Microsoft Windows 10: How to Extend Security Updates

With Windows 10 approaching the home stretch of its lifecycle, Microsoft is offering its users extended security updates for one year. 

Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) offer an extra year of protection by letting users either pay a small fee of $30 or sync their PC settings to the cloud.

The announcement arrives ahead of Microsoft’s pending 24 October, 2025 deadline, when it plans to officially terminate support and stop providing security updates for devices running Windows 10. The operating system originally launched in July 2015.

Most popular Windows platform

StatCounter data indicates, as of May 2025, that Windows 10’s market share is 53.19% worldwide – followed by Windows 11 at 43%.

Microsoft is presenting ESU as a last resort solution for its customers who still need to operate with legacy Microsoft software that has reached end-of-life (EoL) status. This measure serves as a temporary solution while users migrate to a new, supported platform.

How to extend Windows 10 security updates

The new enrollment options allow users to opt-in to the programme from their Windows 10 PC using an “enrollment wizard” accessed via the Settings app. Here, they can choose one of three approaches:

1. Pay US$30 (may vary by location) 
2. Use Windows Backup to synchronise their settings to the cloud (free of charge)
3. Redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points (with no further additional cost)

After selecting one of these options, users’ PCs will automatically enroll in the programme and benefit from ESU coverage for Windows 10 devices from 15 October, 2025 till 13 October, 2026.

Insiders only: for now

The enrollment wizard needed to deploy Windows 10 ESU is currently only available to members of the Windows Insider Program.

However, it is expected to be released to all Windows 10 customers in July 2025, with expanded availability slated for mid-August 2025.

Commercial businesses can subscribe to ESU for US$61 per device for one year. After this, the subscription can be renewed each year, with increasing costs, for up to three years. 

Notably, the following markets are not covered by this provision: North Korea, Syria, Sudan, Belarus, Cuba, North Korea and Russia.

Limitations to the lifeline

Microsoft ESUs do not cover non-security updates, features or design change requests.

Using Microsoft Rewards and Windows Backup necessitates signing up for a Microsoft account, if users do not have one already.

To be eligible to install ESU updates, the devices must be running Windows 10, version 22H2.

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