How To · October 2026 · 6 min read
Still on Windows 10? Your Security Updates Now Run Through October 2027
Microsoft extended free Windows 10 consumer security updates to Oct. 12, 2027. How to check you're enrolled, how to enroll, and what to plan next.
Short answer: If your home PC still runs Windows 10, it has not been cut off. Microsoft extended its consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program by a year, so enrolled PCs keep getting critical and important security updates through October 12, 2027. If you already enrolled, you don't need to do anything. If you never enrolled, you can still sign up. Either way, the next year is your window to move to Windows 11 or a new computer without rushing.
Why this is confusing right now
Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Microsoft then offered home users one year of free or low-cost security updates through the consumer ESU program, and the original end date was October 13, 2026. That date passed last week, so a lot of people reasonably assume their Windows 10 PC stopped getting security fixes.
It didn't, as long as it's enrolled. In June 2026 Microsoft updated its ESU pages to say the consumer program now runs until October 12, 2027, and that enrolled PCs carry over automatically. BleepingComputer reported that the change appeared in Microsoft's documentation and in an editor's note on a Windows Experience Blog post, not in a press release. That's why many people missed it.
What ESU does and doesn't do
ESU is a safety bridge, not a full extension of Windows 10.
- You get: critical and important security updates for Windows 10, version 22H2, delivered through Windows Update.
- You don't get: new features, non-security bug fixes, or technical support from Microsoft.
- Your PC keeps working either way. Without ESU it still runs, but it stops getting Windows security fixes, which leaves it more exposed to malware.
Step 1: Confirm you're on Windows 10, version 22H2
ESU only covers Windows 10 version 22H2 (Home, Pro, Pro Education or Pro for Workstations).
- 1. Press the Windows key + R, type winver and press Enter.
- 2. The window that opens shows your Windows edition and version.
You can also go to Start > Settings > System > About and look under Windows specifications.
If it says Windows 11, this article doesn't apply to you. If it shows an older Windows 10 version, install pending updates first (Step 3 covers where).
Step 2: Check whether you're already enrolled
- 1. Open Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
- 2. Look near the top of the page. Microsoft says this page shows your ESU enrollment status.
If it shows you're enrolled, you're covered through October 12, 2027 with no action needed. If you paid for ESU, the purchase also appears in your Microsoft account Order history.
Step 3: Enroll if you aren't covered
Microsoft lists these requirements for the consumer program:
- Windows 10, version 22H2, with the latest updates installed
- You sign in with a Microsoft account that is an administrator on the PC (not a child account). If you normally use a local account, Windows will ask you to sign in to a Microsoft account during enrollment.
- The PC is a personal device, not joined to a work or school domain or managed by an employer's device-management system
To enroll:
- 1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates. Install everything offered and restart if asked.
- 2. When your PC qualifies, Windows Update shows an Enroll now link. Select it.
- 3. Pick one of the three enrollment options Microsoft offers: No additional cost if you back up your PC settings to your Microsoft account; Redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points; A one-time purchase of $30 (US price, plus tax, per Microsoft's ESU page)
One license covers up to 10 Windows 10 PCs signed in to the same Microsoft account. On each extra PC, open Windows Update and select Enroll now or Add device.
If you don't see Enroll now: the most common reasons are missing updates, an older Windows 10 version, signing in as a non-administrator, or a PC managed by a work or school account. Microsoft also notes that enrollment options can differ by region.
A note on refunds: Microsoft says paid ESU follows its digital refund policy, and points redemptions are final. If you plan to upgrade to Windows 11 soon, check first whether your PC can (Step 4) before paying.
How to confirm it worked
- Go back to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and confirm the page shows the PC as enrolled.
- Over the following weeks, check View update history on the same page. Security updates should keep arriving.
Step 4: Use the extra year to plan your exit
ESU ends on October 12, 2027. Microsoft's lifecycle documentation describes ESU as a temporary bridge, so treat this year as planning time, not a permanent fix.
See if your PC can take Windows 11 for free. Install and open Microsoft's PC Health Check app and select Check now. It tells you whether the PC meets Windows 11 requirements and, if not, why. You can also check Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update for an upgrade offer. Enrolling in ESU doesn't stop you from upgrading later.
If it can upgrade: back up first (see our guide to Windows 11's built-in backup and what Windows Backup actually backs up), then upgrade through Windows Update.
If it can't: you have time to compare options calmly. Our guide on whether to upgrade or replace a computer walks through the tradeoffs. Before you give away or recycle the old machine, back up your files and sign out of your accounts.
What about Office, OneDrive and antivirus on Windows 10?
These follow separate schedules from Windows itself. Microsoft says:
- Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, Outlook and the others) on Windows 10 keep getting security updates until October 10, 2028. Microsoft said the last feature update for home users would ship in August 2026; after that, it's security updates only.
- The OneDrive desktop app keeps updating on Windows 10 version 22H2 through October 10, 2028.
- Microsoft Defender Antivirus keeps receiving security intelligence (virus definition) updates on Windows 10 through October 2028.
These are useful, but they don't replace Windows security updates. Antivirus can't patch holes in Windows itself. That's what ESU does.
Watch out for scams using this news
Deadline news tends to bring out scammers. Microsoft's enrollment happens inside Settings > Windows Update on your own PC. You don't need to call a phone number, give anyone remote access, or buy a "Windows 10 security key" from a website or pop-up. If something like that shows up, read our guides to fake virus warnings and letting someone remote into your computer.
The bottom line
- Windows 10 home PCs enrolled in ESU stay covered through October 12, 2027, automatically.
- Not enrolled? Check Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update for Enroll now. It can be free.
- Use the year to check Windows 11 compatibility with PC Health Check, back up, and decide whether to upgrade or replace the computer.
Sources and Further Reading
Related articles
Permalink
Return to Gorge Computers