Microsoft has made a subtle yet significant adjustment to its Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for consumers, extending the free coverage by an additional year. This means that devices enrolled in the program will continue to receive essential security updates until October 12, 2027.
Details of the Extension
The announcement of this extension was not accompanied by a formal press release. Instead, it surfaced in updates to Microsoft’s Windows 10 ESU documentation and as an “Editor’s note” in a recent post on the Windows Experience Blog. The note states:
“Editor’s note – June 25, 2026 – This post has been updated to reflect that the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for personal use devices is being provided for an additional year, with coverage now available through Oct. 12, 2027.”
This extension offers consumers more time to transition to a new Windows 11 PC while ensuring they continue to receive critical security updates.
Previously, Windows 10 reached its end of support on October 14, 2025, at which point Microsoft ceased providing technical support, feature updates, or security updates for the operating system, except for those using a Windows LTSC version. To assist users unable to upgrade to Windows 11, Microsoft initially offered a one-year extension of security updates through the ESU program, set to expire on October 12, 2026.
Enterprise customers had the option to enroll in the ESU program for up to three years, with a total cost of 7 per device over that period. However, the recent update now extends the free consumer ESU program to October 12, 2027, granting users an additional year to upgrade to a newer operating system.
Eligibility and Access
Consumers can continue to receive extended security updates for free through several methods:
- Paying .
- Backing up Windows settings to a Microsoft account.
- Redeeming 1,000 Microsoft reward points.
- Users in the European Economic Area can obtain ESU for free by logging in to Windows 10 with a Microsoft account.
Each ESU license can be utilized on up to 10 devices linked to the same Microsoft account, and those already enrolled will automatically remain covered until the new October 2027 end date.
It is important to note that the consumer ESU program is exclusively for personal devices and does not extend to systems joined to Active Directory domains, Microsoft Entra, or those managed through Mobile Device Management (MDM). However, devices registered with Microsoft Entra are eligible for the program.
This extension provides Windows 10 users with an additional year of security updates as Microsoft continues to encourage customers to upgrade to Windows 11 or consider purchasing new Copilot+ PCs.
BleepingComputer has reached out to Microsoft for clarification on the reasons behind this extension and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
