Free Windows 10 Extended Security Updates are now yours to claim — but there’s a catch

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Microsoft is now accepting registrations for the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) plan. If you’re currently using Windows 10, you can join this program to get an extra year of security updates without any additional fees.

Beginning on October 14, 2025, Windows 10 will no longer receive security updates or support unless you’re signed up for the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. After this date, your computer will still work, but as time goes by and issues aren’t addressed, it will grow less secure due to unpatched vulnerabilities.

Last year, Microsoft introduced the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10, pricing it at $30 annually per device initially. However, this cost hasn’t changed, but now users can opt-in for free enrollment in the ESU program.

To get a year’s worth of free Windows 10 security updates, individuals need to synchronize their PC settings with the cloud by utilizing a Microsoft account.

Microsoft unveiled a free version of their service last month, initially only available for Windows Insiders. However, they’ve recently made a change, as evidenced by a new blog post, which means that even those who aren’t Windows Insiders can now register.

Beginning now, users will encounter an enrollment guide, either via notices or within the Settings, facilitating a straightforward choice for the most suitable plan and immediate enrollment into ESU right from your personal Windows 10 computer, as announced by Microsoft.

The choices provided involve either synchronizing settings to the cloud, which would grant you a full year of Windows 10 security updates at no cost, or purchasing a one-time fee of $30 per device for the same updates.

Commercial users have different subscription options and pricing that increases each year.

Microsoft’s growing Windows 10 problem

More than half of Windows users continue to use Windows 10, raising some worry at Microsoft. If no action is taken, over half a billion computers will stop receiving support this year.

By offering a free enrollment, it might persuade some users to maintain the security of their computers for another year. This extension gives us time to explore other potential solutions.

Microsoft has openly admitted that the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 is not intended as a permanent fix. However, it does provide an extension of one year past the initial deadline for users who are comfortable with syncing their PC settings to the cloud using a Microsoft account, or for those who prefer to pay for extended support.

In simpler terms, the Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10 offers just security patches. This means that devices enrolled in this program won’t get any new features or bug fixes.

Microsoft advises individuals either to update their current systems to Windows 11 or switch to a computer that can run Windows 11, as the minimal system requirements for Windows 11 are quite stringent and upgrading might not be feasible in some cases.

Approaches used to persuade individuals to update their systems vary, from friendly notifications about the discontinuation of Windows 10 support, to some tactics that might be seen as overstating the advantages of adopting Windows 11.

According to the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), the termination of Windows 10 support might lead to the largest increase in discarded computers we’ve ever seen, as they have appealed to Microsoft to prolong Windows 10 support.

That same group commented on the option to enroll in the Windows 10 ESU program for free:

Microsoft’s recent updates for Windows 10 fall short of addressing the issue, as they are unlikely to significantly improve the situation for approximately 400 million PCs unable to be upgraded to Windows 11.

In a survey where we asked if individuals would agree to cloud synchronization for receiving complimentary updates, approximately 65% of participants responded negatively.

With Microsoft now allowing non-Insiders to enroll for free, it gives us an opportunity to gauge whether regular users share similar sentiments as those in our poll.

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2025-07-23 01:39