The end of Windows 10 support is quickly approaching, which means users are facing a tough choice: leave Windows 10 behind and update to Windows 11 or stay and either accept the risk of using unsupported software or enroll in the extended security update program. If you plan to go with the latter option, Microsoft has some important details and good news for you.
Microsoft finally announced program enrollment details for Windows 10 users. Starting today, Windows 10 Insiders can access a new enrollment wizard through the Settings app and push notifications to set up their systems for the Extended Security Update program (ESU). More importantly, Microsoft is introducing free enrollment options, allowing Windows 10 users to remain supported for one more year without paying Microsoft a single dollar.
Now, you can get 12 more months of security updates using one of the following three options:
- Use the Windows Backup app to sync your settings to the cloud
- Pay 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points
- Pay $30 (local prices may vary)
This is the first time that Microsoft has made the Extended Security Update program available for consumers. Previously, this program was reserved for commercial customers only. However, four years after the release of Windows 11, Windows 10 remains the dominant desktop operating system. At this scope, Microsoft cannot just drop hundreds of millions of users behind. Microsoft's initial plan was to give customers 12 months of extra updates for $30, but now, the company is seemingly giving up on that.
While the $30 option is still available, the program is pretty much free for every consumer, which addresses some of the concerns I expressed earlier. 1,000 Microsoft Reward points is a pretty small price to pay, and the Windows Backup option is entirely free (all you need is to sync your PC settings using a Microsoft Account). With these two new options, Microsoft makes security updates more accessible to users (governments are already warning users about the end of Windows 10 support), giving them more time to plan their migration to Windows 11 without sending their computers to the landfill and generating thousands of tons of e-waste.
The enrollment wizard is now available to Windows 10 Insiders. Next month, it will be available outside the Insider program as part of the July non-security updates. Broad availability is expected by mid-August.
Commercial organizations can also enroll their devices today using the Microsoft Volume Licensing Program. The price is $61 per device for one year. For Windows 365, these Cloud PCs are eligible for extended security updates at no extra cost.
It is worth noting that the program only grants one year of security updates, from October 15, 2025, to October 13, 2026. However, those who need more support can opt for third-party solutions like 0patch, which promises five more years of security updates.
The end of mainstream Windows 10 support means that the company will stop providing technical support and feature/security updates outside the ESU program. As such, many developers will start dropping Windows 10 support in their products, reduce available functionality, and more. However, Windows 10 PCs will not stop working overnight. Moreover, some of Microsoft-made services will continue receiving support. Those include Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Defender updates. Microsoft 365 apps will be getting new features until August 2026 and security updates until October 10, 2028.
For many users, the biggest problem with Windows 11 is not its controversial taskbar or Start menu (which is getting a big redesign, mind you). Steeper hardware requirements prevent many users from updating their still-capable computers to a supported release. To mitigate this, Microsoft is willing to offer free security updates for one year instead of lowering Windows 11's hardware requirements. Several months ago, Microsoft doubled down on those and stressed that Windows 11's minimum hardware requirements would not be lowered.
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