Choosing to remain with Windows 10 in light of Microsoft’s recent support cutoff can be a pragmatic decision, but it also necessitates vigilance against potential security vulnerabilities. To address this concern, Microsoft has introduced the Extended Security Update (ESU) program, which ensures that critical and important security patches will be available for an additional year.
Participation in the ESU program can be achieved through various avenues. For those willing to invest financially, the program is accessible for a flat fee of . Alternatively, users can opt to redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, provided they have accumulated that many through activities such as using Microsoft Bing for searches.
However, there is a way to access the ESU program without incurring any costs. By utilizing the built-in Windows Backup tool to back up and synchronize settings to the cloud, users may qualify for the program at no charge.
How to Sign Up
Enrolling in the ESU program is typically a straightforward task. Users should navigate to the Settings menu in Windows 10 and select Windows Update. A new section for enrolling in the Extended Security Updates should be visible, prompting users to click on the “Enroll Now” link.
If Windows detects that settings have already been backed up via the Backup tool, the program will be offered for free. If not, users will be presented with the option to either pay the fee or redeem their Microsoft Rewards points. Once the desired choice is made, clicking the “Enroll” button finalizes the process.
In cases where the enrollment option does not appear, several factors may be at play. First, ensure that you are logged in as an administrator or possess administrative rights on your PC. The option will not be available if logged in with a child account, so it is essential to verify that your Microsoft account is registered as an adult.
Additionally, the enrollment option is only available to users running Windows 10 version 22H2, the latest iteration of the decade-old operating system. To confirm that you have the latest updates installed, go to Settings and select Windows Update. Click the button to check for updates, allowing them to download and install as needed.
To verify your version of Windows 10, navigate to Settings, select System, and then click on About. The Windows Specifications section should indicate version 22H2.
After checking Windows Update again for the enrollment option, if it still does not appear, a more technical approach may be necessary. Following guidance from PC World, users can execute a series of command-line adjustments and a Registry hack:
- Open the Windows search bar, type CMD, and right-click the result to select “Run as administrator.”
- In the command prompt, enter: sc.exe config DiagTrack start=auto and press Enter.
- Next, type: sc.exe start DiagTrack and press Enter.
- Then, input: reg.exe add “HKLMSYSTEMCurrentControlSetPoliciesMicrosoftFeatureManagementOverrides” /v 4011992206 /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
- Exit the command window and restart your PC.
- Reopen the command prompt and type: cmd /c ClipESUConsumer.exe -evaluateEligibility.
- Exit the command window and restart your PC once more.
After completing these steps, revisit Windows Update, and the ESU enrollment option should now be visible. In a recent test with a Windows 10 virtual machine, this method successfully revealed the enrollment link after initially being absent.
If the option remains elusive, reaching out to Microsoft support may be the next step. Users can utilize the built-in Get Help app to submit a support ticket or contact Microsoft support directly using the numbers listed on their customer service page.
