TL;DR: Yes, Windows 10 ESU has been extended. Microsoft’s consumer Extended Security Updates program for Windows 10 now runs to October 12, 2027, a year longer than first announced. If your PC is already enrolled, you don’t need to do anything; coverage carries on automatically. If it isn’t, you can still enroll at any time before October 12, 2027, either free (by syncing PC settings), with 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or for a one-time $30 plus tax. October 13, 2026, the old cut-off, is now just another Patch Tuesday, so use this week to confirm your PC actually shows as enrolled.
Last updated: October 7, 2026. Dates, prices and requirements checked against Microsoft’s US, UK and Ireland ESU pages and support articles.
Plenty of guides still say Windows 10 security updates stop in October 2026. That was true when the program launched. It isn’t anymore: Microsoft quietly added a second year in June 2026, so Windows 10 PCs get a full extra year of patches if their owners take two minutes to check one setting.
This guide covers what changed, who qualifies, the three ways to get Windows 10 ESU, what’s different in the UK and Europe, and whether you should take the extra year or move to Windows 11 now. If your PC already runs Windows 11, you have a different deadline next week: see our guide to Windows 11 24H2 end of support on October 13.
Is Windows 10 ESU extended to 2027?
Yes. Microsoft extended consumer Windows 10 ESU to October 12, 2027. Microsoft’s Windows 10 ESU page now says: “You can enroll in ESU any time until the program ends on October 12, 2027. If you’re already enrolled, your coverage will automatically continue through that date—no action needed.”
The change landed on June 25, 2026, without a press release. BleepingComputer reported that it appeared as an editor’s note on a Windows Experience Blog post, plus edits to Microsoft’s ESU documentation. In a statement to BleepingComputer, Microsoft said: “We understand that moving to a new PC can take time… Coverage will now be available through October 12, 2027.”
Here’s how the Windows 10 dates line up now:
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| October 14, 2025 | Windows 10 reaches end of support; consumer ESU begins |
| June 25, 2026 | Microsoft extends consumer ESU by one year |
| October 13, 2026 | Original consumer ESU end date; now a normal Patch Tuesday for enrolled PCs |
| October 12, 2027 | Consumer ESU ends; last security updates for enrolled home PCs |
| October 10, 2028 | Commercial (business) ESU Year 3 ends |
For the full list of Microsoft deadlines, including Office 2021 and Windows Server, see our Windows and Office end of support calendar.
What should you do before October 13?
Check that your Windows 10 PC shows as enrolled in ESU, then install whatever Windows Update offers. Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. An enrolled PC says so on that page. If you see an “Enroll now” link instead, your PC isn’t covered and has been missing security fixes since October 14, 2025.
October 13, 2026 is the date many people still think ESU ends, and it’s the October Patch Tuesday. Notebookcheck points out that for enrolled PCs “October brings no change” and the October update “arrives as usual.” Checking now means you know that update will actually reach you.
A three-step check:
- Press Windows + R, type
winverand press Enter. You need Version 22H2 (OS Build 19045.xxxx). Older versions can’t get ESU. - Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and install everything offered. Restart if asked.
- Look for your ESU status on the same page. If it shows Enroll now, follow the steps in the next section.
Who can get Windows 10 ESU?
Any personal PC running Windows 10 version 22H2 Home, Pro, Pro Education or Workstations can get consumer ESU. You also need the latest updates installed and an administrator Microsoft account. Work-managed PCs, kiosk-mode devices and PCs joined to a domain don’t qualify.
Microsoft’s ESU prerequisites list:
- Windows 10, version 22H2 in one of the four editions above.
- The latest Windows update installed, plus the ESU Licensing Preparation Package, KB5126256. Microsoft’s KB5126256 article, published September 8, 2026, says it prepares a PC for enrollment but “does not enroll the device or install Windows 10 security updates.”
- A Microsoft account with administrator rights on the PC. It can’t be a child account.
- Not joined to Active Directory or Microsoft Entra, and not enrolled in mobile device management. Microsoft Entra registered devices are allowed.
One license covers up to 10 PCs on the same Microsoft account.
How much does Windows 10 ESU cost?
Windows 10 ESU is free if you sync your PC settings to your Microsoft account. The alternatives are redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points or a one-time purchase of $30 plus tax. Each option covers you through October 12, 2027, with no second payment for the extra year.
| Option | Cost | Covers | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sync PC settings (Windows Backup) | $0 | Up to 10 PCs, to Oct 12, 2027 | Needs a Microsoft account and settings backup turned on |
| Microsoft Rewards | 1,000 points | Up to 10 PCs, to Oct 12, 2027 | Rewards orders are final, no refunds |
| One-time purchase | $30 plus tax | Up to 10 PCs, to Oct 12, 2027 | Refunds follow Microsoft’s digital purchase policy |
Source: Microsoft Windows 10 ESU page, checked October 7, 2026.
The worked math is simple. If you paid $30 in late 2025, the extension doubles what you got for the same money: two years of patches instead of one, and up to 10 PCs. For a household with three old laptops, that’s about $10 per PC for two years.
Microsoft’s US page doesn’t say what happens if you turn settings sync off after enrolling for free. If you used the free route, leave Windows Backup’s settings sync on until you’re off Windows 10.
How do you enroll in Windows 10 ESU?
Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Enroll now. Sign in with your Microsoft account if prompted, pick one of the three options, and finish the wizard. Windows then delivers ESU patches through Windows Update like any other monthly update.
Step by step, based on Microsoft’s instructions:
- Install all pending updates and restart. Without KB5126256 the enrollment link may not appear.
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Enroll now.
- If you normally use a local account, Windows asks you to sign in with a Microsoft account. The ESU license is tied to that account.
- If you already back up PC settings, you’ll see a prompt to enroll straight away. If not, choose between turning on settings backup, redeeming Rewards points or paying $30.
- On your other Windows 10 PCs, sign in with the same Microsoft account, go to the same page and choose Add device.
Can you get Windows 10 ESU without a Microsoft account?
No. Every route needs a Microsoft account to enroll, because the ESU license is attached to it. If you sign in to Windows with a local account, the wizard asks you to sign in with a Microsoft account during enrollment. What happens afterwards depends on where you live and how you paid.
Microsoft’s Ireland ESU page, which covers the European Economic Area (EEA), is the most explicit. It says the one-time purchase “allows continued use of a local account (no sign in with a Microsoft account required other than to make the purchase).” The US page doesn’t spell this out either way, so if keeping a local account matters to you, the paid option is the one Microsoft describes as compatible with it.
Is Windows 10 ESU different in the UK and EU?
In the EU and the rest of the EEA, ESU is free without syncing settings, but you must keep signing in with your Microsoft account. Microsoft says ESU updates stop “after a period of time, up to 60 days” if you don’t, and you’d then need to re-enroll. The UK isn’t in the EEA, so UK users get the same three options as the US.
Microsoft’s UK ESU page lists the settings sync, Rewards and paid options, with the same October 12, 2027 end date. It gives the price as “$30 USD or local currency equivalent plus applicable tax” rather than a fixed pound figure, so UK buyers see the sterling price at checkout.
| Region | Free option | Paid option |
|---|---|---|
| US | Sync PC settings, or 1,000 Rewards points | $30 plus tax |
| UK | Sync PC settings, or 1,000 Rewards points | $30 equivalent in GBP plus VAT |
| EU/EEA | Stay signed in with a Microsoft account (re-check within 60 days) | $30 equivalent, local account allowed afterwards |
Is Windows 10 safe to keep using with ESU?
An enrolled Windows 10 PC is reasonably safe for everyday use through October 12, 2027, because it still gets Microsoft’s critical and important security fixes. It gets nothing else: no new features, no non-security bug fixes and no technical support. An unenrolled Windows 10 PC isn’t safe online.
The patches are real and ongoing. Microsoft shipped KB5122878 for Windows 10 ESU on September 8, 2026, then an out-of-band fix, KB5129236, on September 14 after the first update caused Remote Desktop Services problems. Enrolled PCs get updates like these; unenrolled ones don’t.
Your browser, antivirus and other apps set their own Windows 10 support timelines, so treat October 2027 as a hard stop, not a target.
Windows 10 ESU or upgrade to Windows 11?
If your PC meets Windows 11’s requirements, upgrade; it’s free and gets you years of support instead of one more. ESU makes the most sense for PCs that can’t run Windows 11, or for people who need more time before buying a new PC.
| Windows 10 + ESU | Windows 11 (free upgrade) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $0, 1,000 points or $30 | $0 on eligible PCs |
| Security updates until | Oct 12, 2027 | Oct 10, 2028 on version 26H2 (Home/Pro) |
| New features and bug fixes | No | Yes |
| Hardware needs | Anything running Windows 10 22H2 | TPM 2.0, supported CPU and more |
Sources: Microsoft ESU page; Windows 11 specifications; supported Windows versions.
Windows Update on Windows 10 tells you if your PC can upgrade, and Microsoft’s PC Health Check app gives a detailed answer. Enrolling in ESU doesn’t block a later upgrade; Microsoft confirms you can still move to Windows 11 at any point.
Verdict
The Windows 10 ESU extension is the rare Microsoft change that’s purely good news for home users. If you enrolled last year, you’re covered to October 12, 2027 and owe nothing more. If you didn’t, enroll this week, free through settings sync or $30 if you’d rather not, and you’ll pick up the past year of patches straight away. Then use the extra year to plan your move to Windows 11, or to a new PC if yours can’t run it. Just don’t let October 13 pass without opening Windows Update and confirming your status.
FAQ
Is Windows 10 ESU still free in 2026?
Yes. Microsoft still offers ESU at no extra cost if you sync your PC settings to a Microsoft account, and EEA users get it free by staying signed in with a Microsoft account. The paid option is a one-time $30 plus tax.
Do I need to re-enroll in Windows 10 ESU for year 2?
No. Microsoft says enrolled devices continue automatically through October 12, 2027 with “no action needed.” There’s no second payment for the extra year.
What happens to Windows 10 on October 13, 2026?
Nothing changes for enrolled PCs; they get the October Patch Tuesday update as usual. October 13, 2026 was the original end of consumer ESU, but Microsoft moved it to October 12, 2027.
Can I still enroll in Windows 10 ESU if I missed last year?
Yes. Enrollment stays open until October 12, 2027, and Microsoft says an enrolled PC receives all critical and important updates released since October 14, 2025.
Why don’t I see the Enroll now option?
Usually the PC isn’t on Windows 10 version 22H2, is missing the latest updates or the KB5126256 preparation package, or is signed in with a non-admin or child account. Work-managed and domain-joined PCs aren’t offered consumer ESU.
Does Windows 10 ESU work in the UK?
Yes. UK users get the same three options as the US: free with settings sync, 1,000 Rewards points, or the local equivalent of $30 plus VAT. The EEA’s no-sync free option doesn’t apply in the UK.
Sources: Microsoft Windows 10 ESU page (US), UK and Ireland/EEA; KB5126256; KB5122878; BleepingComputer; Notebookcheck.
