.png)
Sign in to your XDA account
One thing's for sure — Microsoft has taken every opportunity it gets to remind Windows 10 fans that the operating system is reaching its End of Life status this October. The Redmond-based giant hasn't been subtle about it at all, and is doing everything within its power to get people to upgrade to Windows 11. Strangely, in May, the company loosened up and extended the support for Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 for three more years. The company is seemingly softening its stance again, this time with a new way to keep your Windows 10 device secure, without having to move to Windows 11 just yet.
You can extend Windows 10’s life with Microsoft Rewards or Windows Backup
In October 2024, Microsoft announced that Windows 10 will no longer receive software updates starting October 14, 2025. At the time, Microsoft acknowledged that some users require "additional time while moving to a new Windows 11 PC or Copilot+ PC," and announced the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for personal use. This program essentially allowed consumers to pay $30 to continue receiving critical and important security updates for Windows 10. These updates wouldn’t extend to new features, bug fixes, or technical support.
Today, Microsoft announced additional free enrollment options via a post on the Windows Experience Blog. The company mentioned that instead of paying $30 USD to continue receiving security updates after support ends in October, you can redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points. Alternatively, you can enroll for free by using Windows Backup to sync your device settings to the cloud. Once you complete either of these steps, or choose to pay the $30 fee, your PC will be automatically enrolled in the Extended Security Updates program, giving you another year of critical and important security updates, from October 15, 2025, through October 13, 2026.
Microsoft also announced that an enrollment wizard will now be available through notifications and in the Settings app. This’ll make enrolling in ESU directly from a personal Windows 10 PC a seamless process.
On the other hand, commercial organizations can subscribe to ESU for $61 USD per device. Though this subscription can be renewed annually for up to three years, there’s a catch — the cost will increase every year.
The enrollment wizard is available in the Windows Insider Program, and Microsoft will begin rolling it out to Windows 10 customers in July. It mentions that broad availability can be expected by mid-August.
English (US) ·