Microsoft has quietly handed Windows 10 users another free year. Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) now run to 12 October 2027, not the October 2026 cutoff everyone had been planning around. If you are already enrolled, the extra year is automatic and costs nothing. If you are not, enrollment is still open and it is free for most people. Here is exactly what changed, why Microsoft blinked a second time, and how to sign up in about two minutes.
Windows 10 reached the end of normal support on October 14, 2025. After that, the only way to keep getting security fixes was the ESU program, which was originally a one year deal ending in October 2026. It’s now October 12, 2027 or about 1 year, 2 months from today.
The change is simple but significant. If you’re signed up for ESU, you now get updates for a full extra year tacked on at no additional cost.
As we’ve explained Windows 10 Support Extended to 2027, But Not for Your Office Apps, this makes no difference to the support for Microsoft 365 or Office 2024/2021. However the ESU is still worth getting.
Why the extension?
Consumer ESU was already a first for Microsoft. Extending it a second time is genuinely unusual, definitely not routine.
Microsoft had been hoping that people would buy new computers but the global economy, customer uncertainty and the high prices of computers have dashed that hope. Soaring RAM and hardware prices making new PCs a tough sell right now, plus Windows 11’s slow uptake due to the higher security hardware requirements.
Windows 11 has significantly different hardware requirements compared to Windows 10. Mostly security related like the compulsory Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 and UEFI with Secure Boot. Those requirements can be bypassed during Windows 11 setup but most people stick with Windows 10.
Microsoft blinked. Whether it extends again beyond 2027 is anyone’s guess, so plan as if October 2027 is the hard stop.
How to Get Windows 10 Extended Support
If you signed up during the first year, you’re set. Your coverage continues automatically to October 2027 with no extra charge and no action needed.
Enrollment is still open, and you can join any time before the program ends. But your device is more exposed to malware the longer you wait. The three options:
Free if you sync your PC settings to your Microsoft account (Windows Backup / OneDrive).
Note: you do NOT have to backup Documents or other folders, just PC Settings. See our guide to getting the Windows 10 ESU.
1,000 Microsoft Rewards points if you’d rather spend those.
A one-time US$30 payment if you don’t want to use a Microsoft account sync.
One license covers up to 10 devices. To sign up, go to Settings | Update & Security | Windows Update and look for the Enroll now link. Your PC needs to be running Windows 10 version 22H2 to qualify.
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