition to Windows 10 has been one of Microsoft’s most complex in recent years. The operating system reached its end of support on October 14, 2025, after which Microsoft stopped providing technical support, feature updates, and standard security updates outside of the LTSC and ESU channels.
Microsoft continues to promote upgrading to Windows 11 or the new Copilot+ PCs, although adoption has been slower than expected.
The extension acknowledges that the upgrade process is taking longer than initially planned, especially for users whose hardware remains functional but does not meet Windows 11 requirements. The free ESU extension is now available.
Users with Windows 10 devices should ensure that they are enrolled through the most appropriate path to continue receiving security updates until October 12, 2027.
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